Match ends, Ross County 1, Inverness CT 2.
Ross CountyRoss County1Inverness CTInverness Caledonian Thistle2
Inverness continued their upsurge in form with first half strikes from Miles Storey and James Vincent securing a 2-1 Highland derby victory in Dingwall.
Storey netted his fourth in five games when he calmly side-footed the opener.
He then broke down the left with superb pace, earning a corner from which Vincent nodded home at the back post.
County pressed in the second half and eventually broke through when Boyce headed home what proved to be a consolation in injury time.
The absence of in-form Ryan Christie was a talking point pre-match but Storey picked up the mantle and was a key architect of this win.
County started slightly better in an attacking sense and Michael Gardyne sent a great chance over from close-range after David Raven failed to deal with Boyce's centre.
As half-time approached the visitors decisively took the initiative. Liam Polworth's accurate centre found Storey breaking beyond the defence and he didn't hesitate in stroking the ball home.
Storey then turned superbly and skinned Scott Boyd to earn a corner. The ball was flicked into the path of Vincent at the back post and he nodded it in to give John Hughes' side a commanding lead.
The second half involved a pattern of County trying new ways to break down the visiting defence, with Inverness attempting to release Storey to utilise his exceptional speed.
Stewart Murdoch drove wide and headers from Boyce and Jackson Irvine didn't overly threaten.
The afternoon got worse for Jim McIntyre when his goalkeeper Scott Fox landed awkwardly on his left leg and had to be stretchered off.
Late hope arrived when Boyce once again marked his name on the scoresheet in injury time but it proved too late to mount serious pressure on the result.
Inverness can now rightly claim they're showing similar form to that of last season. A first defeat since mid-August for County points to a good start they'll be keen to maintain.
Line-ups
Ross County
Formation 4-4-2
- 1FoxSubstituted forWoodsat 61'minutes
- 2Fraser
- 6Robertson
- 5Boyd
- 12Foster
- 7Gardyne
- 36Irvine
- 18MurdochBooked at 90mins
- 17FranksSubstituted forDe Vitaat 75'minutes
- 9GrahamSubstituted forDingwallat 73'minutes
- 10Boyce
Substitutes
- 3Reckord
- 8McShane
- 14Holden
- 19Dingwall
- 21Woods
- 24De Vita
Inverness CT
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 25Fon Williams
- 2RavenBooked at 56mins
- 14Devine
- 6Meekings
- 19WilliamsSubstituted forVigursat 90+2'minutes
- 16Tansey
- 8DraperBooked at 65mins
- 20Polworth
- 28Mbuyi-MutomboBooked at 73minsSubstituted forTremarcoat 75'minutes
- 4Vincent
- 39Storey
Substitutes
- 1Esson
- 3Tremarco
- 7Lopez Robles
- 15Wedderburn
- 17Horner
- 27Vigurs
- 37Sutherland
- Referee:
- William Collum
- Attendance:
- 5,473
Match Stats
Home TeamRoss CountyAway TeamInverness CT
- Possession
- Home49%
- Away51%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away5
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away4
- Corners
- Home10
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Ross County 1, Inverness CT 2.
Post update
Foul by Liam Boyce (Ross County).
Post update
Carl Tremarco (Inverness CT) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Stewart Murdoch (Ross County) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Iain Vigurs (Inverness CT).
Booking
Stewart Murdoch (Ross County) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Stewart Murdoch (Ross County).
Post update
Greg Tansey (Inverness CT) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Inverness CT. Iain Vigurs replaces Danny Williams.
Post update
Corner, Inverness CT. Conceded by Marcus Fraser.
Goal!
Goal! Ross County 1, Inverness CT 2. Liam Boyce (Ross County) header from the right side of the six yard box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Scott Boyd following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Ross County. Conceded by Josh Meekings.
Post update
Corner, Ross County. Conceded by Carl Tremarco.
Post update
Gary Woods (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Miles Storey (Inverness CT).
Post update
Attempt missed. Greg Tansey (Inverness CT) right footed shot from more than 35 yards misses to the left.
Post update
Foul by Stewart Murdoch (Ross County).
Post update
Liam Polworth (Inverness CT) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Corner, Ross County. Conceded by Danny Devine.
