Ross County -V- Inverness CT - SPFL
Inverness kept Ross County in their shadows with a hard fought 2-1 win at the Global Energy Stadium. The damage was done just before half time in two brilliant counter attacking moves. The first came at the end of a multi player move and culminated with Miles Storey burying the ball behind Scott Fox. He was beaten again a couple of minutes later following a swift break by Storey. We won a corner and James Vincent neatly nodded home the ball home after a bit of head tennis in the box. County responded well in the second half but Fon-Williams and his defence held firm until Liam Boyce scored in the ninetieth minute to give the hosts some hope of getting a leveller in the six minutes that followed.
It was not going to happen though and Inverness took all three points back over the bridge and the bragging rights remain with us until the League Cup encounter at least, on 27th October.
It's official, we now get to keep Ross County after our fourth win in a row at the Global Energy Stadium.
It was a great day for a game of football, dry and no wind and a large crowd for the first Highland derby of the season. The away end looked pretty full as the teams came out. Inverness had won the previous three meetings in Dingwall, but County had started the season the better of the two sides.
John Hughes went with the same squad that started against Aberdeen, minus the suspended Ryan Christie. That meant that Liam Polworth kept his place in the starting X1 and Andrea Mutombo was the new face. Carl Tremarco started on the bench along with Iain Vigurs, but Tobi Sho-Silva was still not available.
County had Andrew Davies suspended, and De Vita and Dingwall were on the bench.
The early exchanges were a bit tentative as both sides probed for an opening. County looked to be trying to take the initiative with Inverness looking to contain and counter attack at pace.
Both keepers were called into action, but were untroubled making comfortable saves from Stewart Murdoch and James Vincent respectively.
The first big chance fell to Michael Gardyne after David Raven made a hash of cutting out a cross from the County right. The ball deflected off his boot and looped onto the boot of Gardyne in a menacing position eight yards from goal, but he skied his effort just over the bar much to the amusement of the away fans.
County were beginning to see more of the ball as we sat deep and another couple of long range attempts went off target from Richard Foster and Liam Boyce as the first half hour of the game passed.
Inverness got to grips with the game and started pushing forward, winning a couple of corners and that got the fans approval as half time approached.
After 41 minutes, we made the breakthrough, and a fantastic team goal it was too. We collected the ball on the halfway line and worked it across the back line and up the other flank. Eight players were involved in this one with Liam Polworth contributing twice as he burst into the box to cross for Miles Storey who slotted home, sending Scott Fox the wrong way. A goal fit to win any game.
County were stunned and they were caught out two minutes later, Miles Storey the creator this time. He turned and sprinted away from Boyd before smashing a shot from the left side which Fox blocked. The ball bounced out of the box where Vincent met it and his effort was also blocked, but at the expense of a corner. From the resultant corner, a hesitant County defence allowed Devine to head on to Vincent, who popped up in the right place to plant his header into the net to further stun the Jail End and send Inverness in at the break two up.
Half Time 0-2
Jim McIntyre would have been reading the riot act after their first half collapse and County looked eager to impress after the break.
Liam Boyce tested Fon-Williams in the first minute and the Welsh keeper saved down low to his left. Brian Graham shot wide as County surged forward and Williams again saved from Jackson Irvine down to his left once more. Boyce headed over as the home pressure continued with Inverness content to soak it up and Murdoch went close as well.
On the hour, County had to replace Scott Fox in goal as the keeper landed awkwardly on his ankle after clearing a looping cross. He was applauded off the park by both sets of fans as he left the field on a stretcher with possible ligament damage. Ouch!
Boyce was thwarted once more by a diving Fon-Williams as he handsomely clutched a header out of the air in spectacular fashion, and Irvine's header met with the same fate.
County had bossed the second half in terms of possession, but the Inverness defence were standing tall and it looked as though the home side were running out of ideas with the clock heading towards the ninety.
But, similar to the second Inverness goal, Boyce headed home as the defenders watched him get the second header unchallenged to give them a glimmer of hope.
Five minutes of time were added on and the visiting fans were once more twitching their keeky winkers as County flooded forward, but they could not breach our defence for a second time and the Highland Derby was won by the boys from Inverness.
Full Time 1-2
A pulsating game at times and this was a hard fought game between two decent sides. Miles Storey was the difference and his electric pace gave Boyd and Co plenty to think about. Our first goal was Storey's fourth goal in five appearances. Great return from the loan striker. And James Vincent is popping up with vital goals as well, making tremendous box to box runs and getting the rewards for his efforts. Fon-Williams was superb in goal and big Ross Draper put in some shift, booking included. Liam Polworth played a huge part in the first goal and his confidence must be getting a boost. To be honest, we had no failures and it was a standard away day counter attacking performance, and worthy of the three points.
For his superb goal and loan striker performance, the lively Miles Storey is my MotM.
International break next week, then off to Kilmarnock. Good times.
Date: 03/10/15 Venue: Global Energy Stadium, Dingwall Attendance: 5473
Referee: Willie Collum
Ross County: 1
Lineup: Fox (Woods 60), Boyd, Boyce, Gardyne, Foster, Graham (Dingwall 72), Irvine, Franks (De Vita 74), Murdoch, Fraser, Robertson Subs (not used): McShane, Holden, Reckord Scorers: Boyce (90) Booked: Murdoch (90) Sent Off: none Inverness CT: 2
Lineup: Fon Williams, Raven, Vincent, Meekings, Draper, Devine, Tansey, Williams (Vigurs 90), Polworth, Mbuyi-Mutombo (Tremarco 74), Storey Subs (not used): Esson, Lopez, Wedderburn, Horner, Sutherland Scorers: Storey (42), Vincent (45) Booked: Raven (56), Draper (64), Mbuyi-Mutombo (72) Sent Off: none
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tm4tj in Reports 2015-16 ·
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