Boyce double for Ross County as they sink Kilmarnock
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STRIKER Liam Boyce bagged a brace as Ross County beat Kilmarnock 2-0 in the Ladbrokes Premiership this afternoon (Saturday).
This deadly double came just a week after his hot hat-trick in the Highland derby win against Caley Thistle and takes County on to the six-point mark from their first three league fixtures this term.
The Staggies were without striker Brian Graham, who had been released by the club in pursuit of first-team football with Hibs, and defender Richard Foster, who sealed a season-long switch to St Johnstone.
County got their stalling campaign up and running with that 3-2 victory at Inverness CT a week ago and were looking to kick on from that.
Killie were in the same boat, with their 2-1 win at Hamilton getting them off the mark seven days previously.
There was just the one change for the hosts, with Jonathan Franks coming in for Foster.
The visitors were boosted by the loan captures of midfielder Charlee Adams from Birmingham and defender Luke Hendrie from Burnley, with both players in Lee Clark's starting 11 alongside Souleyman Coulibaly, who netted last week.
Dropping to the bench for Killie were Gary Dicker and Greg Taylor, with Rory MacKenzie out altogether.
The teams came out on the front foot from the start, with the sun beaming out of the sky on an ideal day for a game.
A coupleof early crosses asked questions of the Kilmarnock back line, while George Green and Coulibaly were in and about the County defence early on.
The Dingwall side were almost in front after 14 minutes when a loose ball from a poorly defended set-piece fell for Jay McEveley and he guided a low shot inches past the left post.
The game then lurched into a period where there was plenty of effort, but a lack of real quality in the final third.
However, that changed for County just before the half hour mark when last week's hat-trick hero Boyce lashed the ball past Jamie MacDonald from close range after meeting a cut-back from Michael Gardyne.
The final chance of the first half fell to midfielder Martin Woods for the Staggies and he drilled a shot over the top from fully 30 yards.
County should have doubled their advantage early in the second half when Franks burst free down the right and Gardyne met his delivery, but sliced the ball past the left post.
County certainly looked the most likely to score again rather than Killie netting and a second goal would surely seal the victory.
That killer goal though came on the 74 minute when great work from substitute Alex Schalk saw him break into the box and, after being forced wide, he lined up Boyce and he slammed the ball home from close range.
Within the next two minutes, County really could have been out of sight when Boyce then Gardyne went close with further efforts from swift attacks.
Although there was no further scoring, the Highlanders will be delighted by the manner of this result ahead of next weekend's trip to Hamilton.
Ross County: Fox, Woods, Quinn, Franks (Tony Dingwall 85), McEveley, Curran (Schalk 65), Davies, Boyce, Gardyne (Morrison 90), Routis, Cikos. Subs not used: McCarey (GK), van der Weg, McShane, Fraser.
St Johnstone: MacDonald, Steven Smith, Addison (Burn 34), Boyle, Martin Smith, Boyd, Jones, Adams (Hawkshaw 67), Coulibaly, Green (McFadzean 57), Hendrie. Subs not used: Davies, Dicker, Bojaj, Taylor.
Referee: Nick Walsh.
Attendance: 3263.
