Liam Boyce hat-trick helps fire Ross County to win over Dundee
Liam Boyce hit a brilliant hat-trick as Ross County won 5-2 against Dundee at Global Energy Stadium.
County had to come from behind twice before they went on to win the game comfortably, with goals also coming from Michael Gardyne and Jackson Irvine.
Kane Hemmings scored a brace for Dundee.
County were first to threaten when a deep cross from Jamie Reckord was headed just wide by Stewart Murdoch.
The home side were on the front foot again when centre back Andrew Davies went charging up the park but the County captain lost possession and in a quick attack, Greg Stewart slipped the ball through for Hemmings who drilled the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
County continued to push forward and they came close in the 13th minute when a Richard Foster cross was just evaded by a touch from Davies in the Dundee box.
The Staggies were doing most of the pressing and Gardyne tested Dundee goalkeeper Scott Bain when he cut in from the left but his shot was straight down the keeper's throat.
County grabbed a deserved equaliser in the 29th minute, though, when Boyce latched on to a headed pass from Davies and slipped the ball past the advancing Bain.
County had claims for a penalty turned down in the 39th minute when Craig Curran was fouled by Thomas Konrad. The referee gave a free kick on the edge of the area and booked the Dundee defender in the process. Martin Woods then curled the free kick just wide of Bain's left hand post.
It was end-to-end stuff and Stewart was not far away with a low drive in the 43rd minute which flashed past the upright.
County started the second half strongly and Woods curled a shot wide of Bain's left hand post.
But County were caught on the break in the 53rd minute when Stewart teed up Hemmings for another clinical finish.
However, the lead did not last long. Two minutes later Boyce passed the ball on for Gardyne who, from an acute angle, took one touch and lofted the ball into the net off the underside of the crossbar.
County then went ahead in the 60th minute when a Jonathan Franks corner fell for substitute Irvine whose shot was adjudged to have crossed the line despite an attempt from Nick Ross to keep it out.
The home side opened up a two-goal advantage nine minutes later when Richard Foster got the by-line and his cut back was swept into the net by Boyce.
County went further ahead in the 85th minute when a Reckord cross was blasted high into the net at the far post by Boyce to complete his hat-trick.
Source: PA
