Boyce treble sinks St Mirren
A Liam Boyce hat-trick ensured that Ross County would extend their unbeaten run to nine games and all but confirm relegation for St Mirren.
Another disappointing home display by St Mirren was capped off when Bulgarian defender Viktor Genev was shown a straight red card just after the break.
Boyce took advantage of some poor St Mirren defending to bag his first goal and after the home side and struck twice in the second half to become the first Ross County player to score a hat-trick in the Scottish top flight.
St Mirren went into the game rock bottom of the Scottish Premiership, 10 points adrift of 11th-placed Motherwell. Manager Gary Teale made two changes to his side. Club captain Steven Thompson and Gregg Wylde were named in the starting XI in place of James Dayton and Kieran Sadlier, who dropped to the bench.
By contrast the visitors came into the Monday night clash in a fine run of form, looking to stretch their unbeaten run to nine games. Staggies' manager Jim McIntyre named the same team that beat St Johnstone.
After 15 minutes Gregg Wylde broke down the left channel and managed to get a decent cross into the County box but midfielder Stephen Mallan could only glance a header wide of Mark Brown's post.
Michael Gardyne thought he had timed a run to give Ross County the lead midway through the first half, but the on loan midfielder was wrongly flagged for offside before he put the ball into the net.
However, County weren't to be denied the opening goal and took a deserved lead after 29 minutes. Gardyne linked up with Curran from a thrown in, and the Dundee United midfielder had his shot charged down by Jim Goodwin. The ball fell to Curran who saw his close range effort saved by Ridgers, but the ball fell perfectly for the in form Boyce who crashed in his second goal in as many games.
Two minutes after the restart, St Mirren were left a mountain to climb when they were reduced to 10 men. Bulgarian defender Genev was sent off after bringing down Boyce when he was last man.
The hosts had their goalkeeper to thank for keeping them in the match, first Ridgers was forced into a low save to deny a Woods free kick. And the keeper was called into action moments later to deny Raffaele De Vita who latched onto a Boyce lay off, but had his powerful strike well saved.
Despite going a man down, St Mirren had their best spell of the game 10 minutes into the second half. First substitute Reilly had an effort charged down by Paul Quinn, then John McGinn had a deflected effort from distance that was comfortably dealt with by Brown.
County threatened again when Curran's cross was punched by Ridgers, the ball fell invitingly to Gardyne who was given ample time to control the ball on his chest and flash a volley a yard over the bar. Then Woods found Jackson Irvine with another corner, but the unmarked Australian failed to hit the target from six yards out.
The visitors continued to apply the pressure and scored a deserved second goal on 74 minutes. Gardyne whipped in an inviting cross which was controlled brilliantly by Boyce. The striker then showed great composure to beat Goodwin before unleashing an unstoppable strike for his second goal of the evening.
And Boyce claimed the match ball after he tapped home a Tony Dingwall cross at the far post.
Jeers echoed around St Mirren Park on the final whistle as relegation looks certain for Gary Teale's squad.
Source: PA
