Ross County 2
Hamilton 1
League (Premiership)

Match Report

Source unknown.

Liam Boyce's goal gave Ross County victory over Hamilton Academical and sealed the Staggies Scottish Premiership safety.
Giant centre back Lucas Tagliapietra headed in Ali Crawford's corner to give Hamilton a first-half lead.
County came roaring back in the second period with Michael Gardyne equalising with a sensational left foot strike to pull the home side level.
And, despite losing Filip Kiss to a red card, the hosts moved ahead when Liam Boyce struck and that ensured they will not face a relegation play-off.
The victory, coupled with Motherwell’s defeat to St Mirren means County will finish above second bottom.
At one stage in this campaign Jim McIntyre's side seemed favourites for relegation but a sequence of positive results, including a nine-game unbeaten run has ensured top-flight status.
The afternoon started brightly for County in terrible early conditions. Raffaele De Vita's low cross was met powerfully by Craig Curran only for Michael McGovern to palm away.
As the weather improved, County started to offer more offensively with Michael Gardyne wriggling away from defenders before firing narrowly wide.
But Hamilton went ahead when Lucas rose to meet Crawford's delivery and powered a header past Antonio Reguero.
The momentum was clearly with the visitors but Jamie Reckord's delivery almost provided an equaliser, Curran somehow missing the target when he slid in at the back post.
Gardyne then went down in the box after a Kieran MacDonald challenge, but referee Bobby Madden waved his claims away.
Half-time seemed to give Ross County time to regroup and they started the second period on the offensive.
Tony Dingwall replaced Curran and his energy helped McIntyre's side trouble Hamilton more directly.
Martin Woods fired in a deflected effort which McGovern tipped over the bar. From the resulting corner the ball found its way to Michael Gardyne, who smashed a sweet left-foot effort past the helpless Michael McGovern.
Scores from Motherwell's game and fellow strugglers Kilmarnock's march towards victory over Partick Thistle were filtering through to Victoria Park and tension increased with each passing minute.
Eamonn Brophy shot narrowly over and Darian Mackinnon had a header easily gathered as the visitors tried to regain supremacy.
And the ensuing drama that unfolded was extraordinary. Filip Kiss, playing at right-back, was inexplicably sent off leaving County a man down as they chased a vital winner.
McIntyre could clearly be heard asking "what happened?" as Kiss left the field.
As home supporters looked on through cracked fingers, County scored what proved to be the goal that secured their Premiership status.
A corner broke into the path of the ever alert Liam Boyce and the Northern Irishman seized on his opportunity to smack home what proved to be a dramatic late winner.
The stadium erupted and all ears turned to what was happening elsewhere. Premature celebrations began with many inside the stadium believing Motherwell had drawn with St Mirren.
Ali Crawford fired against the bar for Hamilton in the last bit of drama before the final whistle.
And when news arrived that Motherwell had lost, there was unrestrained joy for the home crowd as they danced on the pitch, delighted that their side had finally seen off the threat of relegation.