With Highland rivals Ross County and Inverness Caledonian Thistle set to meet in a crunch match for both sides this Friday, we take a look at some of the best clashes between the teams over the years.
1. Ross County 1 ICT 3 – 27 August 1994
It was Caley Thistle that came out on top in the first ever league meeting between the sides. The historic match was played at Victoria Park, in the Third Division. A whopping 3,157 fans were in attendance for the match between the two newest sides in the then Scottish Football League. Sergei Baltacha’s side came out on top with an own goal from Sandy McLeod, and a Wilson Robertson double. Andy McLeod’s spot kick pulled one back for the hosts, but it was ICT that earned the bragging rights in this one.
2. ICT 3 Ross County 0 – 15 March 1997
A crowd of 5,532 watched as the hosts extended their lead at the top of the Third Division to 16 points. Iain Stewart scored the opening goal just before half time, with a bouncing effort which deceived the Steve Hutchison in the County goal. Brian Thomson lit up the game with fifteen minutes to go, when he scored a powerful goal from the edge of the box, and just one minute later Iain Stewart chipped the keeper for number three. It was the Inverness side’s 18th game without a defeat, and it set them on course to the league title.
3. ICT 1 Ross County 5 – 25 Feb 2003
With the two sides having reached the First Division, Ross County were struggling while Inverness were challenging at the top. That meant there were more than bragging rights at stake when the sides met in 2003. The Staggies took the lead early on with a goal from Kevin McLeish. They had scored two more by half time, with Steve Ferguson and Tassos Venetis getting on the score sheet. The second half started in similar fashion with an early goal from Hugh Robertson. Derek Wyness pulled one back for the home side before Conor Gethins completed the rout with the fifth goal of the afternoon. . The shock victory was a huge boost to County’s survival efforts.
4. ICT 3 Ross County 3 – 14 November 2003
This was a classic match between the sides in the First Division. The home side rushed in to the lead with a goal glut on the thirty minute mark. Goals from David Bingham, Steven Hislop and Barry Wilson in the space of four minutes had Caley Thistle looking comfortable. A first half County goal from David Winters pulled the score back to 3-1. After Graham Bayne scored in the 70th minute, the stage was set for Steve McGarry to score a late equaliser for the Staggies. ICT would go on to win the league by a point that year.
5. Ross County 1 ICT 0 – 19 May 2013
With ICT chasing a European spot, they knew that a final day win over rivals County would see them qualify for the Europa League in the following season. But the Staggies would derail their opponent’s hopes of a third place finish by beating them in a hard fought encounter. Canadian defender Andre Hainault put the hosts in front with a 10-yard volley just before half time. The devastating defeat saw the away side finishing fourth, two points behind third placed St Johnstone.
6. ICT 1 Ross County 2 – 27 October 2015
This League Cup quarter final match would give these sides the opportunity for a trip to Hampden, and potential silverware. Jackson Irvine opened the scoring with a header in the first half. Michael Gardyne doubled County’s lead early in the second half, before a long-range effort from Greg Tansey reduced the deficit. It was a much needed win for the away side in a figure which they hadn’t won in seven points. It also set them on course to a semi-final win over Celtic, and a victory over Hibs in the final to lift their first major trophy.
7. Ross County 0 ICT 3 – 19 March 2016
A crowd of just under 6000 were in attendance for what would be the Inverness side’s fifth Highland derby win in a row. John Hughes’ side got off to a strong start, with two goals in the space of five minutes before half time. The goals, from Liam Polworth and Ross Draper, had the away side leading 2-0 at half time. With the hosts planning to parade the League Cup around Dingwall after the match, they would have hoped to get back in to the game in the second half. But a Miles Storey goal three minutes after the restart made it 3-0 and ended any hopes of a County fightback.