KRIS BOYD capped a stirring Kilmarnock revival from two goals down with a late equaliser to maintain the feelgood factor under manager Steve Clarke.
The visitors had looked almost dead and buried in the Highlands by the break with County leading through Chris Routis and Jason Naismith.
But Eamonn Brophy’s fourth goal in three games sparked the recovery and Boyd’s trademark leveller killed County hopes of drawing level with their opponents in the table.
County’s Owen Coyle and Killie’s Steve Clarke have both roused spirits at their respective clubs, but Clarke’s record going into last night’s tussle was certainly the more eye-catching, given the Ayrshire club’s startling resurgence.
A bitterly-cold night in the Highlands was never likely to faze the buoyant visitors, but County’s clinical edge soon unravelled them.
County have a sublime talent in recent signing Chris Eagles and the 32-year-old Englishman was prominent in a positive start from the hosts.
A thigh strain for Gordon Greer brought an early substitution for Killie, with past County stalwart Scott Boyd entering the fray to warm applause.
Whether or it affected Killie, County were ahead on the half hour. Eagles’ corner swept clean through the penalty area and found Christopher Routis sneaking in at the back completely unmarked.
The Frenchman placed a powerful side-foot volley past Jamie MacDonald. The value of Eagles’ deliveries was underlined again in devastating fashion for the second goal five minutes before the break.
From the right, his measured free-kick held perfect pace for Jason Naismith, but the County right-back’s 15-yard head-flick was brilliantly timed as it soared past MacDonald into the net.
Just as Killie, after such a poor first half, seemed unable to snap out of their slumber, a thunderbolt came from nowhere.
Eamonn Brophy collected a pass a couple of yards outside area after 61 minutes and unleashed a 25-yard rocket into the the County net.
Then Boyd’s moment came three minutes from the end as he rose to meet Chris Burke’s cross with a tidy header.
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