HAMILTON'S long run without a win increased to ten games as County came from two goals behind to further ease their relegation fears with another precious point.

While there was frustration for Accies that goals from Jason Scotland and Dougie Imrie were cancelled out by Craig Curran and Michael Gardyne, this result at least ended a sequence of three consecutive defeats.

However, County's Jim McIntyre was understandably the more satisfied manager, saying: "We made a terrible start and gave away poor goals but I could see from the reaction of the players that we were never out of it.

"I thought overall we created really good chances and felt we should have been at least level at half-time but we maybe weren't ruthless enough.

"It was important at 2-0 that we got the next goal and I was really pleased that we clawed our way back into it.

"I'm also pleased with the point because other results have gone for us today but the only result you can affect yourself is your own.

"We've got another tough one next week against St Johnstone but we'll just keep trying to do our job."

Accies, aiming to present manager Martin Canning with his first three-point haul, made four changes from the side beaten by St Mirren last time out.

Canning relegated himself to the bench while Darian Mackinnon, Jon Routledge and Nigel Hasselbaink also dropped out.

County had two enforced changes from the side that beat Partick Thistle with Jake Jervis and Filip Kiss in for the injured Jackson Irvine and Liam Boyce.

Hamilton looked anything but a side low on confidence as they fashioned the opening goal within two minutes.

Ali Crawford almost scored it following a determined run from the centre circle to the edge of the visitors' box only to see his curling effort brilliantly turned behind by the diving Mark Brown.

However, the breakthrough came from the resulting corner from which Danny Redmond's delivery was flicked on by Garcia Tena for Scotland to bundle the ball home from close range.

A corner at the other end should have brought an immediate equaliser but the unmarked Kiss saw his header parried by Michael McGovern before Paul Quinn fired the rebound over the bar.

The Staggies were left to rue the miss when Hamilton doubled their lead following a counter-attack which was as swift as it was devastating.

A clearance from the home box was picked up by Crawford whose clever flick found Redmond on the left.

His first time pass released Imrie who had a clear run on goal from just inside the County half and he raced forward before drilling an unstoppable shot behind from 16 yards.

It was a severe blow for the Dingwall side who demonstrated their new-found confidence by reducing the deficit with a well-worked goal of their own.

Gardyne's diagonal ball put Hamilton on the back foot as Raffaele de Vita found space on the left to send over an inviting cross which Curran met with a decisive header high into the net.

County might have been level before the break when another delivery from the left, this time from Martin Woods, drew a diving header from Kiss who saw his effort flash narrowly wide.

It was a warning to Hamilton that their first win since early January was not yet assured especially as the visitors continued to look menacing whenever they got close to their rivals' box.

The restart brought further attacking intent from both sides with Crawford seeing his firm 18 yarder blocked by Marcus Fraser who was soon in the opposite box to shoot wide following a deft touch by Gardyne.

Crawford then sprinted through from the halfway line, leaving three defenders in his wake before rushing his shot and pulling it harmlessly wide.

There was a growing sense of anxiety in the home ranks as a settling third goal proved elusive and a de Vita corner was allowed to bobble around menacingly in the home box needing just a touch to provide an equaliser.

Instead, Grant Gillespie's uncompromising boot provided a comforting clearance.

The respite was not to last, though, as County continued to apply pressure and were rewarded when de Vita's deep cross found Gardyne ghosting in at the back post to apply the finishing touch.

Ziggy Gordon produced a brave block on the increasingly influential de Vita as the Highlanders pushed for a winner while at the other end Darren Lyon sent a half-chance over the bar.

However, a draw was just about fair and Canning managed to put a brave face on the outcome, despite watching his side conceding a two-goal advantage.

"We should have been able to see the game out from that position," he said. "But we are a young team and the players will learn from this."

Man of the Match: Raffaele De Vita

Hamilton: McGovern; Gordon, Devlin, Gillespie, Imrie, Scotland (Hasselbaink 86), Crawford, Lyon, MacDonald, Garcia Tena, Redmond. Unused Sub: Canning, Routledge (Longridge 76), Brophy, Docherty, Hill (GK).

Bookings: Gillespie

Ross County: Brown; Boyd, Jervis (Sernas 58), De Vita (Cardle 88), Reckford, Curran (Ross 83), Gardyne, Quinn, Fraser, Kiss, Woods. Unused Subs: Meite, Carey, Palazuelos, Reguero (GK).

Bookings: Boyd, Fraser, Sernas

Referee: Craig Thomson

Attendance: 1,544