JAMIE RECKORD made his debut in Ross County colours way back in November, helping the already embattled Highlanders sweep to victory at Kilmarnock.

It must have seemed, then, the beginning of something good.

Instead, it would be 12 matches and three months before the former Wolverhampton Wanderers left back tasted another win. You wait for one and, just like buses, three come along at once - this latest impressive step forward for County sealed by Reckord's first goal for the club.

It was, in fact, the simplest of swipes into an empty net for the 22-year-old prospect but one of huge significance for County.

On a day when all three immediate relegation rivals won, they remained 10th in the table on goal difference and with an undeniable momentum heading into the final crucial weeks of the season.

Victoria Park offered no lush vista of attractive football yesterday, but Ross County's green shoots were there for all to see.

In a ferociously-contested match, the hosts always held the upper hand, passing up at least three good chances before Reckord sealed his club's first consecutive hat-trick of wins since two years ago in their debut top flight season.

For manager Jim McIntyre, consistent in his belief in the players throughout trying times, it must have been sweet feeling.

"Yes, there is good confidence right through the team now and, obviously, winning games has a lot to do with that. There was a wee spring in the step there," McIntyre said.

"We tried to take the game to them and I thought we could have scored one or two more. You have to credit the Dundee goalkeeper as he's had one or two great saves. "All in all, we have beaten a team just off the back of an eight-game unbeaten run, so it was really pleasing if not the prettiest of games."

It was certainly thoroughly-deserved for the Staggies, but still a game which kept the home crowd on the edge of their seats to the end after three big chances were missed by Michael Gardyne, Scott Boyd and Jackson Irvine.

In contrast, Paul Hartley's injury depleted side -without such notables as Paul McGowan and David Clarkson - failed to test home goalkeeper Mark Brown.

The Dens men came into the game on the back of an eight-match unbeaten run, but were quickly on the back foot.

The chance of the first half fell to County five minutes before the break with Liam Boyce winning the ball from Thomas Konrad, feeding Michael Gardyne who smashed a14-yard shot a foot over the centre of the bar.

County pressure was building into the second half and, four minutes after the restart, De Vita's ball in from the right found Scott Boyd free at the back post. The big defender controlled, but his close-range shot struck off keeper Scott Bain's legs for a corner. County went even closer after 55 minutes with a bobbling Jackson Irvine snapshot from the edge of the area superbly touched onto the post and behind by the diving Bain.

But the Staggies' moment came in the 66th minute from an inspired move.

Boyce took possession and fed Gardyne on the right and the County attacker proved too slippery for his marker as he wound forwards. He then found Reckord, unmarked at the far post, striding in for his first County goal with the easiest of finishes close-in.

It should have been two with 13 minutes remaining but substitute Jake Jervis saw his header smack the crossbar after a great leap to meet De Vita's cross.

Dundee had a rare second half chance with nine minutes left but Gary Harkins skied the free-kick woefully 22 yards out and the Dens men, all in all, offered far too little of worth.

They were certainly a depleted travelling party through injuries, and manager Hartley said: "It wasn't a good performance from us but we had to patch up the team due to injuries, then lost one player to injury before half-time and another to illness right after the break.

"Our squad is really stretched at the moment but we didn't have the quality in terms of our passing or getting shots at goal.

"They scored a good goal from their point of view but from ours it was poor defending and we know we can do better. "We came here unbeaten in eight games and wanted to keep it going and that's why this result feels so disappointing."

Ross County (4-4-2): Brown; Fraser, Boyd, Quinn, Reckord; De Vita, Irvine, Woods, Gardyne (Cardle 69); Curran (Kiss 84), Boyce (Jervis 75). Subs not used: Reguero, Meite, Sernas, Carey. Booked: Curran 52, Woods 80

Dundee (4-3-2-1): Bain; P. McGinn, McPake, Konrad, Dyer; S. McGinn, Thomson (Ferry 61), McAlister; Harris (Black 82), Stewart (Wighton 45) ; Harkins. Subs: Letheren, McBride, Gadzhalov, Colquhoun. Booked: P. McGinn 68

Referee: Andrew Dallas Att: 3,413