First half goals from Mark Ramsay and Scott Linton gave us a vital win which put us within a point of the visitors in the battle to avoid the play off spot.

Greg Stewart returned to the side after missing the weekend derby and he was joined in the starting line up by Lewis Coult.

We started the game with the strong wind and driving rain behind up playing towards the High Street end.

From the kick-off Cowden pounded County and in six minutes they took the lead. Fitzpatrick made a hash of a clearance and Mark Ramsay raced in to blast a low shot past McGovern from the edge of the box.

In 20 minutes, as we continued to attack, Ramsay took a free-kick from all of 40 yards out and the ball roared past the post.

But a goal was only delayed. Robertson and Scott Linton worked a defence splitting one-two on the edge of the box and the midfielder raced in to beat McGovern from 10 yards range.

The Dingwall men were struggling to get over the half-way line and in 26 minutes Crawford worked his way into the left handside of the box and and his low left foot shot was smothered by McGovern.

Ten minutes from the break Stewart latched onto Robertson's pass and clipped the ball goalwards only to see McGovern dive to save.

In County's only real chance of the half, after 37 minutes, Barrowman shot over from only eight yards out after a good move down the left handside.

Five minutes from the break Linton threatened again latching onto a poor clearance and sending in a 25 yarder which McGovern dived to save, then two minutes from the break Stewart shot just wide from 20 yards out.

County were sent out for the second period by manager Jimmy Calderwood five minutes before the scheduled re-start but it did nothing to inspire them.

They struggled to harness the conditions and Hay had little to do but on the hour a corner went to Barrowman only six yards out and as he pulled the trigger, Robertson nipped in to take the ball to safety.

With 20 minutes left Cowden almost got the third when Linton's corner was perfect for Stewart whose header flew just wide.

But in 74 minutes substitute Gardyne latched onto a poor O'Brien clearance only to see Hay gather his shot and two minutes later Miller's cross was headed over by Barrowman.

County were trying to up the tempo but in 77 minutes McGovern had to race from his goal to stop substitute Campbell adding to Cowden's tally.

With nine minutes left Gardyne missed a good chance for the visitors when he shot wide from six yards out but at the other end Campbell latched on to a Robertson pass and shot just wide.

Then with four minutes left County were given a lifeline. Sub McKenzie put in a rash tackle on Corcoran in the Cowden box. A penalty was the correct decision by the whistler and Richard Brittain made an expert job of the spot-kick.

It meant a hectic close to the game with County throwing everything forward but Hay was equal to a series of crosses into the box, from open play and corner-kicks, and ensured that the points were ours.