KILMARNOCK clawed back a precious Ladbrokes Premiership point in the Highlands after they trailed 2-0 to Ross County at the break and looked to be down and out.
Two goals from the Staggies inside 10 first half minutes from Chris Routis and Jason Naismith appeared to have clinched a home win especially with Killie losing two players to injury – Gordon Greer and Stuart Findlay.
But in a stirring second-half display goals by Eamonn Brophy and Kris Boyd earned a draw.
The Staggies started brightly and after just three minutes Chris Eagles let fly from more than 25 yards with a shot which skidded awkwardly in front of keeper Jamie MacDonald
But the Killie goalie still managed a decent save, smothering the ball low to his right.
Then Jamie Lindsay side footed well wide of the target from a good position in 10 minutes from a Chris Routis cut back on the left.
But it was the Ayrshire side who came closest to opening the scoring with an incisive move sparked by Alan Power’s driving run through the middle before playing the ball to Kris Boyd who knocked it into the path of Eamonn Brophy.
And his powerful low effort from more than 20 yards looked certain to zip inside the left post until County keeper Scott Fox plunged down to manage his right hand on the ball and turn it away for a stunning save.
The home side replied after Killie defender Stephen O’Donnell mis-cued an attempted clearance deep on the left and the ball was switched swiftly inside to Craig Curran who curled a brilliant swerving shot around keeper MacDonald but inches over the bar in 25 minutes.
And Killie had a lucky escape just after the half hour mark when their skipper Boyd misjudged a deep , diagonal cross from the farside by Eagles and sliced it backwards over his own crossbar.
However, Eagles picked out Chris Routis at the back of the box with the corner and he placed a magnificent, side-footed volley from 10 yards high into the net in 31 minutes.
County made it 2-0 with a wonderful header from Naismith on 41 minutes.
He glided into the box to meet a free-kick from Eagles on the right and looped a fabulous effort over MacDonald and the ball dropped under the bar at the left post.
Killie had County pegged back for long spells in the second period, but the Dingwall defence held out until Brophy picked up the ball at the edge of the box and turned to rifle in a ferocious shot in 62 minutes.
The visitors dominated the encounter after that and Staggies had to defend desperately to maintain their slender lead.
And they looked like holding out until four minutes from the end when Boyd met a cross from Chris Burke and his deflected header left keeper Fox flat footed for the equaliser.
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