No team has done more to wind up The Staggies than Dundee United in the last few years, but the run of cup beatings was finally broken by the draw at Tannadice 10 days ago.

 

A knee injury robbed County of the creative talents of Michael Gardyne for this replay, but ball-winner Stuart Kettlewell was back from suspension. Injured Paul Lawson and cup-tied new signings Marc Fitzpatrick and Graham Gartland also missed out.

 

Five minutes in, amid a lively start for County, Martin Scott managed a dig on goal and, two minutes later, the home hunger was evident. A through ball into the left side of the United box by Scott found Mark Corcoran tearing after Sean Dillon before winning the challenge tenaciously.

 

Corcoran was quickly back on his feet and whipped it across the face of goal, just too forcefully for the arriving Andy Barrowman.

 

United retaliated with the heavily-booed Goodwillie wriggling free to cut in a low, angled shot which Michael McGovern smothered.

 

There was furore in the County penalty box on the half hour as an attempted Goodwillie overhead kick from a corner caught home defender Jason Marr square in the face. Referee Willie Collum kept his cards in pocket, though, while Marr was replaced by Gary Miller soon after.

 

Another terrific counter by the hosts saw Steven Craig brought crashing by Margaro Gomis just outside the box, with the United midfielder booked.

 

Straight from the re-start, County forced two corners with Gary Kenneth forced to head from under his own bar and over.That set the tone for a County-dominated second period.

 

United somehow emerged unscathed from a remarkable sequence of play on the hour. Barrowman's eight-yard header from a Richard Brittain corner was goal-bound but struck Craig near the line, Scott then sent Barrowman clean through with Banks keeping the ball out with his legs.

 

County were scenting blood and there were desperate moments for United. Scott Morrison then drew a full-stretch save from Banks and a Brittain thunderbolt was touched onto the bar by the keeper as home pressure re-ignited.

 

Incredibly, with 12 minutes left, Banks pulled off a true wonder-save with a reflex touch onto his post after Scott snapped at a Corcoran supply from only eight yards. Despite County's dominance the tie headed to extra time, with Dundee Utd having their keeper to thank.

 

The first period of extra-time proved a dogged battle of wills, with only one Corcoran cross just beyond Barrowman to worry either keeper. The effort from County was relentless to the death but with the clock running out the dreaded lottery of penalties beckoned.

 

David Robertson's opening shoot-out kick was saved superbly by Michael McGovern, but County's third kick from Iain Vigurs was also saved. David Goodwillie held his nerve for United's final kick and Scott Morrison's last for County struck keeper Stevie Wood's knees.

 

So the Staggies are out of the Scottish Cup but there should be no lasting sense of failure from this tie, for 210 minutes of football we have proven to once again be more than a match for an SPL side and once the dust settles there should be nothing but pride for what was a truly courageous performance.