IT WAS a close call as to which of the two had last visited Victoria Park – Dumbarton or the good, old-fashioned frost that encrusted the playing surface.
In fact, it said much of the clubs' contrasting fortunes that the Sons had last trekked here
in March 1999 and won 3-1 in a Third Division encounter.
In the interim, County had mostly been plying their trade in the First Division while yesterday's visitors hovered in the lower reaches.
For fully 79 minutes in Dingwall, that gap in status and quality was reflected in play, only for Derek Carcary to tear off the bench to strike twice to grasp an unlikely replay.
The Dingwall men looked to be cruising at 2-0 up going into the final 10 minutes despite playing without red-carded striker Dyron Daal for a full 50 minutes.
But the Sons produced an inspirational late response, with Carcary's second standing – correctly, as it transpired – despite an off-side flag.
County opened at high tempo, with an Alex Keddie left foot strike smacking the cross-bar from 25 yards after three minutes.
Four minutes later, scissor-kick acrobatics from Sean Higgins forced visiting keeper David McEwan to produce a wonderful tip over the bar.
With the flow firmly in Dumbarton faces, Michael Moore made a rare foray for the Sons after 14 minutes but saw Tony Bullock stretch low to save his left foot drive.
But County were in full control and took the lead after 23 minutes. Daal's knock-on found Higgins weaving between two defenders before clipping the ball past McEwan from eight yards.
Higgins thought he had tapped home the second a minute later, but was ruled off-side.
County were seeking the killer second goal until a red card for Daal after 40 minutes. The big Dutch Antilles striker tried a fancy swivel, lost control and over-compensated with a dangerous late lunge of the foot at Andy Geggan.
Heartened by County's sudden handicap, Michael O'Byrne flashed a header just wide from the resultant free-kick.
After the break, the Sons struggled to use the extra man to any great advantage and, after 57 minutes, County grabbed what seemed a vital second goal.
Adam Strachan's fine run into the box supplied Higgins, who glided past two men before side-footing home from eight yards.
Dumbarton suddenly ignited a game that was ebbing in interest after 80 minutes. Amid an incredible scramble substitute Derek Carcary drew a parry from Bullock and Stevie Murray and Liam Cusack were both blocked by the keeper.
Somehow it fell to Carcary to squeeze the ball home and set up a tense finish. Incredibly, Carcary pulled it level four minutes later in controversial circumstances.
Stevie Murray was flagged off-side by the linesman but the call was over-ruled by referee Stevie O'Reilly.
Even Murray himself had hesitated but recovered to cross for Carcary to stab home on the half-volley.
It transpired that Richard Brittain had taken the last touch, leaving the referee worthy of rare praise.
Clachnacuddin 0
Stenhousemuir 5THIRD Division leaders Stenhousemuir swept aside Clachnacuddin in a heavily one-sided tie at Grant Street.
Scott Dalziel set the visitors on their way with a first half double. Dalziel pounced on a Steven MacDonald error to give Stenhousemuir the lead on the 13th minute before heading home a second from close range.
Steve Desmond gave Stenhousemuir a three-goal lead before Dalziel completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot with 12 minutes remaining, after Paul Tyrell had been fouled. Veteran striker Steven Hampshire added a fifth goal in stoppage time to finish the rout.
Albion Rovers 1
Queen's Park 2QUEEN'S Park, the first ever winners of the Scottish Cup, emerged victorious in a fervently contested tie.
The visitors took an early lead through Ian Watt and extended their lead on 51 minutes when Paul Cairney was brought down in the box and Cairney slammed home the penalty.
Albion pulled one back on 63 minutes when Bobby Barr scored direct from a corner to set up a tense finale.
Clyde 2
Montrose 0CLYDE sealed their passage to the next round with a comfortable victory over a stubborn Montrose side.
Clyde opened the scoring minutes before the interval when Dave McKay raced onto a through ball from Alan Lithgow before rifling home.
McKay struck the woodwork before Pat Clarke eventually secured victory with a late spot kick after McKay was tripped by Kelly.
East Fife 2
Arbroath 0EAST Fife cruised past Arbroath into the fourth round of the Scottish Cup.
Bobby Linn and Andy Reilly missed first half chances in a quiet opening period. Chris Templeman set up Stevie Crawford to put the Methil men ahead in the 70th minute, after Dougie Cameron had a shot cleared off the line.
The clinching goal came with just seconds to go, as Linn broke away and set up Craig O'Reilly for 2-0.
East Stirlingshire 2
Livingston 1THE shock of the round came at Ochilview, with East Stirling dumping Livingston out of the cup, with a 2-1 victory.
The Third Division side took the lead in the ninth minute with an Eddie Forrest volley from outside the area.
Livingston got back on terms five minutes before the interval when Liam Fox finished from 25 yards.
Ten minutes into the second half Brian Graham got the winner with a curling effort.
Peterhead 2
Morton 1STEVEN Masterton deservedly fired Morton in front midway through the first half with a close range finish.
Morton spurned chances to extend their lead before Peter Weatherson was red-carded after 66 minutes following a clash with Graham Sharp.
David Ross levelled for Peterhead before Martin Bavidge struck a dramatic injury time winner from Craig Gunn's low cross.
Raith Rovers 0
Alloa Athletic 0RAITH dominated possession for long spells, but they failed to turn their superiority into clear-cut goalscoring chances. Graham Weir had two excellent chances to break the deadlock either side of the break, but he failed to hit the target with headers from two pinpoint Laurie Ellis crosses.
Alloa were reduced to 10 men after 47 minutes when Pat Scullion picked up his second booking of the afternoon.
Stirling Albion 2
Partick Thistle 3SCOTT Chaplain fired Partick in front with a fine low finish from Ryan McStay's cross, and Gary Harkins doubled their lead from the penalty spot after Liam Buchanan was felled by David Lowing.
Craig Molloy got Stirling back into the game with a high finish from close range before Buchanan restored Thistle's two-goal cushion with a header.
Paul Murphy pulled back a late goal for Stirling.
The full article contains 1140 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
