Dundee United kept alive their hopes of retaining the Scottish Cup in the Highlands but only just.
The holders can count themselves extremely fortunate to have a fifth-round clash with Hamilton to look forward to after only dispatching County out of the competition on penalties.
The first division team who have now played United five times in two seasons and not won had the best chances in this replay but were denied by a heroic performance from stand-in keeper Stevie Banks.
The 38-year-old twice tipped the ball on to the woodwork in the second half of normal time and then produced the winning save in the shoot-out from Scott Morrison.
His manager Peter Houston said, “I can’t praise Stevie highly enough. He was a credit to himself tonight and kept us in it at times, as well as saving two penalties. Credit to Ross County they had the better chances. I’ve got to admit that there were times when I thought it was going to be their night.
“But, no matter how poorly we played, I’m delighted we’re through to the next round. Going out would have been hard to take.”
Opposite number Willie McStay stated, “We outplayed an SPL side for long spells of 210 minutes of football and I’m gutted for the players.”
The main talking point of the team lines was the inclusion of David Goodwillie for United despite the Scotland international being charged with rape on Monday.Banks inclusionDue to a thigh injury the Tannadice club had to do without Dusan Pernis for the first time since the Slovakian internationalist goalkeeper joined them a year ago. Apart from veteran player-coach Banks replacing Pernis, the starting line-up was unchanged from their last match against Motherwell.
The home side were the first to threaten in three minutes when full-back Morrison drove forward and fired a cross in from the left which Andy Barrowman just failed to get on the end of, and the ball flashed past the far post.
Five minutes later Sean Dillon came off second best in a challenge with Mark Corcoran on the right-hand side of the United box, and he drilled a cross over which Barrowman again came within a fraction of connecting with.
After a quiet opening to the match, Goodwillie came to life on 13 minutes when he turned his marker Scott Boyd in the box and forced a good save out of Michael McGovern with a low right-foot shot.
On 27 minutes United suffered a blow when Paul Dixon had to hobble off after sustaining an injury in a 50-50 tackle with Martin Scott. He was replaced by Barry Douglas.
County had to make a change of their own soon after when Jason Marr caught a Goodwillie boot in the face as the United frontman attempted a spectacular overhead kick in the six-yard box. Gary Miller was sent on in Marr’s place.
On 42 minutes the Staggies broke forward with a three-on-two but Barrowman, who had options on either side of him, suffered the wrath of his team-mates when he chose to shoot from the edge of the box and sliced it wide.
The first half finished with a flurry of bookings. Stuart Kettlewell was the first to be shown a yellow card for a foul on Johnny Russell. He was swiftly followed by Morgaro Gomis, who tripped Steven Craig on the edge of the box.
Then a busy few minutes for referee Willie Collum were completed in injury time when Garry Kenneth was the third name to go into his notebook for taking down Scott.Second halfThe first period hadn’t been much of a spectacle but the second caught fire from the off. Just two minutes after the restart Kenneth had to climb high to head a Richard Brittain corner over the bar.
The Tangerines then nearly broke the deadlock themselves when Keith Watson picked out Jon Daly, and the skipper’s downward header was kept out by McGovern at full stretch.
Around the hour mark the away goal twice lived a charmed life. First Jonathan Flynn sent a header goalward from a Brittain corner only to see it come back off his own man, Craig, on the line. Seconds later Barrowman broke clear and was one-on-one with Banks. The keeper won the battle, though, by saving with his legs.
On 70 minutes it was United’s turn to wonder how they didn’t score. David Robertson crossed to the back post from the right where substitute Craig Conway scuffed a shot past from just six yards out.
Houston’s men had Banks to thank for keeping them in the cup on no fewer than three quick-fire occasions in the closing stages.
His first save from Corcoran wasn’t particularly spectacular but his second from the same man was, as he finger-tipped a fierce 18-yarder on to the bar.
Arguably the best of the lot then came when the Englishman produced a reflex save low to his right to deny Scott and again touch it onto the woodwork this time the post.
United, who would have been relieved to take the game beyond the 90 minutes, were the stronger team in extra-time.
However, they failed to turn their possession into chances over the half hour and the tie went to penalty kicks.
David Robertson was up first and had his spot-kick saved. Brittain, Daly, Barrowman and Prince Buaben all subsequently scored, before Iain Vigurs missed for County. Douglas and Goodwillie then converted and Banks was the hero with the last penalty by saving from Morrison.
Attendance 2430.Ross County McGovern, Marr (Miller 35), Morrison, Kettlewell, Boyd, Flynn, Scott, Craig (Wood 88), Barrowman, Brittain, Corcoran (Vigurs 119). Subs not used-Malin, di Giacomo.Dundee United Banks, Dillon, Dixon (Douglas 27), Daly, David Robertson, Gomis (Scott Robertson 80), Buaben, Kenneth (Conway 61), Watson, Goodwillie, Russell. Subs not used-Mentel, Cadamarteri.Referee Willie Collum.