Ross County 3-2 Airdrie

Jan 20 2008 Alasdair Fraser At Victoria Park

LETHAL Andy Barrowman pounced in injury-time to stun battling Airdrie and grab a massive win.

The striker took his season's tally to 16 with a crucial double capped by his dramatic last-gasp clincher.

A thrilling clash hung in the balance in the dying seconds before Barrowman outjumped keeper Stephen Robertson to snatch the points for the leaders.

Airdrie set the tone for a breathtaking first half by winning a penalty in just 50 seconds.

Kevin McDonald's free-kick was nodded down by Stephen McKenna and County No.1 Tony Bullock clattered into Stuart Noble.

Allan Russell's kick was superbly saved by Bullock low to his right but McDonald slid in to tuck away the rebound.

County were raging in the sixth minute when Dene Shields crashed down in the box under Robert Donnelly's challenge but the ref dismissed their appeals.

Martin Scott was unlucky to whistle a long-range shot just over the Diamonds' bar after 16 minutes.

Donnelly's stray back-pass then almost let County in but both Adam Strachan and Shields were unable to finish.

However, the Highlanders struck the leveller in 25 minutes with Barrowman again showing his killer instinct.

The influential Sean Higgins threaded a perfect pass through and Barrowman, with three Airdrie men in pursuit, calmly clipped the ball past Robertson.

Another dangerous Higgins' delivery almost gave County the lead four minutes later but Barrowman's point-blank header was blocked on the line by Robertson.

Shields came racing on to the rebound but Stephen McKenna's timely tackle sent the ball over.

The home side weren't to be denied though and surged ahead 10 minutes into the second half with an inspired move.

Strachan burst forward at pace and swept an angled pass to Higgins on the right. The attacker's curling cross found Stuart Golabek who smashed the ball home from the angle of the six-yard box.

But battling Diamonds made it 2-2 just three minutes later. Sub Bryan Prunty's surge down the left and cross found Stuart Noble stooping to pull off a diving header close in.

County were spared a further setback soon after by keeper Bullock. Ricky Waddell's cross was met by a Marco Andreoni volley but Bullock's reflexes denied him at point-blank range.

Both sides looked capable of grabbing a winner in the final 20 minutes and Scott's free-kick was stabbed just wide by County's Gary Miller.

Amid heavy late pressure McCulloch was also blocked by Robertson.

But the Diamonds were gutted at the death as Stewart Petrie's cross found Barrowman rising to head the ball over the keeper.

HERO

ANDY BARROWMAN again proved why his lethal finishing is so integral to County's promotion charge. The hitman's classy finish dragged his side level at 1-1 then he popped up at the death to seal a victory that may prove crucial in May.

VILLAIN

REFEREE Stephen Finnie can expect no Highland hospitality in Dingwall after infuriating the home side with two disputed decisions. County claimed Finnie gave Airdrie a soft penalty - and were livid moments later when the ref denied them a spot-kick.