LIAM Boyce last night stretched Ross County's astonishing recovery run to eight matches unbeaten with a priceless header to stay three points ahead of play-off rivals Motherwell.

The Northern Irish predator struck with six minutes left as reward for his own and his team-mates phenomenal work-rate and endeavour in a breathless battle with the equally-committed Perth Saints.

Tommy Wright's men couldn't find the cutting edge to claim the three points they needed to secure top six football, but fought hard throughout.

County, though, are a team transformed - and deserved victory after piling up the chances relentlessly.

County had crashed three times to the Perth side this season, losing 2-1 twice in the league and by the same scoreline again in the Scottish Cup.

But this is a very different Dingwall outfit from the one that toiled so badly through the autumn and winter months.

Indeed there were only five survivors from the last meeting of the teams in November.

Home manager Jim McIntyre was able to recall on-form Michael Gardyne who had missed the team's fine Tannadice victory on Saturday through the terms of his loan agreement. The move relegated Slovakian midfielder Filip Kiss to the bench.

Saints made four changes from the draw with Hamilton Accies with Simon Lappin, Frazer Wright, Steven MacLean and James McFadden restored.

Tam Scobie, Danny Swanson and Brian Graham were relegated to the bench, while Murray Davidson dropped out completely through injury.

It was fast and furious from the off, with two confident teams intent on going hell for leather at each other.

But the best chance early on fell to the hosts when, with five minutes gone, Raffaele De Vita cut the ball inside from the left cleverly, 40 yards out, finding Martin woods who was chopped down by Simon Lappin.

Woods teed up the free-kick 25 yards out and sent his strike bouncing just a whisker wide of the Saints keeper's left hand post.

Moments later, it was the visitors who threatened with David Wotherspoon's run and dangerous, driven cross finding no takers in the County penalty area.

That set the tone for some fine, frantic football.

County's intent was obvious as Jackson Irvine, the Aussie under 23 international, charged in to try and meet a De Vita corner, missing narrowly.

At the other end, after 16 minutes, more good work Wotherspoon, arguably Saints best performer, forced County captain Paul Quinn to make a timely clearance with Michael O'Halloran closing in on the cross.

As the half unfolded, it was clear County held the edge, but the killer touch was eluding them.

A Quinn shot deflected for a corner, while a sweeping County attack on the right featuring Woods, Liam Boyce and Michael Gardyne ended with a crucial Steven Anderson interception.

Still County came at them and, after 31 minutes, they went close.

Woods powered in a fierce, low drive that squirmed out of grounded Alan Mannus's grasp. Craig Curran went darting for the rebound but Mannus recovered as he slid in to score.

Saints best chance of the half came after 37 minutes when McFadden's long, measured pass forward sent O'Halloran tearing away on the right. The Saints attacker found his measure in the pace of Irvine, though, and lost composure at the vital moment, shooting wide.

He wasn't alone. At the other end, De Vita did the same after a surging run through the middle, fluffing his shot completely as the ball bobbled outside the box.

County stepped up their control of the game in the second half, but Saints defended resolutely and were always keen and menacing on the break.

Gardyne, after a quietish first half by recent high standards, seemed energised after the break as County picked up where they had left off and stepped up the pressure.

He took just seconds to rocket a shot just wide of target from the edge of the box while, four minutes later, Liam Boyce's pass between Craig Curran's markers held just too much pace to control.

James McFadden was subbed on the hour after making little impact on proceedings and County still the team hounding the opposition defence most convincingly.

The missed chances were piling up relentlessly. Irvine missed a clear header from another Woods corner while a swerving Gardyne free-kick from wide right swerved invitingly across the penalty area without connection, allowing Mannus to smother.

The football was breathless all the way and you feared some of the players might need oxygen in the rare stoppages.

But finally the telling breakthrough materialised, deservedly, for tireless County.

Jamie Reckord floated in a cross from the left and there was Liam Boyce, the Northern Ireland cap, to net with a perfectly-measured flick of the head past Mannus from eight yards.

Four minutes added on weren't enough for the away side to rescue scue it - and County march onwards with seven wins and a draw since mid-February.