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A superb performance from Ross County's Under-18 side earned them a well deserved share of the points against league leaders Morton, who had won seven of their eight league games and drawn the other one.
County produced their most impressive display of the season and had it not been for a soft penalty award they might have gone on to collect all three points.
It was great to see the team playing with determination, skill and confidence, with the positive attacking approach they adopted right from the start paying dividends.
Right through the team County had not one failure. Stefan Gonet was superb in goal - he had two outstanding saves in the second half. His excellent handling of cross balls and domination of his area inspires the whole defence and gives them that extra bit of confidence. He looks a very fine prospect.
The defensive unit in front of him did really well in curbing the potential danger from the Morton front two, both of whom have played for the first team.
County's midfield four all worked really hard and dominated for long spells. Allan Lees returned from injury with a powerful performance, while Don Cowie's vision and passing ability was an important feature of County's play.
County's bold move to play three up front was refreshing - their movement and interchanging gave Morton problems which before the game they maybe did not expect.
Morton had taken the lead in twelve minutes when County were hit on the break following a throw in and found themselves short of defenders, the Morton number four netting the opener.
Five minutes later County were level when a good pass from Lees found Martin Kenny running through to fire past the keeper.
Five minutes later County came within inches of taking the lead when a fine cross from Trialist was met by Steven Mackay but his header came back off the post with the keeper beaten.
After half an hour County went 2-1 up when a great run and cross from County's Trialist was first timed home by the lively Kenny.
A minute later Mackay was denied when his shot was well saved by the Morton keeper.
In thirty five minutes Morton drew level when they were awarded what looked a dubious penalty, Lees harshly judged to have handled in the box. Morton's number ten scored with the kick to make it 2-2 at half time.
County had to reorganise their line up at half time when Edwards had to come off with a toe injury - Williams dropped back to defence, MacKay stepped back to left midfield, and Brian Macleod came on up front.
The opening exchanges in the second half were quite even but Morton regained the lead in sixty minutes when their number ten headed in a cross from County's right.
Morton's left back brought a brilliant save from Gonet, but in seventy minutes County's Martin Canning played a captain's role when he drove forward, played a one-two with County substitute Trialist and slammed the ball past the keeper to make it 3-3.
County's Kenny had a great chance to win it for County with four minutes to go but shot past, while at the other end Gonet again excelled in keeping out a shot from the Morton number four.
The game finished 3-3 with County so close to snatching it at the end, but they must be delighted with their performance against a very highly rated Morton team.
Both teams are due to meet again in the third round of The Scottish Youth Cup on Wednesday 3 November at Dingwall. County will be hoping to reproduce their best form for that game.
Ross County: Stefan Gonet; Sam MacLaughlin, Martin Canning, Steven Edwards, Allan Lees, Don Cowie, Bryan Dlugonski, Lee Williams, Trialist, Martin Kenny, Steven Mackay. Subs (all used): Brian MacLeod and Trialist.
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Ross County U-18s kept up their recent unbeaten run with a well earned draw against a very competitive Morton side. In fact County might have won the game had they not missed a penalty in the second half.
Play was a bit frantic in the first half, with a stiff breeze maybe playing a part in that. Both teams were closing each other down quickly and were tending to rush their passes. Morton had some pressure early on and twice forced 'keeper Stefan Gonet into saves.
County's best attack came when Craig Campbell made progress through the middle and found Steven McKay who in turn picked out a good run by Brian MacLeod but the angle for his shot was just too tight.
Morton's Stewart then hit a 30 yarder just past.
County's Ryan Rutherford then went down in the box but the referee saw no offence and waved play on.
Morton striker Kerr was proving a handful with his strength and keeping the County defence occupied, but overall County were battling hard and more than holding their own.
Morton had a real chance to score just after half time when Morton's Aitken shot just over after being set up by Kerr. However in 51 minutes Morton took the lead when Kerr got in behind the County defence and placed the ball past Gonet.
County hit back and a fine Campbell run led to him being fouled just outside the box. However McKay's free kick cleared the crossbar.
County continued to press and in 60 minutes they got their reward. A great 30 yard strike from Ryan Witkowski was pushed out by the keeper to McKay who took it forward then squared it for Rutherford to made it 1-1.
Play then became heated and referee found himself having to talk to several players.
Morton had a chance to regain the lead when they were given a free kick just outside the box but blasted the ball over. County had an even better chance in 65 minutes when a fine through ball from McKay found Rutherford running through on goal only to be brought down. However Canning had his spot kick parried by the keeper and then blasted the rebound over the bar.
Tempers again threatened to boil over but the County lads made sure they kept their discipline and almost grabbed the winner when the ball was played to McKay on the left inside the box but his shot was blocked by the keeper and cleared.
Morton also had chances late in the game but fired a free kick over the bar and had another effort cleared by a defender. The game finished 1-1 with County coming out of it well. The commitment and mental toughness shown was just what was required in this game.
Ross County: Stefan Gonet; Ryan Witkowski, Gary Ewing, Martin Canning, Steven Edwards, Bryan Dlugonski, Brian MacLeod, Alan Lees, Ryan Rutherford, Craig Campbell and Steven MacKay. Subs (all used): Scott Wilde and Martin Kenny.
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In their final away fixture of the season, the County U-18 side recorded a well deserved win over Morton.
In an even first half both sides had their share of chances. Morton stretched the County defence on one or two occasions but County came close to scoring when Martin Canning hit the post.
Brian MacLeod then became the latest player to miss from the penalty spot, and it was goalless at half time.
Scott Wilde came on in the second half, and County's attacking formation paid dividends with three goals.
The first goal came when a County corner was punched out by the Morton 'keeper as far as Ryan Rutherford at the edge of the box, and he found the net with a well struck shot. Rutherford then made it 2-0 when he headed home a Don Cowie free kick.
Near the end, a poor kick out from the Morton 'keeper got as far as Craig Campbell and he took full advantage by taking it forward and slipping it into the net.
Ross County: Gonet, Witkowski, MacKay, Canning, Edwards, MacInnes, Cowie, MacLeod, Rutherford, Campbell and Dlugonski. Subs (all used): Wilde and MacLaughlan.
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