First Division Ross County twice came from behind to earn a deserved Active Nation Scottish Cup replay following the 2-2 draw against Hibernian.
Hibs could not have wished for a better start as Colin Nish gave them the lead in the seventh minute, but Ian Murray's own goal nine minutes later gave the Highlanders hope.
And, despite going in at half-time 2-1 behind after Derek Riordan's 19th-minute strike, County were more than worthy of Michael Gardyne's volleyed equaliser after a magnificent second-half showing.
Hibs took the lead after only six minutes. Paul Hanlon had a goalbound header blocked to spark a series of corners which eventually led to Nish's goal.
County were furious as they claimed that goalkeeper Michael McGovern had been impeded by Nish in the build up, but the striker eventually got the final touch after a scramble had climaxed with a bouncing Chris Hogg shot.
Nine minutes later the visitors were level when Martin Scott's ball caught the home rearguard flat-footed and when Graham Stack blocked Gardyne's shot, the rebound bounced off the retreating Murray and into his own net.
Parity only lasted three minutes, however, as Hibs quickly regained the advantage. Riordan got the break of the ball from John Rankin's low ball into his feet and shot past McGovern from 16 yards out.
However, with five minutes to go to the interval the Hibs rearguard was all at sea again as Stack failed to deal with a looping Brittain cross and Iain Vigurs should have done better than shoot tamely wide after Kevin McBride's vital clearance off the line.
Scott Boyd's 77th-minute header from Scott Morrison's free-kick slipped past as Ross County pressed hard for the equaliser. And, after Hanlon had taken Andrew Barrowman's dangerous cross off Gardyne's toes only six yards out, the SPL hopefuls got the goal their play merited.
Paul Lawson's looping ball caught out the static Hibs defence and Gardyne was once more the willing runner as he rattled a magnificent shot past Stack's despairing drive.
Copyright (C) PA Sport 2012.
