Hamilton had proved no match for champions Celtic in their league curtain-raiser last week, crumpling to a 5-1 defeat.

But Brian Rice's team looked more comfortable against their Highland guests, with both teams cancelling each other out during a scrappy opening 45 minutes.

Lee Erwin should have fired the Staggies ahead seven minutes in as Harry Paton picked out the unmarked striker at the back post.

But former Liverpool youngster Ryan Fulton rescued the hosts with a brave save at point-blank range.

Erwin was wincing again after 20 minutes, but this time in pain as he thudded into the post when he and Shaun Want went chasing a McKay cross.

Thankfully there was no lasting damage and the frontman could continue.

Accies created their first opening six minutes later as Callum Smith drove in from the left, forcing Ross Laidlaw down to his right to smother. And the keeper had to be alert again just before the break, parrying away as the same Hamilton player wriggled free to fire a strike at goal.

It was County, however, who stepped things up after the break.

It took them a quarter of an hour to wriggle through the midfield log-jam, with Connor Randall teeing up Ross Stewart at the back post – but the scorer of last week's winner against Well could only shake the base of the post.

Accies had their collective hearts in their mouths again when Fulton flapped at a Josh Mullin cross but McKay could not force the loose ball home.

But the keeper was at fault again as McKay clinched the three points with 15 minutes left.

Again Fulton failed to hold an Iain Vigurs cross and this time the ball broke kindly for the Northern Irishman, who buried the ball at the second attempt.

David Moyo had a late chance to rescue a point for Hamilton but his header was straight at Laidlaw.