In what could be called Ross County’s biggest match of the season so far, they had to settle for a point against Hamilton Academical.

The two teams went into the contest in Dingwall unbeaten and level on points at the top of League One, and the atmosphere around the ground reflected the stakes of this early-season clash between the title contenders.

The Staggies looked comfortable in the early going and took the lead through Dylan Smith, only to be pegged back before half time by Stuart McKinstry.

Within 40 seconds, County made their intentions in the match clear by having three shots on goal.

Kieran Phillips was sent through on goal by Brian Graham, seeing his low effort saved by Dean Lyness.

Richard Chin attempted to follow up, but his shot was blocked, with Phillips rising highest to get on the end of the resultant loose ball but only being able to head wide of the mark.

That could have been a sign of things to come, but while County did not test Lyness as often as they might have liked, they still played the vast majority of the early stages camped in the visitors’ half, moving the ball around well and with purpose.

Midway through the first half the Staggies did suffer a set-back when Lewis Strapp came up clutching his shoulder after a fall, and immediately signalled to the bench that he could not continue.

The Staggies finally did make the pressure tell in the 31st minute.

Josh Reid, who had come on to replace Strapp, found himself in a pocket of space just inside the Hamilton box, sending a low cross into the middle which was diverted into the path of Dylan Smith, who had plenty of time and space to smash the ball into the roof of the net to make it 1-0.

Although the home side appeared to be in full control, Hamilton did have a guilt-edged chance to equalise just a few minutes later, when Kyle Macdonald found himself unmarked six yards out, only to head straight at Brad Foster.

Hamilton definitely seemed to up their level after going behind, and they did go level in the 38th minute, with Stuart McKinstry cutting inside from the left and picking out the bottom corner.

Richard Chin was the next man to take aim at goal for the hosts at the other end of the pitch, cutting in from the right wing and trying to curl his effort into the top corner. He had Lyness diving at full stretch, but the shot was just slightly too high and went over the bar.

In the same way that Chin was causing issues for Tony Gallagher all evening, McKinstry at the other end was a constant thorn in Connor Randall’s side.

Hamilton’s brightest moments early in the second half came through their goalscorer, but although the Staggies came under the cosh quickly from the restart they saw the period of pressure out.

County looked to burst into life again just before the hour mark, when Ross Docherty sent a chipped ball into the path of Chin, who squared the ball towards the penalty spot.

Fergus Owens had slipped as he tried to clear it for Hamilton, but recovered just enough to put in an important block when Graham took aim at goal.

That was the sign of a shift in momentum back towards County, but up against a resolute Accies defence they struggled to create a clear sight of goal.

In turn, that left the points anyone’s to claim as the clock ticked down, and Foster was forced into a reaction stop in the 86th minute from Kalvin Orsi’s header.

In stoppage time, the ball then fell kindly to Jack Turner when Reid’s corner was only half-cleared, only for the Staggies midfielder to send his shot wide of the mark.

That left no time for a winning goal, as the final whistle blew with the score still 1-1, and the two clubs still deadlocked at the top of the table.