AS the quarter-final draw was being made somewhere else, Motherwell were in the middle of a meltdown.

The clock was sitting at around 9.50pm, the balls were being lowered into the big plastic bucket in a studio in the distance, fans of seven other clubs watching on intently to see who they’d get in the quarter-finals of the competition. Spare a thought then for the 200-odd tortured souls in the Highlands, watching their team handing Ross County a lifeline to be No.8.

With Motherwell 2-1 up in extra-time during this absorbing and at times frantic contest, defender Charles Dunne brought down Craig Curran off the ball on the line as he seemed certain to get the home side’s second leveller of the game. A red card was flashed from Stephen Finnie and Curran unsurprisingly scored.

Considering Motherwell had won just three of their last 22 knockout matches, the writing for a knackered 10-man team seemed on the wall. But, like Lazarus with a death wish, this Motherwell team came back from the dead with just nine minutes left as substitute Ross MacLean rounded Scott Fox when put through to bring the traumatised travelling support to their feet to hail what would be a 3-2 epic victory to secure a home tie with Aberdeen.

“It was a rollercoaster and a tough, tough game,” said Stephen Robinson who said he didn’t give up hope when going down to 10 men. “Not necessarily because I know what the character and spirit in our dressing room is like.

“I had no idea we had a home draw but it’s a super but tough draw.”

This was an absolute stonker of a game. Filled with unpredictability, goals, drama, calamity and more than a fair share of anxiety. The image of Motherwell CEO Alan Burrows kicking every ball at the back of the stand while frantically urging his team to clear the ball pretty much summed things up.

During an opening period the visitors had the best of the play but Fox wasn’t tested. County, who lost Tim Chow to a head knock midway through the opening period, really should have stolen a lead just on the break but Motherwell keeper Trevor Carson pulled off a stunning save to deny Alex Schalk.

Five minutes into a second half that originally saw Motherwell on the back foot, it was a burst of brilliance that put them ahead for the first of three times. Chris Cadden sprinted clear of Andrew Davies down the right to swing in a ball to Louis Moult, his skewed header bounced to Gael Bigirimana and the midfielder smashed a low half volley under Fox.

Motherwell should have buried the game then. Ten minutes later substitute Alex Fisher had a shot blocked before sending the rebound glaring wide from eight yards. The former Inverness forward would later have a header cleared off the line by Michael Gardyne.

The sting in the tale came five minutes after that double chance with a Schalk making amends for his earlier miss, skipping beyond a high Motherwell backline to chip beyond Carson.

Neither team could find the back of the net as play became stretched, and there would be frustration and joy for Motherwell when Chris Cadden put them back in front just three minutes into extra time. A Dunne header smashed off the bar and the midfielder reacted first to turn it into the bottom corner. Job done? Don’t be silly.

On 103 minutes Dunne’s intervention occurred and Motherwell heads fell into hands as Curran converted. However, substitute MacLean would have the last laugh. And, with Jamie Lindsay’s bundled shot being saved at the very death from Carson at point blank range, it quickly turned into a sigh of relief.