Saints deserved their victory, but the level of entertainment was low. On what was Ricky Gillies' last appearance in front of the home fans after 12 years service, a goal by David van Zanten was sufficient to take all three points.
The visitors had keeper Colin Stewart to thank after 10 minutes when he saved, in quick succesion, a Kirk Broadfoot free-kick, a header from Hugh Murray and a low drive from John Baird. Andy Millen headed in a minute later, but was clearly offside.
Don Cowie had headed over earlier for County but the Dingwall side offered little in attack, but Saints could not capitalise on their early pressure and the crowd had nothing to cheer for long spells.
The goal arrived in the 33rd minute. Broadfoot's cross created a scramble in the six-yard box and, after Stewart and John Robertson blocked his first attempt, van Zanten fired through the keeper's legs from a few yards.
Baird headed just wide after an hour before Stewart made a tremendous save from a spectacular scissors kick from Stewart Kean. He denied Kean again, sprawling to his left to divert the ball for a corner.
County took 82 minutes to win their first corner, by which time Saints had taken nine. Substitute David McKenna should have sealed the win when Stewart's only mistake with a clearance presented him with a one-on-one chance, but he blasted the ball miserably against the embarassed keeper.
Gillies was given a generous standing ovation as he took a tearful fairwell.