Super sub Ali Crawford netted a quick-fire double to send the 398 travelling St Johnstone fans crashing from their seats in the Highlands.
Crawford hit the back of the net in the 76th and 78th minute to haul Saints back from a losing position and secure three points on the road.
Jordan White had given County the lead in the first half with an unmarked header but the hosts would later be reduced to 10 men when Jack Baldwin was sent packing for pulling down Stevie May just after the hour mark.
Crawford would become the hero with two clever finishes.
Goalkeeper Remi Matthews was unwell and had missed out, paving the way for Elliott Parish to take his place between the posts at a frosty but sun-drenched Global Energy Stadium.
Suspensions had tallied up and missing out were first team regulars Alex Mitchell, Ryan McGowan and Melker Hallberg.
At the back, skipper Liam Gordon had Andy Considine and James Brown for company while the wing-back roles were occupied by Adam Montgomery (left) and Drey Wright (right).
There was a rare start in the middle of the park for Dan Phillips who partnered with World Cup star David Wotherspoon and creative Graham Carey. Nicky Clark and Stevie May led the line.
May, in the eighth minute, had a promising sight of goal after being teed-up by Carey inside the box. The low strike was straight at goalkeeper Ross Laidlaw.
Later Considine threatened with a deflected header from Carey’s corner but the ball was never in danger of finding the back of the net.
Moments later, with 22 minutes on the clock, County had the lead when White was gifted the freedom of the box to nod home a Yan Dhanda cross from the right. He had far too much space to guide his header into the corner.
One very nearly went to two in the 39th minute after Gordon had been robbed of possession in a worrying position out right by George Harmon.
He diverted across the box into the path of Kazeem Olaigbe who, following a neat touch, guided inches wide.
Saints had two good chances as the whistle for the break approached when, first, May forced Laidlaw into a smart stop with a back-post header and then soon after Clark skied over the bar from Montgomery’s cut-back.
The first change of the afternoon arrived on 55 minutes as the Perth visitors attempted to find a way back into the game. Wotherspoon was replaced by Crawford. His corner was soon nodded over by Clark at the front post.
Saints had a man advantage just after the hour mark when home defender Baldwin got himself in a tangle and then pulled down May, who was through on goal.
From the resulting free-kick, Carey struck the outside of the post and minutes later Montgomery lifted narrowly over the bar from a drilled May cross.
Attacking options Theo Bair and Connor McLennan were next to enter the action, replacing May and Brown.
Phillips soon found himself at the edge of the box and went for glory with a left-footed strike. It deflected straight into the arms of Laidlaw. The clock was ticking but suddenly the game flipped on its head.
Crawford, incredibly, netted twice in two minutes - 76th and 78th - to give Saints the lead. He was positioned brilliantly for both and finished beautifully.
When the second hit the net, delighted travelling fans leaped the barrier to join in the celebrations.
