PATON’S LATE ONE SEALS IT FOR QUEENS
RUARI PATON notched a late winner as Queen of the South clinched a semi-final slot just as it looked like they had blown it.
Morton’s Alan Lithgow cancelled out keeper Jack Hamilton’s early own goal with just four minutes left.
But just as it seemed the tie was heading for a penalty shoot-out, up popped Paton to smash in the winner to set the Doonhamers up for a lastfour clash with Cove.
Palmerston boss Allan Johnston said: “We left it late but we deserved the win and obviously could have scored more.”
Queens created the first chance of the game after good work by Lee Connelly set up Ruben Soares-Junior.
Keeper Hamilton did well to save that effort with his feet, then skipper Wullie Gibson left fly but the 27-year-old again was equal to it.
Hamilton pulled off two superb saves in the space of a minute to parry a near post Connelly piledriver in 27 minutes before turning a ferocious shot by Max Johnston out for a corner.
But the goalie then unluckily conceded the 27th-minute opener.
Johnston curled in the corner and Hamilton tried to fist it clear, only to be crushed as the ball spun off his glove and backwards into the net.
Queens were on top and picked up where they left off after the break as SoaresJunior smashed a header off the bar on the hour.
The home side were robbed of a second in 64 minutes when SoaresJunior headed over the line, only for Hamilton to claw the ball away and fool ref Alan Newlands who awarded a corner despite the protests.
Next up was Johnston who drilled in a near-post effort on the right, which Hamilton turned around for another Queens corner.
Ton launched a rare raid with sub Alexander King forcing keeper Sol Brynn to save.
And then they stunned the home side with a leveller with four minutes left. Sub Gavin Reilly slung the ball towards the back post and Lithgow stooped to glance in a header.
But Paton came up with a fierce drive from distance that scorched past the keeper and into the bottom corner to seal success.
Cappielow manager Gus MacPherson said: “It is so frustrating to lose a late goal after levelling.”