Basement boys share the spoils
Late leveller keeps Queen’s off the bottom
The season may only be a quarter old, but this had an air of a relegation six pointer as Queen’s faced the only side below them in the league table.
But it was a case of ‘as you were’ as the sides battled out a draw that, realistically, does neither side much good.
Coach Gus MacPherson made three changes from the side that lost to Airdrie last time out. Michael Bailey was missing with a virus and Sean Burns took his place; Kevin Green took over from Adam Cummins; and Thomas Orr replaced Luke Donnelly.
It was the visitors who created the first chance, and they went so close to scoring in three minutes.
Easton got past Brady into the box on the left, cut it back for Peters, and the striker saw his shot deflected for a corner.
Queen’s came even closer two minutes later and it took a magnificent save from McCallum to deny them.
Burns slung in a cross from the left that Docherty met solidly with his forehead, but McCallum twisted in the air and a one-handed wonder save turned the header away.
Good interchange between Summers, Docherty and Orr saw the striker win a corner, and from Galt‘s flag kick Green headed over from under the bar. Queen’s had opened well and were making good progress down the left, and Summers and Orr again combined to force the first of a three corners which were all cleared. Easton was finding holes for the visitors, and he came close in 27 minutes after popping up in the box to take a cross and head straight into Muir’s arms. It took a fine save from Muir to deny the visitors an undeserved half-time lead, as Peters was left clear to run in on goal and fire in a shot that Muir deflected with his feet. The pace of the game did not drop after half-time and Docherty spurned a great chances to put The Spiders’ ahead. After a scramble in the six-yard box, Docherty got a shot away but McCallum produced another onehanded wonder stop to turn the ball over the bar. When the corner was cleared, Millen fired it to the back post, Green headed on, and Fotheringham had a header deflected for a corner from under the bar. Easton had been quiet so far in the second half but he put a chance on a plate for McBride in 63 minutes, beating defenders into the box and cutting it back only for McBride to shoot wide.
But there was no reprieve for Queen’s two minutes later when Forfar took the lead against the run of play. Easton was taken down in the box by Iredale and Millar beat Muir from the spot.
MacPherson used all three subs in 71 minutes, sending on Chris Duff, Luke Donnelly and youth player James McLennan for Galt, Docherty and Orr.
And a minute from time Queen’s got the reward their efforts deserved. Iredale fired a hopeful ball into the box, young McLennan got a touch, and Donnelly bundled the ball over the line.
They could even have taken all three points in time added-on when Fotheringham had a pointblank header saved by the inspired McCallum.