Spiders grab point but boss MacPherson feels cheated
Gus MacPherson insists it was two points dropped in the relegation scrap against Airdrie.
Luke Donnelly saw his spot-kick pushed away by diving Diamonds’ stopper Rohan Ferguson before the visitors went ahead in nine minutes when Luke Watt curled home a free-kick from the edge of the box.
Visiting striker Cammy Russell looked to have been bundled over in the box by Jack Iredale but the official waved away the claims – and Queen’s equalised in 38 minutes when David Galt’s corner was headed home by Adam Cummins.
Spiders gaffer MacPherson reckons they should have secured the win . He said: “It is two points dropped.
“We controlled possession for long periods.
“We were on top when they got their goal but credit to the players as they responded well to a disappointing start.”
Kieran MacDonald was judged to have fouled Queen’s man Robbie
Leitch inside the box early in the game. However keeper Ferguson got down well to save.
His heroics seemed to give the Diamonds a lift, as Willis Furtado got their first shot away from range but it was easily saved by Michael White in the Spiders’goal.
Winger Jake Hastie looked bright down the flanks and won an free-kick on the edge of the box.
It gave the chance for fellow Motherwell kid Watt to curl the ball in – despite White getting a hand to it.
The Spiders continued to threaten and a miscue by David Brownlie in defence put Willie Mortimer through on goal. But a frantic Airdrie backline cleared with Brownlie making a desperate tackle to recover.
Airdrie had their own penalty shout snubbed when young forward Russell was shoved in the six-yard box by Iredale.
The Hampden men were enjoying a lot of the ball and levelled the game as David Galt’s corner was bulleted in by towering defender Cummins in 38 minutes.
In the second period, the Diamonds looked to bounceback with Furtado winning back possession in the attacking half. His direct cross curled just away from an onrushing Hastie – almost giving him the tap-in chance.
All the positive Diamonds play was going through former Stenhousemuir winger Furtado, and he nearly gave the visitors the lead as his snapshot across goal was only parried by White – and the Hampden defence reacted quickest to clear the danger.
A tame Airdrie were limited to long-distance efforts, with only Jordan McGregor’s header from a Scott Stewart corner coming closest.
Airdrie first-team coach Stephen Findlay insisted the home side should not have been awarded a penalty.
He said: “I am very disappointed not to take the three after the way we performed in the last two games but Queen’s Park don’t make it easy for you here.
“Rohan (Ferguson) makes a terrific save but Kieran (MacDonald) has tried to stand up and back away and I think the lad has made a bit a meal of it. It happens.
“Marc Fitzpatrick (coach) was saying to me it was a stonewaller – but I can’t say much more.”