Spiders’ last gasp grab for a point
Queen’s pull back from defeat during added time
Queen’s Park manager Gus MacPherson revealed his players knew they had not played at their best from their post-match reactions in the dressing room.
The Spiders rescued a point in the second minute of added time after Kyle Turner had seemingly won the game for Stranraer with a composed finish on the 90 minute mark.
But Adam Cummins’ late penalty ensured the teams shared the spoils in a thrilling end to the 2-2 draw.
MacPherson said: “They were disappointed with their level of performance, because they’ve had a lot of plaudits in the last couple of months. We’ve got to get back to that.
“But, when you don’t play well, and you take a point, you’ve got to be happy with that.
“It was a poor game by the standards of the games we have been involved in recently
“For a game we thought we were going to lose, to get that late second goal, the players showed great character to react the way they did and get the ball up the park to get us a point.
“If you look at this league there are a lot of late goals. We’ve scored some and lost some but it was pleasing we’ve got something out of the game with a late goal.” Stranraer may be experiencing trouble off the park, in relation to financial hardship, but they were looking good on it. Heart loanee Angus Beith forced Michael White into a save and struck a low shot off the left-hand post with Sean Burns having to boot Cameron Elliot’s return effort clear off the line. But Queen’s came close to defying the run of play in 16 minutes. Anton Brady played a quick free kick into the box and Robbie Leitch was inches from connecting before Cameron Belford collected. On 22 minutes Queen’s were desperately unlucky not to go ahead with their first effort on goal, Ciaran Summers firing over a cross that Conor McVey rattled against the bar with a header. Queen’s started the second half better but Cummins had to be alert to clear a dangerous cross by Elliott at the near post. Kevin Green got out of jail when dispossessed by Turner, who slipped, and then Anderson brought out a save from White. Stranraer were still looking more menacing than the stuttering Spiders as the hour approached. And the Blues almost proved it two minutes later. Green was booked for a foul on the edge of the box and Hamill’s free kick whistled just wide.
But in 76 minutes Stranraer took the lead. Queen’s lost possession, Turner’s cross from the left cleared the opposition defence, and young Beith was all alone at the far post to head past White.
It probably needed that shock to force Queen’s awake, because they were level inside three minutes. Again it was fairly routine, Brady’s left-sided free kick being knocked out and Luke Donnelly driving the ball in.
A late goal show followed as The Blues went in front a minute from time. Queen’s were ripped open down the left and Turner fired past White from six yards. But Turner turned sinner with a blatant push on Docherty in the box and Cummins hammered the penalty passed Belford.