New boy strikes for The Spiders

QUEEN’S PARK ................................................................. 1 COWDENBEATH .............................................................. 0

Ray McKinnon’s new-look Queen’s Park continued their promotion play-off hunt with a win over Cowdenbeath.

The Spiders took the lead as loanee Stuart Morrison cut the ball back for new boy Craig Slater to net comfortably from eight yards past Josh Rae in the Blue Brazil goal.

The hosts had the majority of the possession, but were not putting Rae under any pressure.

It was 70 minutes before he had to take a shot from distance from Salim Kouider-Aissa.

The visitors put one header wide and a shot from Fraser Mullen that narrowly cleared the bar.

Then Wullie Muir had to block low down from the bustling David Cox after the defence failed to deal with a cross.

Cox was booked for dissent in 78, then a minute later he missed a peach of a chance to equalise, sending a cutback over the top from 10 yards. The visitors were getting closer.

Queen’s lived dangerously to the end. They only just survived a free kick right on 90 minutes, being penalised 20 yards out in a scramble under a punt, and Mullen blasted the kick just over.

But into added time the club needed Muir to come to the rescue again, making a goal-line clearance to deny Michael Herd the equaliser.

Gaffer McKinnon said:“I thought the boys played some lovely football in the first half. It’s three victories and a draw now for us which is good and I’m delighted we could get another one against Cowdenbeath.”

Ciaran Summers featured in the game as a trialist making his final appearance for the club as he moves due to work.