RAITH ROVERS 1 Hardie (10) QUEEN OF THE SOUTH 1 Dobbie (24)

THE points were shared after a tortuous encounter in the Stark’s Park sunshine with both Raith and Queens looking nervously over their shoulders as the battle to avoid relegation becomes increasingly intense.

“It was an evenly matched game,” acknowledged Rovers boss John Hughes. “Our energy and intensity levels dropped compared with the game against Dundee United last week.

“But we took a point and that keeps us going.”

Hughes fielded an unchanged starting line up from the team which defeated United and the momentum gained from that victory seemed to provide the Kirkcaldy side with suitable motivation during the early stages.

They took the lead with just 10 minutes on the clock.

Club captain Jason Thomson was the architect, the defender threading a sublime pass through to Ryan Hardie, leaving the on-loan Rangers striker free to advance on goal before driving a low shot beyond Queens’ keeper Lee Robinson.

Clearly concerned at the possibility of extending their recent four-game winless run, the visitors were quick to respond and after Joseph Thomson’s shot was blocked bravely by Rovers’ defender Craig Barr, the Dumfries restored parity in controversial circumstances midway through the first half.

Stephen Dobbie curled in a 20-yard free kick which struck a post and appeared to bounce back into play but ref Colin Steven, on the advice of his assistant, indicated the ball had crossed the line and awarded the goal.

With the two sides cancelling each other out, the second half produced little in the way of incident as the game stumbled along to an inevitable stalemate.

Doonhamers boss Gary Naismith’s reaction mirrored that of his counterpart Hughes.

“It was a poor game,” he admitted.

“We didn’t deserve to win and we didn’t deserve to lose but since Yogi came to Raith they’ve had good results so, in that context, its a good point for us.”