AYR UNITED 2
Muirhead (73, pen), Maxwell (79)
QOS 1
Connelly (68)
James Maxwell scored a stunning goal to sink his old club as Ayr came from behind to beat Queens.
The loan Ranger, who spent last season at Palmerston, had a header disallowed before Lee Connelly fired the visitors ahead with his sixth goal in seven games.
Skipper Aaron Muirhead equalised with a penalty to set up a rousing finish where Maxwell struck to allow Ayr to leapfrog Queens in the table.
Relieved home boss Jim Duffy admitted: “In the first half, Queens were by far the better team and had us under a lot of pressure.
“We changed the shape in the second half and nullified a reasonable amount of their attacks.
“When you go a goal down it’s all about character and we showed tremendous desire to get back into the game. I was thrilled with the response.”
Willie Gibson sent a low drive skidding past for Queens who went close again when Innes Cameron fired in a shot which Aidan McAdams dived to push aside.
The Palmerston men were knocking on the door as they continued to ask questions of the home defence.
Cameron rose to thunder a header from a Max Johnston cross off the bar. The ball was scrambled clear only as far as Gibson whose fierce shot was beaten aside by McAdams.
The visitors missed a glorious chance straight after the interval when Ruben Soares Junior fired over from only three yards out.
Ayr thought they had broken the deadlock in 64 minutes when
Maxwell rose to head home an Andy Murdoch cross only to be ruled offside.
Queens dashed straight upfield and doubled Ayr’s despair when Connelly fired home a Junior cutback.
Markus Fitzpatrick headed a Steven Bradley corner off the bar as Ayr pressed for an immediate reply.
They got their reward in 73 minutes when Joshua Debayo brought down Maxwell for a penalty which Muirhead rifled past Brynn.
Six minutes later, Ayr completed their fightback when Maxwell smashed home a left-foot shot from the edge of the box.
Queens’ boss Allan Johnston claimed: “We should at least have got a draw for all we put in.
“It was great to see Lee Connelly score but it was massive having to take him because of his hamstring. It’s never good when you have to take off one of your best players.”