Spiders stunner as Rovers rescue point

MacPherson’smendeniedatthedeath

Queen’s Park ........... 2 Albion Rovers .......... 2

Queen’s Park suffered a crushing blow in their battle to beat the drop after squandering a two-goal lead.

Goals from on-loan Morton defender Jack Iredale and Adam Cummins had the Spiders 2-0 up and cruising on Saturday.

But Alan Trouten and sub Joao Victoria struck twice in less than a minute as time ran out to rescue a point for Rovers which was somewhat undeserved.

There was further disappointment for Queen’s Park after the final whistle when they learned that bottom dogs Forfar Athletic had overturned a twogoal deficit to beat League One leaders Ayr United and move to within a point of the Spiders.

Queen’s gaffer MacPherson stuck with the same team which started the impressive 3-0 win at Forfar.

And the home side went ahead after just three minutes when Iredale headed home from midfielder David Galt’s corner.

It was the perfect start for Queen’s and life got even better in the 11th minute as they doubled their lead.

The dangerous Galt was tripped in the box by Rovers defender Daniel Lightbody and Cummins stepped up to convert the resulting penalty after referee Kevin Graham pointed to the spot.

Two goals in the space of eight minutes certainly warmed up the shivering Spiders supporters but they would have been living on their nerves as Rovers had chances to pull one back.

In the 26th minute Trouten flicked on for young Connor Shields, who surged into the box and blasted a shot against the post from a tight angle.

The Spiders had Anton Brady to thank seconds later for he was in the right place to nod a Sean Higgins header off the line as the pressure mounted.

Rovers have had major problems defensively all season and MacPherson’s men should have made it 3-0 in the 28th minute. Captain Sean Burns delivered a pacy low cross from the right, which was turned past the post by William Mortimer.

Queen’s held their advantage to the interval and went on to make a solid start to the second half, controlling possession without posing too much of a threat in the final third.

Boss MacPherson decided to change his strikeforce midway through the half, with Dominic Doherty and James MacLennan replacing Luke Donnelly and Mortimer.

There was little to write home about until the final minute of the game, when Rovers staged an unlikely comeback.

Trouten headed home a Graeme Holmes delivery at the back post before Victoria slammed a Shields cross past keeper Michael White.

Boos greeted referee Kevin Graham’s final whistle and the Spiders would have to pick themselves up for yesterday’s tough trip to Alloa Athletic.

Aussie defender Iredale admitted dropping two points so late in the day was hard to swallow.

He said: “It’s tough to take, having played so well for the majority of the game and conceding the two goals so late. We’re frustrated.

“The boys in the changing room are heartbroken. You can see how much it means to them and how much effort had been put into the game.

“We went two goals up early but to let it slip through our fingers is not a nice feeling.

“The situation at the end magnifies it. We were the better team for the majority of the game and we defended well until the last five minutes.”