QUEEN’S PARK 2 Fox (50), Murray (73) INVERNESS CT 1 Mckay (18)

Queen’s Park skipper Simon Murray thumped in the winner as the Spiders came from behind to defeat Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2-1 at Ochilview.

The result took the Spiders into the play-off places, only four points behind leaders Ayr United. They also leapfrogged Raith Rovers who they face on Saturday.

Billy Mckay had the Highlanders in front at half-time. However a rousing second-half display from Owen Coyle’s side saw Charlie Fox level before Murray grabbed the winner with 17 minutes to go.

The hosts had started brightly and claimed for a penalty in the first minute when the darting Dom

Thomas appeared to be hauled back. However referee Scott Lambie was not interested.

Four minutes later, a piercing Thomas pass released Murray to run on the visitors’ goal and his low shot looked to be heading in until Cameron Mackay got the slightest touch to turn the ball round for a corner.

Caley made the most of keeping their goal intact by taking the lead on 18 minutes when a fine chipped pass from Sean Welsh found McKay who held off his marker before letting the ball bounce and crashing a shot past Calum Ferrie.

Midway through the opening half Murray reached a Thomas corner, but his header flashed wide with Mackay showing a safe pair of hands shortly afterwards as he grabbed a fierce Joe Thomson shot from 25 yards.

Ferrie prevented his side going two behind on 35 minutes when he leaped to his left to clutch a Mckay header from a Nathan Shaw cross with a strong Murray run and cross finding no takers as Queens looked to level before the break.

At the start of the second half the Spiders had a Lee Kilday strike ruled out. However, they got the leveller in 50 minutes when Fox rose high at the back post to head home a Thomas corner.

Owen Coyle’s side were dominant by now and Pat Jarrett was unlucky when his shot came back off the base of a post after he had been set up by Thomas.

The winner came when Thomson won possession in midfield and slipped a pass out to substitute Grant Savoury who skipped past David Carson before sending in a low cross that Murray volleyed in from four yards.

The winning margin looked set to be increased in the last minute as Thomson broke clear, only for his shot to rebound back off the woodwork.