Livingston left it late to snatch a point from Queens and deny the Doonhamer`s first victory over the Lions this season.

Headers from Iain Russell and Gavin Reilly had James Fowler`s team flying high but two goals in the last ten minutes from Danny Mullen and Gary Glen seen the hosts snatch a 2-2 draw.

With Queens` failure to beat Livingston in three previous attempts this season, it was always going to be tough for the Doonhamers but Queens went in to the clash with bags of optimism thanks to two wins in the last two games against fellow play-off contenders Falkirk and Raith.

Queens named the same side which swept aside the Bairns 3-0 last week but the Lions were always going to have something to say in how the table finishes this May.

In a cold and blustery opening 20 minutes at the Energy Assets Arena, there wasn`t a flutter of a chance for either side with both teams playing some sloppy football. A clever free-kick between Ian McShane and John Baird just after the 20-minute mark was as good as it got for the crowd in attendance but the striker`s shot was tame. 

Michael McKenna registered the host`s first effort but his volley posed more threat to the ballboy in the stand behind Zander Clark`s goal than the `keeper himself. Livingston launched another attack after 30 minutes, this time Keaghan Jacobs took advantage of Andy Dowie`s error but the midfielder watched his shot go agonisingly by the post.

Queens broke the deadlock after the half hour mark as Iain Russell netted against his former side. Daniel Carmichael blasted a shot from 20 yards which deflected right in to Russell`s path and he headed home from six yards out. In all honesty, it was Queens` first real chance of the game but that didn`t matter to those who made the trip from Dumfries.

Russell heads home

Right before half time, Russell should have made it 2-0 to Fowler`s side but Darren Jamieson produced a top drawer save to deny the winger his second of the day. Gavin Reilly and Mark Kerr had chances following the effort but they failed to test the Lions `keeper.

Jamieson denies Russell

The half time whistle went and an unappetising first half came to an end and Queens were delighted with the lead.

The second half started at a much more frenetic pace and Gary Glen almost equalised for the Lions but Zander Clark denied the ex-Hearts player by pulling off a superb diving save. From the resulting corner, Craig Sives almost poked home for Livi but once again Queens put bodies on the line to deny the centre back.

Zander makes a great stop

John McGlynn`s men were creeping in to the game and they brought on Myles Hyppolyte - the man who knocked Queens out of the League Cup - and within moments the Lions had a penalty shout turned down. Claims for a handball by Mark Durnan were waved away by Referee Kevin Graham.

Queens quashed the Lions pressure by doubling their lead just before the 70 minute mark through Reilly. Baird sent a wonderful looping cross to the back post and Reilly could hardly miss from five yards out and the striker headed home for his seventh of the season. The goal was almost a carbon copy of Reilly`s goal against Falkirk last week - and the Doonhamers were looking to go on and score three in a similar fashion as well.

Reilly scores with a diving header

However, it was the hosts who hit the game`s third goal as Danny Mullen produced a wonderful goal. The winger flew by the Queens defence and - after a few unfortunate slips - he blasted in to the top corner to give Livi a lifeline.

There were more worrying scenes for James Fowler as Stephen McKenna hobbled off ten minutes after coming on. The Queens gaffer will be hoping the midfielder is being cautious after his return from a lengthy absence.

But it went from bad to worse for Queens as Glen equalised for Livingston with three minutes to go. The winger scrambled the ball home in the scrappiest of fashions but the Livi supporters didn`t care as they snatched a point out of nothing.

Glen smashes home the equaliser

The draw means the Doonhamers remain third in the table behind Hearts and Rangers but with every point vital in the Championship this season, it could be a matter of two points dropped rather than a point gained.