17-year-old Aidan Smith leaped off the bench to bag a dream goal and a well-earned point for Queens against Rangers.

The Doonhamers travelled to Ibrox anticipating a bumper crowd following the appointment of a new board to the club. But Smith sent Rangers back to the drawing board as his equaliser cancelled out Haris Vuckic`s second half strike. 

James Fowler was forced in to making two changes following Friday`s disappointing Scottish Cup quarter final against Falkirk. Paul Burns and Mark Durnan missed the game through injury with Danny Carmichael and Mark Millar replacing the duo in search of a second win against the Ibrox men this season.

A lot had changed since for the blue half of Glasgow since the meeting between the two sides in the middle of December - most notably the owners and the manager - but also the league positions as Queens find themselves fourth in the table. 

With Falkirk hot on the heels of the Doonhamers, anything from Ibrox would be a bonus in the race for the play-offs. 

It looked as if Nicky Clark was coming back to haunt Queens after only three minutes when his shot flew inches past Zander Clark`s post. The frontman played a superb ball over the Doonhamers defence before receiving the ball back from Nicky Law before unleashing a venomous effort from 18 yards.

Chances were few and far between in the opening 25 minutes with the hosts seeing far more of the ball than James Fowler`s men. 

Just before the half hour mark, Rangers should have taken the lead through Jon Daly.  Vuckic tried his luck from 25 yards out and Clark could only parry the shot right in to the path of Daly who somehow failed to find the net from six yards out. 

It was a huge let-off for Queens but the debt was repaid within minutes as Michael Paton struck the post. A defensive mishap allowed Gavin Reilly to play in Paton who went one-on-one with Lee Robinson only to beat the `keeper and watch his effort cannon off the post.

Paton strikes but hits the post

 

The Palmerston outfit grew in confidence and Iain Russell forced Robinson in to a save for the first time in the match when he breezed past the Rangers back line. The Gers stopper pulled off a great save and Reilly couldn`t connect properly with the rebound and headed well over the bar. 

When Referee John McKendrick blew the whistle for half time, the game`s momentum was quashed and there were no clearcut chances for a majority of the second period.

It was only with 13 minutes to go that Queens found themselves unlucky to be a goal behind as  Vuckic netted the opener. Clark looked to win a header in the box and the ball fell perfectly for the Slovenian who fired home from six yards out. 

But Queens refused to go down without a fight and with four minutes to Aidan Smith was the super sub for James Fowler as he drew the game level. The 17-year-old - making only his second appearance for the first team - was quick to pounce on the ball following a Robinson save and he raced away to the travelling Doonhamers to support.

Smith beats Robinson to equalise

Smith turns to the visiting fans to celebrate

A new goalscoring hero for the Queens fans

Not only was it a huge moment for the youngster, it was a huge moment for Queens as they held on to continue the push for the play-offs.

Queens now sit one point ahead of fifth-placed Falkirk after 26 game in the Championship, facing sixth placed Raith this Saturday at Palmerston.