Queens grabbed a share of the points from their Championship clash with Morton at Palmerston this afternoon as they twice came from behind to earn a hard fought point, and in the process, put an end to their four game losing run. The draw was Queens first of the season, and they had the width of the post to thank for preserving the point when with the last kick of the game, Morton hit the woodwork through Stefan McCluskey.
Following defeat at Kirkcaldy last time out, Queens made just one change with Lewis Kidd recalled to the starting line-up and Iain Russell missing out. There was a first home start for striker, Gary Oliver who lined up alongside Derek Lyle as Queens began in a 3-4-1-2 formation.
Oliver showed some great touches
From the kick -off Queens were on the front foot, and their early pressure saw them win the games first corner in the opening minute, and Ryan Conroy`s high, hanging delivery caused plenty of problems for the visiting defence before it was eventually cleared. The opening minutes of the game were all played in the Morton half as the home side began at a high tempo, and Jordan Marshall almost became an unlikely first goalscorer after a cross from Lyle found him unmarked at the far post, but after an initial good first touch, his final shot flashed wide of the target. The hosts continued to ask all the early questions, and Conroy`s excellent cross field pass found Kidd in plenty of space down the right, and his first time delivery into the box was well defended at the expense of another corner. Again Conroy`s delivery caused problems as once more the visitors were forced to concede another corner, and although the set-piece was repelled, the ball eventually found it`s way out to Marshall and his measured cross was met by the head of Kyle Jacobs who could only direct his header straight at the Morton `keeper.
The visitors had hardly ventured into the Queens half in the opening few minutes, but they had their first sight of the target on 6 minutes, when McCluskey gathered the ball in midfield before shooting straight at Robbie Thomson. Just a matter of seconds later, and with Queens looking the most likely of the sides to find a breakthrough, Morton took the lead. The visitors pushed forward to put the Queens defence under pressure and a mix up involving Brownlie, and Dowie saw the ball spin loose and as Chris Higgins tried to sweep the ball to safety, he looked on in frustration as his side footed attempted clearance flew past Thomson and settled in the bottom far corner of the Queens net.
Captain Higgins shares the fans behind the goals disbelief at his opening goal
Queens responded well to the set back, and a decent run by Alex Harris saw him set up a shooting chance for Oliver, with the striker`s well hit effort being turned away by `keeper Gaston. There was no doubting the fact that Morton had been boosted by their good fortune, and they began to stroke the ball around confidently with both Barr,and Forbes, in midfield, and Johnstone up front starting to cause more problems for the uncertain looking Queens defence.The visitors really should have extended their lead when Barr combined well with McCluskey and then wastefully drove the return pass high over the bar from a really promising position just 8-yards from goal.
The running and awareness of Oliver was promising for Queens in the opening exchanges, and a foul on him in `Ryan Conroy territory` offered up the chance for Queens to draw level, but although Conroy`s attempt was high enough to go over the Morton defensive wall, the shot lacked power and was comfortably held by Gaston.
Lewis Kidd was having some joy attacking down the right wing, and he showed good skill to cut inside two defenders before seeing his cross blocked away for another corner to the hosts. The set-piece from Conroy went deep to the back post where it was headed back by Lyle into the 6-yard box, but under pressure from both Dowie, and Higgins, `keeper Gaston claimed well to end the attack. Kidd was soon involved again after Harris picked him out, and this time his superb first time cross fell nicely for Marshall at the far post, but once again his effort from a pretty difficult angle flashed wide of the target. A lung bursting 50-yard run from Forbes threatened to carve the Queens defence apart as the Morton man battled past 3 defenders before a timely intervention by Dowie halted his ambitions.
Just when it seemed as though Queens would go into the break a goal behind, it was their turn to receive an element of good fortune. Conroy did well to find Oliver on the edge of the area, and although the young striker was tightly marked, he showed good skill to create a shooting chance for himself, and although his shot was blocked, the ball broke straight to Derek Lyle who was on hand to drive the ball past Gaston to send his side into the interval on level terms.
Derek Lyle doing what he does best
That`s how to finish
HALF-TIME QUEENS 1-1 MORTON
The second period was a little slow to get going, but when it did, it was Queens who had the first chance of the half. Ryan Conroy found Jordan Marshall on the left and his delivery into the area picked out the run of Oliver, but his glancing header drifted wide of the far upright. The recent signing was involved in the action minutes later when Lewis Kidd intercepted a pass in midfield and after making good ground his pass into the path of the over-lapping Oliver should have ended better for Queens, but he sliced his shot well wide of the target and the chance had gone.
The home side were certainly creating the better of the chances, and a good passing move involving Higgins, Oliver, and then finally Conroy led to the midfielder warming the hands of `keeper Gaston who was happy to push the ball over the bar for a corner. The resulting corner saw Queens go very close to taking the lead. Conroy`s floated delivery was met by a powerful header from Lyle, and although Gaston reacted well to push the ball out, it fell nicely for Andy Dowie who was able send a firm header towards the far corner, but a covering defender was in the right place to head the ball off the line.
As the home side continued to apply the pressure they went close again as this time Oliver and Marshall combined to set up a chance for Jacobs, but once again the final header was off target. Darren Brownlie became the first player to be cautioned for a foul on the lively McCluskey,and then just moments later, after 65 minutes Morton regained the lead. A long ball from defence down the left fell to McCluskey and his cross into the box was perfect for Johnstone - who had got beyond the Queens defence - to side foot home from close range. That was just about Morton`s first threatening attack of the half, and came as yet another sickening blow for Queens at a time when they were clearly creating the better opportunities.
Doonhamer Johnstone taps in the second `Ton goal
Once again, the home side responded in a positive way to going behind, and a mazy run from Oliver led to them winning another corner. On this occasion Conroy picked out the unmarked Harris on the edge of the box, although unfortunately for most in the crowd of 1565, the Morton `keeper was not troubled by Harris` effort, and as Queens looked to try and gain parity a header by Jacobs from yet another corner was also well wide of the goal.The hosts then made their first change with 15 minutes to go as Mark Millar, replaced Lewis Kidd, with Harris moving out to the right side of midfield. As the game moved into it`s final 10 minutes, and with Queens facing a fifth straight defeat in all competitions,they drew level. A foul by Lamie on Oliver - which saw the Morton player booked - led to another set-piece and this time Conroy`s delivery caused confusion in the middle of the penalty box, and as a group of players challenged for the ball, the last touch came off of the unfortunate Morton defender Gasparotto and flew beyond Gaston to give Queens their equaliser.
A combination of Brownlie and Gasparotto score the final equaliser
On the balance of play, it was a goal that Queens probably merited, and things might have got even better for the home side following their next attack. Higgins swept a long ball forward and an excellent first touch from Harris saw him cut inside before finding Oliver and moving forward to claim the return pass. Oliver`s ball was precise and Harris was very unlucky to see his curling effort fall just the wrong side of the post as Queens went searching for a winning goal. Chris Higgins became the second Queens player to be booked as his rather cynical challenge left referee Dallas with no other option than to caution the defender.
New loan signing, Liam Coogans came on for the final 4 minutes replacing Alex Harris, but it was the visitors who almost left Dumfries with all 3 points as right at the very end, Queens got a huge slice of luck. Chris Higgins lost possession midway inside his own half, and after taking advantage of the error, McCluskey made for goal and then unleashed a cracking drive drive that flew across Thomson, but thankfully for Queens, smashed against the inside of the post. That was the last kick of the game, and just as Queens benefited from the last kick of the first half, they also benefited from the final kick of the 2nd half.
So close to a winner as a Morton shot crashes off the inside of the post in the very last minute of the match
Sponsors gave their man-of-the-match award to Andy Dowie as Queens battled back to take their first point at home since the opening day of the season.