Queens earned a point at second placed Falkirk in an entertaining 2-2 draw. A brace from Stephen Dobbie was enough to set up a fifth placed encounter with Dunfermline next week.
Gary Naysmith made three changes from last week`s 2-1 home defeat to Dumbarton. Scott Mercer, Lyndon Dykes and Dan Carmichael came into the starting eleven in place for Connor Murray, Dale Hilson and Connor McManus.
Falkirk boss Peter Houston came into the match to cement their second position in the Championship. The Bairns side was littered with former Queen of the South players. Goalkeeper Robbie Thomson, Lewis Kidd, Mark Kerr and John Baird started with Bob McHugh on the bench.
Fancy dress final away day
The hosts started the brightest and won a free-kick, a couple of yards from the penalty box when centre-back Darren Brownlie fouled Nathan Austin on 3 minutes.
Ex-Queens striker Baird fired a free kick towards goal that was deflected out for Falkirk`s first corner of the match. Luke Leahy rose highest at the back post to direct the ball towards goal, but his header ended on top of Lee Robinson`s net.
Brownlie stays down to deflect the effort from Baird wide
The Bairns continued to pressure the Queens defence early doors and after a succession of corners they had another chance to take the advantage but Craig Sibbald`s set piece into the box was too heavy for Baird and Peter Grant.
Queens battled the storm and were rewarded on 9 minutes. A quick throw-in from Carmichael went over the head of right-back Kidd to Dykes and the forward burst into the penalty box and cut back to Stephen Dobbie, who travelled at least 50 yards to get in the position and finished past Thomson for his 25th goal of the season.
Goal maker and goal taker celebrate
Houston`s men immediately set out looking for an equaliser with a number of attacks on the Queens goal. The home side drew level on 31 minutes when Austin headed home from close range after the ball broke back to him from a Mercer clearance.
Austin beats his former team mate Mercer to equalise
Lee Robinson pulled off a terrific full-stretch save to deny left-back Luke Leahy`s headed effort on the stroke of half time.
Robinson keeps the ball out of the goal
Austin follows up with a knee into Robinson
HT FALKIRK 1-1 QOS
After the restart it did take a while for both teams to settle with little chances to note. Both sides made changes on the hour mark. Winger Dom Thomas replaced Joe Thomson whilst Falkirk made a double substitution with McHugh and Fraser Aird replacing Lewis Kidd and John Baird.
Striker Austin claimed for a penalty moments later but referee Crawford Allan wasn`t interested.
The Doonhamers made their second change of the afternoon, with right-back Mercer replaced by Callum Tapping. The midfielder has been floored with an injury for the majority of the season. Kyle Jacobs reverted to right-back position for the remainder of the match.
Tapping avoids a nasty challenge
The match needed something to spark it into life and on 71 minutes when referee Allan pointed to spot after he deemed Robinson brought down Austin. The decision infuriated the travelling support and players, all claiming no contact was made.
Dumfries born defender Aaron Muirhead hammered home the penalty and celebrated in front of the 199 Queens fans.
Muirhead beats Robinson from the spot
But it was the Queens support who`d be celebrating seven minutes later when Thomas was given time and space to measure a cross from the left side and Dobbie got in between Leahy and Grant to place a great header into the left corner. The goal took his league goalscoring total to 19- level with Hibernian`s Jason Cummings.
A flying Thomson cant deny Dobbie his second
Dobbie thanks Thomas for the perfect setup
The former Blackpool hitman could`ve grabbed a hat-trick on 86 minutes but he dragged his shot wide.
Two minutes from the end McHugh had the ball in the net but the assistant referee`s flag went up. It was a tight call with Peter Houston claiming in his post-match press conference that he was level.
FULL TIME FALKIRK 2-2 QOS
Queens earned a point at Falkirk for the second time this season, with the same 2-2 scoreline.
Naysmith`s men will face Allan Johnston`s Dunfermline side next week for a battle for fifth place in the Championship.