The League Two outfit took a well-deserved lead through Terry Masson. Gary Naysmith?s men huffed and puffed in the second half and breathed a huge sigh of relief when Stephen Dobbie equalised to send the tie to extra-time.

 

Birthday boy Lyndon Dykes put Queens ahead in the second half of extra-time and Dobbie netted his second from a seemingly impossible angle to ease any Queens supporters worries.

 

Queens? last visit to Links Park was in 2005 in a 2-1 win, the game is remembered for an incredible strike from Willie Gibson.

 

Naysmith made one change to the side that were held by Inverness Caley Thistle last week. Darren Brownlie returned to the starting line-up at the expense of Jason Kerr who was out on Scotland Under 21 international duty. Derek Lyle was missing from the squad with youngster Jesse Akubuine taking his place on the bench.

 

Queens were playing in grey for the second consecutive week under grey skies, and it mirrored the Doonhamers? first half performance.

 

The first chance of the afternoon fell to the hosts when Masson was played through and hit a low shot straight at Alan Martin. The former Dumbarton keeper spilled the ball to Connor McLaren but couldn?t get a proper connection and dragged his effort wide.

 

On-loan forward Chris Kane linked up with Dobbie on the edge of the box but the St Johnstone man couldn?t get on the end of the return ball. The visitors nearly pounced on an early defensive mistake as Dobbie was gifted a chance but the ball wouldn?t fall quickly enough for him and his shot was blocked.

 

Kane was in amongst the action once more after a corner kick fell to the striker and his powerful half-volley from 12 yards was instinctively saved by Montrose goalkeeper Allan Fleming.

 

The hosts took the lead on 23 minutes when the dangerous Masson created space and fired a first-time shot under the diving Martin.

 

Martin beaten

 

Queens had a chance to equalise immediately but Brownlie headed an Andy Stirling delivery wide of the mark.

 

Veteran striker Chris Templeman has caused Queens many problems in the past and it was same on Saturday as his link-up play created a chance for the impressive Liam Callaghan but the midfielder?s shot was deflected wide.

 

The last chance of the opening half fell to Naysmith?s men when Dobbie slid a ball through to Stirling at the edge of the box but his deflected shot looped over Fleming and bounced onto the top of the bar.

 

It wasn?t the greatest forty-five minutes for Queens and the team knew they?d have to improve if they wanted to stay in the Irn-Bru Cup.

 

Half Time- Montrose 1-0 QOS

 

Queens made their first substitution of the afternoon with Dykes on for Kane to kick-off the second half and immediately created two chances for the visitors to equalise but was denied twice by Fleming.

 

Queens continued to bombard the Montrose defence but did struggle to create any clear-cut chances with only a few long-range efforts being struck. 

 

Shaun Rooney`s dipping header was well-held on the line by Fleming, but the goalkeeper was bundled over the line by Dykes and referee Kevin Graham blew for a foul.

 

James McFadden and Connor Murray replaced Callum Tapping and Andy Stirling and they brought some width to the side.

 

Queens ramped up the pressure with plenty of corner-kicks but still struggled to get shots on target, with Dobbie having two long-range chances dragging wide.

 

Finally after much pressure Naysmith`s men found their equaliser through Stephen Dobbie. The ex-Blackpool attacker let the ball bounce in front of him from a cross, let it fell and fired home. It was harsh on brave Montrose- who would have felt they deserved to be in the hat for the next round and face extra-time.

 

Bulging net as Dobbie scores

 

Full Time- Montrose 1-1 QOS

 

The first chance of extra-time fell to the visitors after McFadden and Dykes linked-up and let-in substitute Murray one-on-one with Fleming but the youngster`s shot was saved once again by the keeper.

 

If Queens fans thought it would be all the Championship side in extra-time they were wrong as Graham Webster let loose an incredible long-range strike that had Martin beat but cracked off the woodwork.

 

Unlucky Montrose as Martin is beaten

 

Extra-time half-time- Montrose 1-1 QOS

 

Defender Scott Mercer was brought on for Shaun Rooney to become Queens` first ever fourth substitution.

 

Queens looked dominant in the final period but once again the young Montrose stopper denied Dobbie of his second of the afternoon.

 

The breakthrough finally came for the Doonhamers on 113 minutes when Dykes beat the offside trap and latched onto a long-ball. The Australian let the ball settle before rounding the keeper and slotted into the back of the net. 

 

Dykes rounds the keeper

and fires home

then turns to celebrate with the fans

and with the manager

 

Dobbie rounded off the scoring as he squeezed in an effort from the left byline into the net from the tightest of angles. 

Impossible to score from here - surely

Even more impossible now that the ball is heading away from goal

Dobbie magic makes the ball turn goalwards

Even Dobbie is impressed

Delight on the faces of the travelling fans

 

Full Time- Montrose 1-3 QOS

 

Queens made hard work to finish off the third tier outfit but will find out who they`ll face in the quarter-finals on Tuesday. Next up for Queens is a return to Palmerston Park for Championship action against Dunfermline.

 

Man of the match - Montrose keeper Fleming with some familiar Queens fans helping out