Stand-in managers Wullie Gibson and Stephen Dobbie made a trio of changes to Tuesday?s team with Dobbie, Euan East and Joe McKee coming in for Niyah Joseph, Connor Shields and Calvin McGrory, with the latter two both appearing on the bench.

Queens started the game on the front foot, winning a pair of corners in the opening 10 minutes, although weren?t able to test Viljami Sinisalo in the Ayr goal.

Despite Queens? good work in the opening stages, the hosts went ahead with their first chance of the game on 13 minutes. A deep corner by Joe Chalmers was met by Michael Miller at the back-post, who made no mistake in nodding home from close range.

Miller nets with not a Queens defender in shot

 

The opening goal was somewhat against the run of play and things quickly went from bad to worse for the Doonhamers when Michael Miller scored his second goal in five minutes, again from a corner. Another deep cross from Chalmers was met by Michael Moffat, who nodded down to Miller in the six-yard box to tap home.

Although being two goals down, Queens never let their heads drop, continuing to probe away at the Ayr back-line, who were dropping deeper in their own-half as the first period grew old.

The final 10 minutes in the first-half were one-way traffic, with the Doonhamers having a host of chances to pull one back. Dobbie was first to try his luck, running through the Ayr midfield, firing low at Sinisalo?s goal, however the Finnish ?keeper done well to save.

The keeper did well to save this Dobbie effort

 

After 40 minutes, Gregor Buchanan headed down to Ayo Obileye in the Ayr box, but Obileye lost his footing at the key moment, just as he was about to shoot from close range.

A minute later Sinisalo was called into action again as McKee?s corner was glanced goalwards by East, but the on-loan Aston Villa goalie tipped his effort over the bar.

It was a frustrating opening 45 minutes for Queens who were probably the better side but went in two goals down courtesy of a couple corners.

The second-half got underway much like the first-half ended, with the visitors very much on top.

McKee was the first to test Sinisalo out, his free-kick from a tight angle drawing the Finn into a smart save to tip over the bar.

From the resulting corner though Queens were awarded a lifeline. Jack Baird, who?d been wrestling with Buchanan at corners for the whole of the first-half was adjudged to have dragged Queens? vice-captain to the ground and referee Steven McLean awarded the penalty.

Buchanan is dragged down for the penalty 

 

Stephen Dobbie stepped up to take it and made no mistake, firing into the top-left corner.

Dobbie scores the penalty

 

It really was the absolute least Queens deserved and they kept pressing on searching for an equaliser.

James Maxwell, who?d earlier been booked, and Nortei Nortey were getting joy down either side, although no one was able to get on the end of their promising crosses.

After 66 minutes though Queens were reduced to 10-men. A powerful run from Maxwell allowed him to play a one-two with Dobbie, before the Rangers-loanee went down in the box. However, despite their seemingly being contact, Steven McLean brandished a second-yellow for simulation, and the 18-year-old was sent back to the changing room.

Gibson brought himself on to deputise at left-back, while Queens switched to a 4-3-2, with Harry Robinson making way.

There was enough contact to bring Maxwell down but the wrong player saw a red card.

There was only one person who thought it was a second yellow.

 

The away team were still able to cause problems though, with Nortey delivering one or two more promising crosses. The introduction of Tommy Goss on 84 minutes allowed Queens to go slightly more direct, although Ayr still posed a  serious threat on the counter-attack.

Moffat, who so often scores against Queens, tested Ferguson from 14-yards out but the ?keeper was more than a match to his high shot.

Just as the game looked out of reach for Queens, the hosts were reduced to 10 men. Luke McCowan, who?d already seen red against Queens at Palmerston last season, clocked Gregor Buchanan on the head for no real reason and was shown a second-yellow.

After 95 minutes, Sinisalo made yet another exquisite save, this time to deny Buchanan. A long Rhys McCabe throw-in was glanced goalwards by Buchanan, but Sinisalo acrobatically tipped his effort wide.

The keeper makes a match winning save to deny Goss a last gasp equaliser

 

Queens can count themselves unlucky to lose at Somerset, some sloppy defending from corners costing them any points on what was otherwise a promising performance.

The Doonhamers welcome Raith Rovers to Palmerston next Saturday, the match being streamed live on QosTV.

Finlay Jack