A superb strike from substitute Aidan Fitzpatrick wasn?t enough for Queens to take all three points against play-off rivals Inverness Caledonian Thistle, who hit back through Nikolay Todorov minutes after going behind.

 

 

Allan Johnston made two changes to his side that lost at home to Hibs on Monday with Isaiah Jones and Dapo Mebude returning to the Queens side at the expense of Niyah Joseph and Stephen Dobbie. Dan Pybus returned to the squad for the first time since February 12^th as Queens named a strong bench.

 

There was also a return to the 4-1-4-1 formation with Ayo Obileye moving back in front of the defence, Mebude and Jones were playing either side of Connor Shields.

 

The first chance fell that way of Caley Thistle?s dangerman Scott Allan, who created space for himself at the edge of the area but could only shoot straight into the grateful hands of Rohan Ferguson.

 

It was end-to-end stuff in the opening 10 minutes in all honesty, Shields tested his luck next but Mark Ridgers, who made a host of good saves throughout the game, more than matched the shot.

 

Shields tested the visitors defence all afternoon

 

James Maxwell then tested his luck after Queens mounted a dangerous counter-attack but saw his effort blocked by the retreating David Carson.

 

Maxwell lets fly

 

It was the home side who were having the better chances throughout the opening period but the visitors were certainly seeing most of the ball, knocking it about nicely in the middle of the park.

 

It really could have been one to Queens on 27 minutes though, through the unlikely source of Rhys Breen.

 

A tremendous ball in by midfield maestro Rhys McCabe was nodded towards goal by Breen but his header was tipped narrowly wide by Ridgers at full stretch.

 

Breen comes close

 

The Caley Jags keeper was forced into action again after 35 minutes, this time denying Shields from 20 yards.

 

At the other end of the pitch the visitors were constantly a threat. Todorov?s hold up play enabled Daniel Mackay and Miles Storey to make runs in wide areas and it was the latter who forced Ferguson into a brilliant save down to his left, managing to knock the ball away from Mackay who was coming in for the rebound.

 

 

A nil-nil draw at the break but certainly not a dull game. It was generally played at a good pace with both sides having chances, although Queens will feel like they should have made more of what hey had.

 

There were no substitutes made by either manager at the break, although it was very much Ciaran Dickson running things for the opening 15 minutes.

 

The 18-year-old was a menace in the Inverness third, constantly in their faces, winning the ball back and looking dangerous with ball at feet.

 

Jones was brought off for Fitzpatrick after 57 minutes in a move that looked preconceived given he isn?t long back from injury.

 

And just nine minutes after entering the pitch, Aidan Fitzpatrick gave Queens the lead with a spectacular solo goal.

Fitzpatrick sets off on his solo goal run

Fitzpatrick slams home his goal

 

The winger picked up the ball 40 or so yards form goal and ran at the Caley Jags defence with pace. After knocking the ball past Brad McKay, he fired powerfully with his left foot past the helpless Ridgers.

 

With it being such a tight game it was always going to take a moment of magic to separate the two sides ? but sadly for Queens, that lead was short lived.

 

Just two minutes later, on 68, a searching cross into the area found its way to Nikolay Todorov to nod in from the back post, despite being under pressure from both Gregor Buchanan and Breen.

 

Todorov levels the score

 

A win for either side would have been huge given the fact that every game today finished a draw, but only a Shane Sutherland effort from 15 yards caused either keeper any problems as the game somewhat petered out.

 

 

It?s hard to say who?ll be more pleased with that result, although the away side maintain there three point gap over Queens, although Queens play their game in hand on Tuesday against Raith Rovers at Palmerston. A reminder that the Raith game is a 7PM kick-off.