HAMILTON kept the promotion race in sight as manager Billy Reid got one over on old foe Gus MacPherson, who must already be bracing himself for a long, cold winter battling to avoid the drop.
Following last week’s capitulation against Ayr, the home side would have been delighted with their start, climaxing in a glorious curling Matt Paterson strike to take the lead just after the quarter-hour mark.
Queens have never been far from the drop zone this season, yet showed enough spirit to dust themselves down, control the remainder of the half and deservedly go in level courtesy of a close-range Kevin Smith header from a corner.
With both teams serving up more in the way of pugilism than panache, clear-cut chances were at a premium, although amongst all the wayward blooterings Queens were within inches of the lead as sub Danny Carmichael saw his shot hacked off the line by Jim McAlister.
Having survived at one end it was Accies who would take the points, sub Dougie Imrie superbly crashing home from 18 yards before Grant Anderson scored on the counter inside stoppage time as the visitors piled foward for an equaliser.