QUEENS SETTLE FOR A SHARE OF THE SPOILS

Last updated : 02 April 2006 By Duke of Galloway

This was a valuable point for Queen of The South in their bid to avoid a relegation play- off spot and at the same time a disappointment for Ross County in their hopes of catching leaders St Mirren.

Queens manager Ian McCall said: "For the first time, we have our fate in our own hands, sitting a point above Stranraer and the players are determined to put in a strong finish."

Queens started strongly and keeper Ian McCaldon had to dive across goal to prevent Graham Weir getting in a diving header.

But Ross County should have opened the scoring on the quarter hour when the Dumfries defenders allowed a long ball through to David Winters, but with only the advancing keeper Richie Barnard to beat, the striker put the ball past the post.

Then John Rankin beat the keeper with a header, but sweeper Stuart Lovell was quickly in to clear.

It was only a tremendous diving save McCaldon that kept out Queens just before the interval when he flew across goal to keep out a free-kick from Eric Paton.

And just after the break he pulled off another fine save, touching a shot from Willie Gibson round the post.

It was pretty much end-to-end stuff, and Barnard had to dive to halt a shot from Gary McSwegan. Then Rankin had a shot which beat the keeper but went outside the post.

Queens were unlucky in the dying minutes when a header from Jim Thomson was cleared off the line by Stuart Anderson.

Ross County caretaker boss Gardner Spiers was disappointed at the loss of two points and said: "With St Mirren being beaten, we can mathematically still catch them and we are not giving up any hope."

DUKE'S VERDICT - Queens can be well satisfied with a draw and another clean sheet against a well organised Dingwall outfit who are flying high near the top of the league. Once again we gave nothing away in defence but chances up front were few and far between with Weir and Thomson finding it hard going against a big Dingwall defence. Sean O'Connor came on for part of the second half and the big man looks in good form.


DUKE'S MAN OF THE MATCH - Another immaculate performance from Lovell with Paton not far behind but this time I give it to Gibson who gave the County defence problems with his darting runs and trickery.

A Paton free-kick goes close
Queens press for a winner

Sean O'Connor back in action