Queen’s Park 1 Ayr United 1 – Skipper seals point

QUEEN’S PARK drew their second meeting with Ayr United inside a week as sixth hosted fifth in the William Hill Championship.

In a quirk of the fixture list all five teams in the top half faced the bottom five – including the middle pairing here at The city Stadium.

And with goal difference separating them in the standings, there was similarly little between the sides on the pitch too.

Illness again ruled Roddy Macgregor out –  for a second time, so Sean Crighton made just one change to his starting line-up with  Michael Ruth in for Nikolay Todorov.

After defeating the Honest Men just four days ago, this began just as close as the last one before the breakthrough on the 24th minute.

It was the Spiders who fell behind to an Anton Dowds header that rattled Calum Ferrie’s crossbar and was deemed to have crossed the line despite the best efforts of the Spiders No1.

It was certainly close as he wrestled the ball at his post after the effort hit the woodwork.

Queen’s Park retaliated though and went into the interval level with another important goal from captain Euan Murray.

It wasn’t dissimilar to his vital leveller against St Johnstone as he fired in a half-volley off The city Stadium turf and high into the net after Callum Smith’s cross had been headed out of the six-yard area.

It was no less important though.

The Spiders head coach made two swaps at the break, Scott Martin off for Jamie Bradley and Todorov for Seb Drozd.

Then he was forced into another change with Henry Fieldson for Ricki Lamie after a stiff challenge on the 20-year-old.

There had been a few in the first half too with Aidan Connolly also needing treatment.

The rain began on the hour-mark in similar conditions to the win at Somerset Park but the chances were harder to come by despite play being focused on Ayr’s area at the Letherby Drive end of The city Stadium.

Ross McLean – on for Michael Ruth – had the home support on their feet with some left-wing footwork, stepping around George Finney with la croqueta then getting the better of the right-back to win a free-kick on the edge of the area with five minutes left after a brilliant advancing run from Matty Shiels.

In between times there were claims for a penalty when Todorov was hauled down attempting to meet a Jamie Bradley cross and then the same player caused another appeal with his set-piece fired against the wall.

None was forthcoming from ref Ryan Lee and in the last attempt to swing the match in Spiders’ favour Sean Crighton pitched in Liam McLeish for Callum Smith.

With four added minutes the Queen’s fans roared the team forward – but Ayr almost silenced them with a shot across Ferrie’s goal in the fourth minute of added time, and the points were shared.