The points were shared in this afternoons Championship clash at Palmerston as Queens and Livingston played out a 1-1 draw. The game was far less entertaining than the Challenge Cup meeting  a few weeks ago, and in a game that either side could have won, Queens will feel slightly happier with the point considering that they played out the last 20 minutes with only 10-men, following the dismissal of player-coach, James Fowler, for two bookable offences.

     Once again, Queens named an unchanged line-up, and continued with the 4-4-2 formation that has been a success so far this season, whilst visitors Livingston went into the game boosted by their convincing midweek victory over Hearts in the Challenge Cup.

      In bright sunshine, the visitors got the game under way and although they had the better of the early possession, they were unable to put any real pressure on the home defence. By contrast, Queens looked more than capable of causing problems for the away side, and after the first few minutes had passed, Queens started to settle,and after just 6 minutes a good proportion of the home support thought that their side had made an early breakthrough. After being awarded a free-kick some 30- yards out, Ian McShane`s delivery was cleared out as far as James Fowler, the player-coach hoisted a high ball back into the box that was guided past Livvy `keeper Jamieson by the head of Gavin Reilly, but as soon as the ball had left the young-striker`s head, the near side assistant raised his flag to indicate that Reilly was in an offside position, very disappointing for the home fans in a crowd of 1805.

      Just seconds later, Queens were awarded another free-kick from almost the same spot, this time McShane elected to shoot, but pulled his effort a few yards wide of the target. The visitors won the game`s first corner after a good run from Hippolyte, but Queens dealt with the set-piece comfortably enough. A quick break down the right involving Iain Russell, and Danny Carmichael saw the winger skip past his marker and send in a cross, but it was too near to the `keeper who collected comfortably. It was an encouraging sign for the home fans, and Carmichael was involved again moments later as once again he got to the bye-line, this time his cross picked out Reilly whose shot on the turn flew just wide.

      The hosts were now well in control of the game, and prompted by McShane in the middle of the park, they increased the pressure on the visitors. After collecting a loose ball in midfield, Carmichael drove forward, and although his effort was blocked, the ball ran kindly for McShane who was unlucky to see his fine drive only just clear the crossbar. Then came the best move of the half as far as Queens were concerned. Fowler began the move with a neat ball into McShane, and he in turn found Russell cutting in from the left, the former Livingston man might have gone for goal, but instead he played the ball back across goal towards Derek Lyle, but under strong pressure, Lyle could only steer his effort past the far upright. Once more Queens attacked at pace through Carmichael, and Reilly, and when the ball found it`s way to Russell, the forward`s exceptional close control and skill saw him work an opening for himself, though unfortunately his final shot lacked the power to test Jamieson.

       As the home side continued to dominate the game, Russell again went close to making the breakthrough. A delightful diagonal pass from Andy Dowie put Russell through on goal, but a heavy first touch left him with too much to do, and the `keeper was able to claim the ball at his near post.There was a sense that a goal was coming, and on 34 minutes following a huge slice of luck, it duly arrived. A quick break started by Carmichael eventually led to Lyle finding space on the right, and although his cross was aimed towards Reilly, it was intercepted by Livvy defender, Kyle Jacobs, who inadvertently sliced the ball past Jamieson and into his own net.

      Moments later after some good chasing and closing down by Russell, Queens were awarded a free-kick from a dangerous looking position out on the left, and with McShane`s whipped in cross crying out to be tapped in, there were no Queens players advanced enough to add the final touch. Right on the stroke of half-time, Queens really should have doubled their lead. Another well placed delivery from McShane caused massive panic in the visitors defence and in a hectic pin-ball type scramble, Dowie, then Lyle, then Russell all had chances to force the ball over the line, but Livingston rode their luck and kept Queens out.

      So at the break , Queens certainly deserved to be ahead, and Livingston, apart from one early corner kick, had offered nothing as an attacking force, with Zander Clark being a virtual spectator for most of the half.

HALF-TIME QUEENS 1-0 LIVINGSTON

The visitors made two changes at the break, with Hippolyte, and Robertson, being replaced by Mullen, and Glen, whilst Queens remained unchanged, and once again, it was Livingston who made the better start to the half forcing Clark into making his first save of the game, dealing easily with a close range header from White. Queens first effort in the second period came once again from a free-kick. Russell was brought down just a couple of yards short of the penalty area, and McShane`s cross picked out the run of skipper, Chris Higgins, who glanced a header just wide of the far post. It was a decent chance for Queens with McShane`s delivery once again being well executed.

      With the visitors looking to attack more after falling behind, they were much better going forward and Queens were a bit fortunate following Talbot`s excellent run and cross into the box, as the pace of the full-back` break was not matched by any of his colleagues. The hosts responded with a break of their own when Russell`s pass was headed on by Lyle into the path of Reilly, and the youngster returned the ball for Lyle only to see his strike partner drag a right foot shot well wide of the target. Queens won their first corner of the half just short of the hour mark which was well defended by the impressive Gallagher, and when the ball was finally cleared into the Queens half, Livingston had a glorious opportunity to level the game. The ball bounced unkindly for Higgins and under pressure from White, the Queens skipper sliced his clearance that got more height than distance, and when the ball broke to substitute Glen 8-yards from goal,he somehow managed to blast his shot over the bar. That was a big let off for Queens, and from that point in the game, it seemed as though the visitors had at last realised that they might well take something from the game, as the contest certainly began to swing in their favour.

      The game`s first caution was shown to Fowler for speaking out of turn- a decision that would prove costly later on-and as Queens began to sit deeper, the visitors raised the tempo of their game and it came as no surprise to see them equalise after 66 minutes. Keaghan Jacobs through ball found Glen, and as Zander Clark raced from his line to try to punch the ball away, it appeared as though the Queens shot stopper made more contact with the player than the ball, and a spot-kick was awarded. Clark and Russell were both yellow carded, whilst Livvy striker, White, kept his cool to send Clark the wrong way from the penalty kick and in the process became the first player to score a league goal against Queens this season.

        Queens then made a double change with Derek Lyle, and Danny Carmichael ,being replaced by John Baird, and Lewis Kidd, and just 3 minutes later they were reduced to 10-men when Fowler tripped Mullen in midfield to earn himself a second caution, and an early bath.Livingston went close to taking the lead on 77 minutes, but Clark produced a really good stop to keep out O`Brien`s attempt from a free-kick. Kevin Dzierzawski replaced Reilly, as the hosts looked to hang on for the final period of the game. They may well have done better than to just hang on if Lewis Kidd`s excellent drive had found the back of the net, but his shot produced a wonderful diving save from Jamieson, who flung out a hand to keep the ball out. Livingston`s Kyle Jacobs was next to be cautioned after felling Russell, but the resulting set-piece was wasted by Lewis who drove his shot straight at the defensive wall.

       That was about it as far as Queens were concerned in going forward, because for the final 10 minutes or so it was a case of just trying to keep the visitors at bay. A short corner routine nearly opened Queens up, but Clark was alert enough to parry Keaghan Jacobs shot to safety, and the final chance of the game also fell to the visitors, when substitute Glen had another good effort well saved by Clark.

       Certainly a game of two halves, the first, Queens much the better side and probably deserved more than their one goal advantage, the second Livingston more in control and certainly deserved at least a goal, although with Queens playing out the final 20 minutes or so with 10-men, perhaps a draw wasn`t too bad a result.