Queens won 4-3 in dramatic fashion for their first victory away to Raith since October 2011.

 

John Baird got Queens off to a superb start with a goal in the sixth minute following a goalkeeping error before Gavin Reilly struck a second just after half time. However, two goals either side of the hour mark put Raith back on level terms before Derek Lyle restored Queens lead.

 

Mark Stewart hit his second goal to level the game before Iain Russell hit an extra time winner to send 10-man Queens home with three points in a breathless 90 minutes.

 

Queens were looking to prevent themselves losing three league games in a row for the first time since March 2011.

 

Three changes were made to the Doonhamers starting line-up from last weekend?s 3-0 defeat to Hearts, with Kiltie, Lyle and the manager making way for Dan Carmichael, Mark Kerr - returning from a long period on the sidelines - and former Rovers striker Baird.

 

Queens started brightly and Baird had the crossbar to curse as he almost opened the scoring after four minutes. However, the frontman`s audacious lob struck the woodwork and bounced out of danger.

 

However, like he did against Queens for Raith last season, Baird showed he had an eye for goal when he opened the scoring after six minutes. Rovers `keeper Ross Laidlaw fumbled Carmichael?s cross and the striker poked the ball home.

 

Baird forces the ball over the line

 

In an astonishing stat, it was Baird`s first league goal since he netted for the home side against Queens last season.

 

It was Baird who had Queens` next effort on goal with the striker rifling his effort from outside the box straight at Laidlaw - and the keeper made no mistake saving this one.

 

The hosts tried to find a way back in to the game but Zander Clark denied Martin Scott as his header at the back post looked destined to rustle in the back of the net. However, the Queens stopper flew through the air to deny Rovers an underserved equaliser.

 

Zander flies through the air to deny an equaliser

 

After 25 minutes, Fowler`s men were unlucky not to be two up. Raith looked all over the place and Reilly danced past defenders before rattling the side-netting with his drilled shot from inside the box. The pressure from the Doonhamers was mounting and it seemed like only a matter of time until they`d be celebrating a second.

 

Reilly had another chance to double Queens lead on the half hour mark, as the youngster had a free header in the box. He made a fantastic run to reach the end of Carmichael`s cross after the speedy winger whizzed by the Raith defenders as if they weren`t there. Unfortunately, Reilly headed over but it was a promising spell for the visitors.

 

Carmichael forced Laidlaw in to a save after his cheeky chip from the edge of the box almost crept in but it remained 1-0 at half time.

 

Queens started in a similar fashion however, as Carmichael struck the post with a header a minute in to the second period. The winger followed it up with another effort on goal but it was well blocked.

 

Fowler`s side didn?t have to wait long for the long-awaited second goal though, as Reilly blasted home his fifth of the season. Holt`s delivery found Carmichael who unselfishly played in Reilly who couldn?t miss from six yards out. It was the least Queens deserved for their dominant display.

 

Reilly strikes home

 

Yet it became nervy for Queens just before the hour mark as Mark Stewart scored with his first touch of the game. The Rovers forward came on and made an immediate impact as he snuck in behind the Queens defence to knock the ball around Clark.

 

And it went from bad to worse for Queens after the hour mark as two goals in three minutes put Raith level. Ryan Conroy?s shot from outside the box was parried by Clark and in to the path of Christian Nade who knocked the ball in to the back of the net.

 

The hosts almost took the lead on 65 minutes as Nade`s header was dropped by Clark but Kerr spared his blushes by clearing the danger. In less than 10 minutes, Raith had gone from not being in the match to becoming favourites to take the spoils.

 

With 20 minutes to go, Queens` task was made harder as Kevin Holt was sent off for a tackle on Rovers captain Jason Thomson.

 

Ten men on the park often works wonders on a team and for the Doonhamers it was no exception. Iain Russell found Derek Lyle in the box and the substitute headed home wonderfully. The Queens fans who made the trip were jubilant as Lyle celebrated right in front of them.

 

Lyle climbs high to head home

 

But the celebrations were cut short with 15 minutes to go as Stewart bagged his second of the game to level the tie for the second time. Scott squared the ball and the striker was standing waiting to burst the back of the net.

 

With a sending off and six goals you?d be excused for thinking the game?s action had been over. But Iain Russell had something to say about that.

 

Lyle brought the ball down beautifully on the edge of the box and knocked it in to the path of Russell who fired the ball in to the bottom corner. The ball took a deflection but it didn?t matter to James Fowler`s side as they took the three points down to Palmerston with them in the most dramatic circumstances.

 

Russell sends the winner in the last minute

 

Celebration time

 

An extra special last minute match winning Alfie

 

 

Queens now leapfrop Raith to third spot in the Championship behind Hearts and Rangers with a quarter of the season gone, having played every team in the league.