An oil spill and a poor opening six minutes contributed to Queens slipping up at the hands of Raith last night, losing 3-2.

Due to an earlier incident involving an oil spillage on the Forth Road Bridge, the game kicked off thirty minutes late as Queens waited on kit and - more importantly - players to arrive!

And within the opening six minutes McIntyre`s men found themselves in a sticky situation as they lost two early goals.

Joe Cardle and Paul Watson gave Raith a dream start by firing Raith two goals up and a Mark Durnan double gave Queens a glimmer of hope which was cruelly snatched away ten minutes from time.

John Baird of Raith hit the winner to break Queens? hearts and put a serious dent in the Doonhamers play-off hopes.

The last two winners of the Ramsdens Cup went toe to toe in this match with Queens looking to bounce back from Saturdays 2-1 defeat at the hands of Falkirk.

However, Raith also welcomed back three key players - Kevin Moon, Joe Cardle and Liam Fox back in to their side following suspensions and they came out firing on all cylinders thanks to Cardle.

Englishman Cardle set the tone by drilling a shot from outside the box and finding the back of the net. The ball seemed to creep under Zander Clark and Queens found themselves up against it within three minutes.

It went from bad to worse for the Doonhamers as the back four failed to properly clear a dangerous Raith corner and Paul Watson found himself in the right place at the right time and he volleyed in from ten yards out. Once again, the ball evaded Queens keeper Zander Clark and the man between the sticks would have liked to do better.

Baird celebrates the ball sneaking in at the near post

 

With Queens two down in six minutes, they tried to offer some form of resistance but it was Raith who created the next chance with game-winner John Baird rattling the post. He dived away from the Queens centre backs and drilled the ball low and hard past Zander Clark but thankfully for Queens he didnt beat the post.

Queens weathered the storm and registered their first shot on target just before the half hour mark through Gavin Reilly. The forward latched on to a Chris Mitchell delivery and made an audacious effort from outside the box.

Robinson makes a save

A defensive mix-up between Durnan and Dowie lead to Raiths next chance as Joe Cardle teased the back four before trying to beat Clark at his near post but the stopper was equal to the task.

Durnan would then be involved at the other end and with just under ten minutes to go in the first half the centre back headed Queens back in to the game from a Chris Mitchell free-kick. Durnan couldnt miss from three yards out and McIntyres men looked like they were finally getting in to the match.

Ian McShane then helped pile on the pressure as he went one-on-one with Robinson in the Raith goal but Thomson managed to stick a leg out and take the ball away from the Queens midfielder. The next Queens attack also seen McShane come close with an effort from 20 yards out as Queens looked to end the half the better side with chances also falling to Paul Burns and Gavin Reilly.

But once again the Mitchell-Durnan combination made the difference and the defender knocked the ball in for his second of the game to level the tie at 2-2 right before half time. Mitchell also added to his impressive tally of assists this season, with the right back being a vital playmaker for Queens.

Durnan nets his second with Robinson helpless

Raith tried to kick off the second half with as big an impact as they did the first, and Chris Mitchell was the saviour at the other end this time. Mitchell cleared the ball off the line after Raiths Reece Donaldson rattled the ball in from six yards out and Queens could breathe a huge sigh of relief.

Great chances fell to Smith and Elliot of Rovers and the home side looked like the only team scoring towards the end of the match but Queens stubborn resistance finally broke down ten minutes from time, much to the delight of the 900 Raith fans in attendance.

Calum Elliot slipped by a few Queens players on the edge of the box and found an unmarked Baird six yards out who slotted the ball home and gave Raith the three points.

Queens tried to get back in to the game after Rovers Reece Donaldson was shown a second yellow but it wasnt enough to send Queens home with a point.

Donaldson challenges Lyle

Queens now turn their attention to Saturdays vital game with Dumbarton in a huge game for the play-off picture.

Both teams sit level on 48 points with three games remaining and this weekend?s trip could determine which team gets the chance to play Premiership football next year.