With Andy Murdoch not able to play against his parent club, Mark Millar returned to the starting line-up at his expense, and this was Queens` only change to the team that started against St.Mirren. Former Queens star, Nicky Clark, led the line for Rangers along with recent signing Michael O`Halloran.

 

A healthy crowd of 5449 saw the away side start the game in front of the Sky Sports cameras, and straight from the kick-off O`Halloran broke clear of the Queens defence before shooting high over the bar from a very tight angle. At that early stage even the most optimistic of Queens fans might have expected the afternoon to be a difficult one for their team, but Queens responded well and following a free kick, they won their first corner. Mark Millar`s delivery to the back post picked out Derek Lyle whose header was pushed out by `keeper Wes Foderingham. The visitors won their first corner following their next attack and Jim Atkinson made a fine confident catch taking Halliday`s kick ahead of the challenging Clark.

 

Lyle just fails to open the scoring to the relief and joy of the Rangers fans behind the goals

 

With 12 minutes on the watch, Rangers were awarded a free-kick just outside the box after a foul by Andy Dowie, and although Tavernier got his shot on target, Atkinson made a comfortable save, palming the ball over the bar for another corner. This time the set piece caused problems for the Queens defence and they were grateful that King was unable to connect with the ball as it bounced in front of him just six yards from goal. The visitors were now seeing more of the ball and prompted by Halliday and McKay, they increased the pressure and mid-way through the half they almost took the lead. A shot from Halliday was spilled by Atkinson and fell into the path of Clark, but the Queens `keeper recovered well to block Clark`s effort and keep the ball out.

 

Queens were forced into an early change just past the half an hour mark when Derek Lyle succumbed to what seemed to be a muscle injury, and Iain Russell replaced him. Mark Millar became the first player to be booked following a late challenge in midfield, and then O`Halloran drove an effort into the side netting as the game became stretched for the first time.

 

Lyle signals the end to his game

 

The final minutes of the first half were certainly the most entertaining. Although Rangers had been having most of the possession,Queens were proving to be very stubborn and their confidence was growing minute by minute as the league leaders struggled to find an end product to their attacking play, and it was the home side who came the closest to finding a breakthrough. As the ball bounced around the edge of the Rangers penalty area it was eventually knocked into the path of Lewis Kidd who from fully 30-yards out drove a thunderous drive against the bar with `keeper Foderingham rooted to the spot, and almost instantly

Rangers went very close themselves following a quick counter attack, but Atkinson did well to keep out O`Halloran`s low drive.

 

Right on the stroke of half-time Kyle Hutton conceded a free-kick a couple of yards outside of the box to set up part two of Tavernier versus Atkinson, and as in part one, it was the Queens `keeper who came out on top, tipping the free-kick over the bar for a corner.

 

 

Queens almost got off to the best possible start early in the second half when an error from Kiernan let in Jake Pickard, but Foderingham kept out the Queens youngster with his legs. The play was moving from end to end as each team took it in turn to attack. A quick Rangers break saw Tavernier deliver a wonderful ball across the 6-yard box that was only just too far in front of Holt at the far post, and then Wallace drove a shot tamely into the arms of Atkinson. Chris Higgins and Andy Dowie were coping well with both Clark and O`Halloran, although Higgins did earn himself a booking following a mistimed challenge.

 

Queens then went from defence to attack in seconds as Alex Harris showed a tremendous burst of speed to get himself inside the penalty box, but unfortunately for Queens he had no support and when it finally arrived in the form of Millar, his shot from the edge of the area went wildly off target. Rangers went to their bench and made a double - and hugely significant - change on the hour mark. Clark and King were replaced by Shiels and Miller, and it was the latter who would be the eventual matchwinner. In fact the former Scotland man had only been involved in the action for three minutes before he scored what turned out to be the game`s only goal. Collecting the ball from a throw-in on the right he tried what can only be called as a speculative half volley, and he was as surprised as anyone to see his shot dip at the last moment to drop over the head of the dis-believing Queens `keeper.It was one of those goals, 9 times out of 10 the ball would have flown over the bar, today it fell kindly for the league leaders.

 

No one can quite believe that Millers effort ended up in the net

 

The goal against them however seemed to give Queens a boost, and for the last 20 minutes of the game they were the better side, and they were extremely unlucky not to take anything from the game. Kyle Hutton became the third Queens player to be booked, but that was the only negative for Queens during the final moments as they did everything but score. Gary Oliver - who came on for Millar after 69 minutes - added an injection of pace to the attack, and when Halliday fouled him right on the edge of the box, it created a shooting opportunity for Conroy from the set-piece. Conroy`s kick beat the wall but not Foderingham who threw himself to his right to push the ball away. Queens went close again, and Oliver was involved once more. After jinking his way past Wallace he fired the ball towards goal only to see it cannon back towards Kidd just inside the box, but Kidd snatched at the opportunity and blazed the ball over the bar. The hosts continued to attack and excellent play from Iain Russell found Oliver who in turn set up the chance for Harris, but last weekend`s goal hero was off target with his strike this time round. That was Harris` last involvement in the game as he was replaced by Aidan Smith for the final 7 minutes.

 

Foderingham flaps the ball away

 

After weathering the storm, Rangers almost sealed the win in bizarre circumstances when Halliday`s shot from distance slipped through the hands of Atkinson but fortunately for Queens, smashed against the bar. There was still time for Queens to grab an equaliser and they almost did - twice before the final whistle. Firstly Foderingham saved well from a Higgins near post header, and then with their final attack of the game they went close again. The pace of Aidan Smith caused some panic in the Rangers defence as he got in behind Kiernan whose push on the Queens striker earned him a caution, and Queens a very promising set-piece position. From the free-kick, a training ground routine saw everyone move toward the near post as Conroy delivered the ball to the far post. His cross picked out the unmarked Dowie, but his header back across goal landed on top of the net. That would have been a fitting finale to the game for both Queens and Dowie, who was named as sponsors man-of-the-match.

 

Pickard came close late on

 

So it wasn`t to be for Queens despite a spirited performance - especially in the second period - when they were unable to find the equaliser that their play merited. On another day it could have been Queens who were celebrating, Lewis Kidd`s strike goes under the bar instead of hitting it, and Kenny Miller`s volley goes over the bar instead of dropping into the net. Those are the tiny margins which make the difference between winning and losing, and today those margins did not favour Queens.