Harry Forrester gave the hosts an early lead but Iain Russell levelled the match from the penalty spot making the tie level at the interval. The home side ran rampant in the opening ten minutes of the second half, scoring three goals courtesy of Michael O`Halloran, Andy Halliday and James Tavernier. But the game wasn`t dead and buried as The Doonhamers immediately pegged one back thanks to a tap-in from Gary Oliver. Queens made it a nervy finish for the runaway leaders late on as substitute Mark Millar rifled home from long range but the visitors left it too late to come down the round with a share of the spoils.

 

Despite the result, it was a promising performance from The Doonhamers in a tough fixture, especially with a number of players out due to suspensions and injuries.

 

James Fowler made four changes to the starting eleven that thrashed Dumbarton 6-0 at Palmerston Park. With Andy Murdoch ineligible to play against his parent club, Chris Higgins and Derek Lyle suspended in come the fit again duo Lewis Kidd and Andy Dowie. Also Ryan Conroy and Iain Russell were also elected to the starting line-up, the latter looking to add to his goal from last week.

 

 

 

 

 

Queens started the match in a 4-4-2 formation with Kyle Jacobs and Lewis Kidd playing right-back and left-back respectively, Ryan Conroy on the right-wing and Gary Oliver and Iain Russell leading the line for The Doonhamers.

 

The league leaders began the match brightly and had a penalty shout with the game three minutes old. Halliday fought off Jacobs on the left-hand side and played in Forrester who forced himself into the box and went down in the box to massive appeals from the home support but referee Crawford Allan waved away the claim.

 

Ten minutes later, Mark Warburton`s side took an early lead. Andy Halliday back-heeled on the right touchline into the path of the advancing Harry Forrester who ran into the box and placed his shot past Robbie Thomson in to the bottom corner.

 

Losing a goal early on sometimes can have a negative impact but it had the opposite effect for Queens who looked likely to grab an equaliser. On the 23rd minute, Gary Oliver found Alex Harris with a brilliant pass, and the winger managed to muscle off Lee Wallace but the winger couldn`t guide his cross into the path of Russell and dragged his ball out for a goal-kick.

 

Queens continued to put pressure on the hosts defence and were rewarded on the 26th minute. Oliver picked up the ball just outside the area, and played in Russell on the right-hand side and was brought down by Gers skipper Lee Wallace, leaving referee Crawford Allan no choice but to point to the spot. 

 

 

 

Russell is tripped in the box to earn the penalty

 

 

Russell stepped up and sent goalkeeper Wes Foderingham the wrong way from 12-yards to score his ninth goal of the season.

 

 

Russell nets from the spot

 

 

Queens could have went ahead eight minutes later. After Oliver was fouled by Wilson on the right-hand side. Conroy stepped up 20-yards out, his initial free-kick failed to beat the first man but rebounded back to Conroy who unleashed a lethal strike which had the keeper beat but rattled the woodwork.

 

Moments later Rangers regained the lead. A long ball from Danny Wilson was controlled by Forrester and then tried to lob the ball over Thomson in to the net but his effort was always rising over the bar.

 

Former Rangers midfielder Kyle Hutton was the first name in Crawford Allan`s book on the 37th minute for a foul on Jason Holt. The Ibrox outfit continued to dominate possession and after winning three successive corners in the space of two minutes, the ball fell to Holt who scooped his effort over the bar.

 

HALF TIME RANGERS 1-1 QUEENS

 

The Doonhamers made the worst possible start to the second-half as they fell behind through a O`Halloran goal. Lee Wallace cross which went over Lewis Kidd`s head and landed at O`Halloran`s feet. He controlled the ball and launched a strike high into the net. 

 

The goal spurred the hosts into action and they piled on more pressure on the Queens` defence and doubled their advantage four minutes later. A Kenny Miller cross was volleyed in by Andy Halliday from six-yards out. 

 

 

It could have been four moments later, Holt won the ball off Kidd and he stormed into the box but his shot drifted wide of the goal. The fourth goal did come for the hosts on the 55th minute. Kenny Miller headed a ball from Halliday to the unmarked Tavernier to tap-in.

 

The drama and goal scoring continued as Queens got back into the match two minutes later and silenced the majority of the 46117 in Ibrox. A long ball found Russell on the left-hand side of the box and he squared to Gary Oliver, and the striker made no mistake and knocked his fifth goal of the campaign.

 

 

Russell squares back across goal for Oliver............

 

 

....to put the ball in the net...........

 

 

........and celebrate with a `Dab`

 

 

Great goal and a great performance from Oliver

 

 

Danny Wilson was the next to try to add to the goal-fest but he scooped an effort over the bar on the 66th minute. Callum Tapping was the second player to be cautioned after a late challenge on substitute Dean Shiels.

 

Both sides made a couple of changes as the tempo of the match was taking it`s toll. Aidan Smith and Mark Millar were introduced for Harris and Conroy for Queens. Nicky Clark was brought on replacing Forrester and the former Queens striker nearly added a fifth goal.

 

Right-back Tavernier got past Kidd and his cross found Nicky Clark but he headed in to the arms of Thomson.  

 

James Fowler made his final change of the afternoon, Jake Pickard on for Tapping on the 82nd minute and the youngster was in the thick of the action immediately. 

Pickard picked out Smith, who knocked the ball back to Oliver but he couldn`t add to his tally as he scuffed his shot leaving Foderingham to make a comfortable save.

 

The visitors made sure it was a nervy finish for the league leaders with a goal in the closing moments. Kyle Hutton passed to Mark Millar, the substitute took a touch and drilled a low shot past Foderingham from 25-yards out.

 

 

Miller celebrates his strike with the Queens fans

 

Despite pressure from Queens, the hosts managed to hold on to their lead but they were pushed all the way by James Fowler`s men.