It was the 2nd of 4 highland journeys this season for the mighty South, and it proved to be another tough game. With no Stephen Dobbie or Gary Harkins, who aggravated his hamstring problem during the week, a threadbare squad were up against it from the start.

 

However, Queens came away with a draw, a result in which they were good value for over the piece.

 

Three changes from the Partick game saw Dobbie and Harkins drop out through injury, with Andy Stirling dropped for Adam Frizzell. Callum Semple and David Norman also returned to the team. Mikey Doyle, who played centre-half last week, lined up in right-wing this week, with Lyndon Dykes and Josh Todd up-front.

 

Frizzell is hauled down as he tries to break away 

 

The game got off a quiet start. County were dominating the ball, but Queens looked dangerous every time they went forward. 

 

Todd had the games first real chance, as his shot from 18-yards flew over the bar. County were peppering the QoS box with crosses, that the away defence done well to see off. Challenges from stand-in skipper Callum Fordyce, and the impressive Scott Mercer prevented County from testing Alan Martin in the Queens goal. 

 

Todd turns the County defence inside out 

 

The first real chance of the game came on 37 minutes. Josh Mullin?s poor free-kick came off the Queens wall, and fell to Cypriot full-back Stelios Demetriou, who?s cross-turned-shot came off the inside of the post, much to the relief of the travelling fans.

 

Relief in the Queens defence as the effort from Stelious comes back of the woodwork

 

Just five minutes later, Ross Stewart found himself six-yards from goal with a free header that he mistimed and scuffed wide. Billy Mckay?s audacious overhead kick resulted in a goal kick for Queens.

 

Referee Mike Roncone blew the whistle for half-time at 0-0. There wasn?t too much between the sides at the break, although County will feel they should have taken at least one of their chances. 

 

Half-Time: Ross County 0-0 QoS

 

As the sides re-emerged for the second 45, the heavens opened on Dingwall leading to slippery and slides conditions.

 

The hosts started the half the better of the two teams. After good work down the wing, Mullin was played in 18-yards from goal, but his shot was met by an exceptional save from Alan Martin.

 

However just five minutes later (56?), County took the lead. The move was similar to the previous, Mckay went down the wing, squared to Mullin, except this time his shot beat Martin. The goal was probably deserved on balance, with County really having a go at the start of the 2nd half.

Mullin beats Martin

 

After seeing off some pressure after the goal, Queens grew into the game greatly, and were out-playing their hosts. Frizzell had a shot inside the box that was blocked brilliantly by Demetriou. 

 

A minute later, tactical genius Gary Naysmith brought Andy Stirling for David Norman. Stirling perhaps had a point to prove after starting on the bench, and it only took him seven minutes to prove it.

 

Good work down the right hand side saw the ball played to the Queens number 7, before he took a touch and placed calmly beyond Scott Fox in the opposition goal.

Stirling slams the ball home to equalise

 

Goal scoring celebration

 

The last 20 minutes were anyone?s game. Both sides were pushing for three points, and both had chances. 

 

On 75 minutes, a goal mouth scramble in the Queens box resulted in a good save from Martin, before being eventually cleared by Adam Frizzell. On the break, Todd and Stirling were through on goal. 

 

However, while Stirling was deemed onside and took the ball, the linesman adjudged Todd to have interfered with play and, being in a clear offside position, the game was taken back for a Ross County free-kick.

 

With just two minutes of the 90 left, Dykes? near post diving header flew just wide of the post. One minute later, Ross County substitute Declan McManus was through on goal, but Martin was there to make a quite sublime save one-on-one to keep the scores tied. 

 

Full Time: Ross County 1-1 QoS

 

Anther impressive performance from the Doonhamers against tough opposition. Queens are now unbeaten in all four games against the top-two, home and away, having scored 7 and conceded just twice against them. 

 

More importantly however, it moved QoS up into that all important play-off spot.

 

Next week we?re back at Palmerston, hosting Dunfermline. A win could open the gap between QoS and the Pars to seven points, however it will by no means be an easy game. One Josh Todd goal was all that separated the teams back in October with Queens completing a successful grab-and-go mission.