The Scottish Cup took centre stage for us this weekend and our tie didnt come much tougher than Championship leaders Dundee United.
With Alex Ferguson unavailable for selection due to his parent club not wanting him cup tied, he was one of three changes to the side that faced Kelty Hearts. Jordan Houston and Kieran McKechnie dropped to the bench with Cammy Logan, Paul McKay and Harvey Walker taking their places in the starting eleven.
Unbeaten in the league so far this season and having been knocked out of the SPFL Trust Trophy the week before, the visitors made a strong start. Two minutes into the game Glenn Middleton hit a right foot shot from inside the six-yard box that Harry Stone turned out for a corner. As the ball came back in the keeper saved Declan Gallaghers header.
Three minutes later Declan Glass hit a shot from distance but was wide of the target. Jim Goodwins side were on top, and it was no surprise that they took an early lead on six minutes when Kia Fotheringham headed past Stone.
They almost doubled the lead straight away when Glass jumped on a mistake by Efe Ambrose but hit his shot wide.
As Queens started to get a foot hold in the game, Lee Connelly delivered a free kick into the danger area for Paul McKay, but his header was off target. Walker then did well before going down at the edge of the box. But it was some great play by Craig McGuffie in the middle of the park that led to an equaliser. He controlled it well before picking out Walker out wide and as he played in Connelly, Jack Walton saved his left foot effort. As the corner came in Josh Todd nodded it back across to Gavin Reilly in the middle of the goal to head home from close range.
Queens were battling hard, and Connelly took a touch too much before Walker played it back for him only for Walton to turn it out for another corner.
It was fantastic cup tie and at the other end Lewis Moult headed wide before Walker tried to find Reilly with a nice back heel at the edge of the box.
Middleton then delivered from the left for Liam Grimshaw, but he hit his right foot effort low and wide. And in added on time at the end of the first half Stone saved Craig Sibbalds header and Oscar MacIntyre cleared as it came back in.
HALF TIME: Queens 1 Dundee United 1
A minute after the restart, Fotheringham charged down the right and crossed but it was too hard and out for a goal-kick.
Minutes later Queens took the lead. Walker skinned Grimshaw on the wing before playing the ball in for Connelly who flicked the ball past Walton.
United were desperate to get back level and Stone put his body on the line to deny Moult before he received treatment after saving from Middleton. Kevin Holts header from a corner was deflected wide before the former Queens defender headed well over.
Just before the hour mark United equalised in controversial style. In space on the right, Fotheringham appeared to control the ball with his hand in front of the officials before going on to beat Stone. Leading to the manager picking up a caution for protesting.
Reillys cross was then taken away from McKay before his second attempted was collected by the keeper.
Midway through the second half, Stone who was having a fantastic game, got down low to save from Moult. Fotheringham then crossed for Middleton who couldnt control and fired well wide.
United were pushing forward but Queens were resilient in defending, Connelly was back in there, but Ambrose stopped at point blank range in the six-yard box and Logan cleared too. With five minutes of normal time remaining, Stone again pulled off a great stop as he got down to the corner to save from Sibbald.
Both sides were going for a winner and Jake Hutchinson got into a good position, but his final shot was weak. Deep into added on time, Stone continued his man of the match performance when he dived across to get a hand on the ball as Matthew Cudjo-Anim cut inside before shooting.
And in the final attempt Todd and Ambrose defended well to stop Gallagher.
With the tie locked at two each after 96 minutes of play it was onto 30 minutes of extra time.
FULL TIME: Queens 2 Dundee United 2
In the first period of extra time, Stone rose to collect easy a Jordan Tillson header before some good play by Queens, involving Connelly and Logan ended with Walton saving from Todd.
McKechnie made a good run to get himself into the box and probably took a touch too many before going down. Connelly was then inches away from getting on the end of a mix up between Walton and Holt and Stone saved from Scott McCann. From the resulting corner Moults header rattled the post but Queens continued to defend well.
In the second half of the additional period, a long ball from Houston was headed over by Hutchinson when he was under pressure from Gallagher. And Stone made another great save, this time turning away an effort by Chris Mochrie. Another fantastic stop came five minutes later when he saved from the same player before collecting an attempt from Grimshaw.
The game still couldnt be settled, and it reverted to penalty kicks to decide the tie.
Shooting towards Portland Drive end of the ground, United took the first spot kick which Holt converted. Todd stepped up to take Queens effort to level. As the penalties continued, Moult and Middleton scored for United, and Ben Johnstone and Ross Irving added for Queens. At three successful kicks each, Queens hero of the day Stone saved from Grimshaw before Connelly gave Queens a lead. Cudjo stepped up to take Uniteds fifth kick and skied it over the bar, meaning it was Queens who progress in round four after an exciting game of football.
AET: Queens 2 Dundee United 2 (Queens win 4 3 on penalties)