Queens blew a lead at Somerset Park as Connelly?s goal was cancelled out by Muirhead and Maxwell.

 

Allan Johnston made three changes to his side that defeated Partick Thistle last Friday in the SPFL Trust Trophy. Former Ayr loanee Innes Cameron was restored to the team after missing last weeks win due to being cup-tied, with Harry Cochrane and Ruben Soares Junior (sporting a sublime new red haircut) back in the team. Ruari Paton, Aidan Fitzpatrick and Ben Liddle were the three men to drop out, top scorer Ally Roy forced to make do with a spot on the bench after his goalscoring comeback last week.

 

 

United got the game underway shooting towards the away end that included an extremely loud Queens support.

 

It was the South who started things the better of the sides with Paul McKay swinging in a deep cross that was met by Alex Cooper, though the left-wing backs volley flew narrowly over the bar.

 

McKay was the first man in David Dickinson?s book after bringing down Jonathon Afolabi as his side countered.

 

Wullie Gibson lined-up a volley from range on 15 minutes but it flew inches wide of Aidan McAdams post.

 

Junior was the next to try his luck after cutting inside of Nick McAllister, although his shot was comfortably over the bar.

 

Junior just wide

 

McAdams was forced into making a save just a minute later though, a brilliant dive down to his left prevented Cameron from netting his first goal for Queens from the edge of the area.

 

United had to wait until halfway through the opening 45 to get a real opening, Andy Murdoch scuffing a free shot from 12 yards well wide of Sol Brynn?s goal.

 

Lee Connelly was being a nuisance, as ever, for Queens. But it took half an hour for his first half-chance, hitting Max Johnston?s cross first time, though it was too high.

 

Queens came even closer to going ahead just after the 30-minute mark. A sublime cross from Johnston was met by Cameron whose header beat McAdams, but cannoned back off the crossbar. Gibson?s follow-up shot from 20 yards was well parried away by McAdams.

 

 

A half that well and truly belonged to Queens, although some missed chances meant that it was goalless at the break.

 

Like the opening 45, the first chance of the second-half fell to Queens, one they really should have took.

 

Junior bought the South a foul in a decent crossing position, before getting on the end of Roberto Nditi?s knockdown in the area. But the Portuguese striker somehow blazed his close ranged shot over the bar.

 

Sol Brynn was called into action for the first time on 51 minutes, saving well from a close range effort from Cammy Salkeld.

 

Jim Duffy was the first man to turn to his bench with Joe Chalmers and Steven Bradley on for Salkeld and Afolabi.

 

Last seasons number three, James Maxwell, almost came back to haunt Queens on 65 minutes after nodding in at the back post, only for the linesman to put his flag up and rule it out for offside.

 

The 353 Queens fans were in fine voice throughout and began calling for Roy and Paton off the bench, but AJ stuck with what he had on the pitch. And his decision paid off?

 

As Gibson broke away for Queens, he slotted the ball into Junior, who drilled a perfect cross at the feet of Lee Connelly to tap home from close range after 68 minutes.

 

Connelly turns to the celebrating fans

 

Six goals in seven games for Connelly, on top of five assists this season, is a return that anyone could be proud of.

 

But the hard work wasn?t done yet and on 70 minutes Queens were let off the hook as Markus Fjortoft cannoned a header off the bar.

 

The South never heeded the warning though and Ayr were awarded a penalty on 72 minutes when Josh Debayo fouled Maxwell. Aaron Muirhead stepped up and tucked away to penalty to level things up.

 

Muirhead beats Brynn with the penalty

 

AJ responded by introducing Fitzpatrick at the expense of Connelly, before the sub was fouled by Muirhead with Ayr?s skipper going in the book.

 

Tomi Adeloye went close with a shot from the left that Brynn saved well.

 

Six minutes later things went from bad to worse for Queens as James Maxwell got on the end of a loose ball in the box, firing powerfully past the helpless Brynn.

 

The South almost responded instantly on 82 minutes but McAdams was able to deny Cochrane an equaliser from 20 yards.

 

 

A disappointing defeat for the Doonhamers who had more than enough chances to win the game.