A hard-fought and improved Queens performance wasn`t enough to take all three points in the Highlands, though the South did pick up a well deserved point.
Allan Johnston made three changes to his side from last week, including a debut for new signing Shea Gordon. Wullie Gibson returned from suspension and Ben Liddle came back into the middle of the park. Josh Todd dropped out the squad entirely through injury, with Josh Debayo and Ruben Junior each dropping to the bench. Gibson joined Roberto Nditi and Euan East in a back three, with Max Johnston and Alex Cooper lining-up as wing-backs in a 3-4-1-2 formation.
Click here for the match photo gallery.
Queens needed a reaction after two poor performances and that?s exactly what they got. Clear-cut chances were at a premium but the South were in good control of the opening 25 minutes or so in Inverness. Connelly and Johnston both saw dangerous efforts blocked inside the area, whilst Billy McKay was cautioned by Willie Collum for a dangerous challenge on Liddle.
Paton chased down a defence-splitting pass from Gordon on 21 minutes, only for the rushing Mark Ridgers to deny the Northern Irishman a shot on goal.
Ridgers denies Paton
The hosts grew into the game after this with a dangerous counter-attack, in which they out numbered Queens players four-to-two, ended in a poor McKay shot being comfortably saved by Josh Rae.
After 25 minutes though Queens? number one was forced into making an absolutely sensational save from a Tom Walsh shot, before Rae then recovered quickly to deny Roddy MacGregor.
Rae makes a superb save
Queens did continue to carry a threat though and eventually took advantage of some good attacking play on 39 minutes after Paton played in Lee Connelly, who rounded the ?keeper to open the scoring.
Connelly rounds Ridgers
Connelly celebrates
It was no more than what Queens deserved really, and they managed to hold onto the lead until half-time.
HT: ICT 0-1 Queens
A much needed positive first-half for the South after a couple of sloppy opening periods.
Caley Thistle began the second 45 in control, though it was Queens who were more potent in the forward areas.
Connelly probably should have bagged his second of the afternoon on 53 minutes, however. A nice Gordon lay-off allowed Connelly to take a touch and shoot from six yards, only for Daniel Devine to put in a brilliant block to keep things at 1-0.
A minute later, Reece McAlear?s venomous volley from the edge of the area was deflected, fortunately, straight into the hands of the Rae in the Queens goal.
The visitors picked up a couple of bookings in quick succession with Nditi seeing yellow for dissent, before Liddle was booked for an accumulation of fouls.
Not long after the hour mark (62), a long goal kick from Ridgers was met by Billy McKay from inside the area to level the scores.
McKay takes advantage
It was sloppy defending from Queens, who had two men up against McKay, and presented the home team with an easy way of getting back in to the game.
Caley Thistle continued to press on after the goal, with both Tom Walsh and Shane Sitherland missing good chances from inside the area, before Manny Duku replaced MacGregor for the home team.
Connelly got on the end of a long punt from his side on 69 minutes, taking a sensational touch up against three defenders, before forcing Ridgers into a difficult save from a tight angle.
Debutant Gordon was replaced on 70 minutes after an impressive first appearance for the South, with Debayo entering the fray. The sub meant Gibson switched to CM for the final 20 minutes of the game.
After 73 minutes though Tom Walsh got on the end of a ball through before running at Rae and tucking away into the corner, leaving the ?keeper with no chance to save the effort.
Ally Roy and Aidan Fitzpatrick were AJ?s final two rolls of the dice?and boy were they good ones!
A blocked effort in the area fell to the feet of Ally Roy who couldn?t have missed as he levelled Queens up on 76 minutes.
Roy stabs home the equaliser
Temporary disbelief and dismay
However, the assistant referee waved his flag for offside, only for referee Collum to overrule his assistant and award the goal anyway.
It set the game up finely for a massive last push for each side to grab the winner.
Rae continued to channel his inner Manuel Neuer, stopping a McKay effort from inside six yards, before he acrobatically saved from Walsh on 86 minutes.
FT: ICT 2-2 Queens
An even contest in which a draw was probably a fair result on the balance of play.
Queens have a weekend off next week with a chance for the gaffer to bring in more players and hopefully get a few back to full fitness ahead of a huge game with Dunfermline at the end of the month.
Finlay Jack