LATEST MATCH SUMMARY

Mathieson
Lilley	Rowe	Aitken	McAllister
Bryce	Cleeland	Leslie	Weir
Mallan		Adams

SUBSTITUTES
Caldwell 70 mins	Bailey -	Russell -

This was a game that Queen's should have won comfortably on the balance of play, particularly in the second half when the Caley goal was permanently under siege. Indeed Caley manager, Steve Patterson, who is well respected for saying as he sees it commented after the match that his team were lucky to escape with a point. This despite Queen's equaliser coming in the last minute of the match.

The first half of the game was not particularly enthralling fare but nevertheless both teams showed that no favours were being asked or given, in particular the robust Caley defensive line was intent on playing a tight game. After some pretty even play for the first twenty minutes or so a loose ball in midfield from Steven Leslie allowed the ball to break to Barry Wilson and with the Queen's defence left wrong footed ran clear and despatched an excellent shot into the far corner of the net from some twenty yards to give David Mathieson no chance.

This galvanised Queen's who today were playing without the Caley tormentor Derek Townsley who has been laid up with tonsillitis for the past few days. Tommy Bryce came in as a direct replacement for Deggsie and despite playing out of position managed to acquit himself well on his first start since returning from Partick. The remainder of the half was played out with Queen's pushing forward but having no luck in finding a penetrating through ball to release the ever lively Stevie Mallan and his strike partner Charlie Adams.

The second half was basically one way traffic, with Caley relying on playing on the counter attack, but with Queen's defensive partnership of McAllister, Rowe, Aitken and Lilley being as solid as ever it was unlikely that another goal was going to come for the visitors.

The Inverness goal led a charmed life in the second half. From a free kick just outside the box, dead ball specialist McAllister curled a left footed shot round the wall, beating the keeper all ends up only to see it crash off the post, the ball came out to sub Brian Caldwell who instinctively shot at goal only to see the ball cleared off the line by a diving Caley defender. Weir was then clean through but brought down by a defensive sandwich but the ball ran on to Adams so the referee played advantage but the ball was intercepted by the boot of a Caley defender, and with the ball running back to keeper Fridge panic ensued as the keeper managed not to pick it up and sliced it clear when almost over the line. A passback to keeper Fridge was chased down by Stevie Mallan, who ran all afternoon, and the ball ricoched off Mallan and just passed the post to save the keeper embarrassment. The from a corner George Rowe was flattened but the referee saw nothing wrong and as the ball came back in only another goal line clearance save the Caley goal. The for one brief moment Caley looked dangerous as a long ball was punted upfield to Duncan Shearer who had already been booked, Shearer managing to almost deflect the ball into the net but by clearly using his hand. Referee Hardie decided not to send the ex-Scotland striker for an early bath however the Caley management saw fit to give him an early bath anyway minutes after.

So with the minutes running out it was desperation as the crowd new that results elsewhere were not favourable, the ball was being drawn into the net by the crowd behind the goal who for once found their home game singing voices. Queens pressed forward and another attack was broken up by the Caley defence, co-manager George Rowe was left stranded upfield as play headed back down the pitch, Cleeland broke up the Caley advance on the half way line and fed the ball out to the very impressive Brian Caldwell who beat his marker and curled a lovely ball across goal to be met by the head of out of position Co-manager George Rowe who headed powerfully into the net to send the crowd wild. A deserved equaliser captured below as the ball leaves Geordies head and the camera left my hands.

Results elsewhere were less than favourable, with almost all of the teams below us making up some ground, now only two points separate us from a relegation spot, however there are five other teams in a similar position and we have all got to play some of the others so points have to be dropped by someone.