Close but no cigar for QPs

Still, Queen’s are a shoe-in for the play-offs, and promotion is within their capabilities.

A returned Rooney made his mark after 18 minutes.

He looked to have nowhere to go down the right but somehow wriggled to the byline and knocked the ball into the middle.

Carter reacted first and turned the cross past a helpless Andrews at his near post.

However the keeper was powerless after 39 minutes when the home side pulled level from the penalty spot.

With the scoreline one-all coming in for the second half, Carter had a great chance on the hour mark but no cigar.

Miller was finding it hard to get the range with free kicks and fired two over the bar in quick succession.

He was then booked for tugging back Gray before being hooked after firing another free kick way over the top.

Kevin Fotheringham took his place.

Queen’s did have one more big chance after 65 minutes when Rooney and Woods combined well on the right.

Woods got the cross in and McElroy nipped in to get a touch, but it wasn’t firm enough and the ball rolled agonisingly wide.

Now, Gulliver would never question an official, but there were many in the grouind who wondered about consistency after 72 minutes.

Burns broke clear on the left and was clearly tugged back by Miller.

The foul was given, but there was no other sanction taken. It was hard to see the difference between that offence and Miller’s ust moments earlier.

Berwick seemed to sense the chance to grab the three points at this stage and should have taken the lead with 13 minutes to go.

A simple ball into the box was only half cleared and fell invitingly for Russell.

Fortunately for Queen’s, his shot was straight at Muir and he held on superbly to the effort.

There was an even bigger scare for the visitors as the clock ticked away.

Miller was allowed to run much too far and play the ball through to Henderson.

The striker was in a perfect position, but blasted the ball over the bar when it seemed he had to score.

So Queen’s move a point closer to the top, but only a real dreamer would expect us to overhaul that six-point deficit.

Queen’s are away to Montrose next weekend.