Queen of the South 3-3 St Johnstone: Fair share of the spoils in joy of six

Published on Saturday 21 February 2009 18:46

Queen of the South 3 Wilson 17, Dobbie 52, Burns 65 St Johnstone 3 Rutkiewicz 56, Millar 64, Holmes 87

A DEREK Holmes strike three minutes from time stretched St Johnstone's unbeaten league run to 19 games after a pulsating six-goal thriller.

Faith was restored in the beautiful game in what was an outstanding match from the outset. After 14 minutes Saints' Liam Craig swung a free-kick over from the left, Holmes knocked the ball across goal and Kevin Rutkiewicz's glancing header forced goalkeeper Lee Robinson into a spellbinding one-handed save.

Queens took the lead three minutes later in bizarre fashion after a horror passback by Richie Byrne let Barry Wilson slide in to roll the ball towards goal, and despite goalkeeper Alan Main's valiant efforts, he couldn't prevent it crossing the line.

Queens' second, seven minutes after the restart, was created and finished with a piece of pure genius at the edge of the area by Stephen Dobbie, who guided the ball beyond a flat-footed Main.

Saints amazingly battled back and Rutkiewicz hooked the ball high into the net from 10 yards in 56 minutes and eight minutes later the visitors were level when Millar drilled the ball low past Robinson.

Queens' lead was restored within 60 seconds when Paul Burns got in behind Byrne to volley a sensational 15-yard angled drive high past Main.

Three minutes from time Holmes latched on to a loose ball 18 yards out to crack it into the far corner of the net.