Queen of the South 2 - 0 Falkirk: QoS back in hunt

QUEENS burst into the title race when they closed the gap to just five points on Falkirk with two goals in the last ten minutes from substitute Gavin Reilly.

Gavin Reilly. Picture: SNS

SCORER: QoS - Reilly 80, 85

Falkirk, previously unbeaten in their last 11 games, made a positive start in dreadful weather conditions. After just five minutes the Bairns passed up a glorious opportunity to go in front when Craig Sibbald timed his pass to perfection to Joe Chalmers, rushing in from the left, but the on-loan Celtic player fired past the far post from 16 yards.

But Gary Holt’s side suffered a blow after 16 minutes when the influential Mark Millar limped off with an ankle injury to be replaced by holding midfielder Ollie Durojaiye

Queens, who had not won against Falkirk in their last six meetings at Palmerston since 2004, scorned the most unbelievable chance to edge in front after 27 minutes when Kevin Holt and Paul Burns combined to set up on-loan Motherwell striker Bob McHugh. Astonishingly he managed to fire wide in front of goal from just four yards out.

Queens, with the third-best defensive record at home in the Championship, looked anything but assured at the back when Andy Dowie was dispossessed by Rory Loy. He sent Blair Alston through on goal, but he shot wide of the mark.

Falkirk goalkeeper Michael McGovern produced a stunning stop in 73 minutes when Derek Lyle curled over a low cross from the right which was met on the volley 12 yards out by Michael Paton.

Then in 80 minutes Reilly struck when he popped up at the far post to send a downward header from Lyle’s cross from the right into the empty net.

Five minutes later Holt and Lyle combined for a sensational second for Reilly to fire home from 18 yards and set up a mouth-watering clash against new leaders Dundee next week.