Queen’s Park 2 Partick Thistle 2

Liam McLeish had a chance after two minutes when Timam Scott headed a cross into his path with the striker twisting and turning away from his marker before firing over.

The game was held up for three minutes as Scott had collided with Lee Ashcroft with the Thistle man replaced by Robby Johnston after suffering a facial injury.

On 11 minutes clever play from Scott allowed him to pick out Rocco Hickey-Fugaccia at the back post with the left sided wide man seeing his volley blocked for a corner.

Nine minutes later Mason McCready stuck out a leg to cut out a dangerous cross from Hickey-Fugaccia and as play raced to the other end Terry Ablade fired wide of Zach Balfour’s goal.

Midway through the half another surging run from Hickey-Fugaccia took the ball from the half-way line with McLeish inches away from connecting with the wingers’ cut -back when he reached the touchline.

On 33 minutes a high Queen’s forward ball was only partially cleared by the visiting defence, and Max Fiddes looked to take advantage with a first-time drive from 20 yards with his shot just off-target.

With eight minutes of the first half remaining Aiden McGinlay was tenacious and skilful, against his former side, as won possession and danced away from three challenges before being fouled as he advanced deep into Thistle’s half.

Scott showed his prowess on the right to earn a corner on 40 minutes that Wasiri Williams headed behind under pressure with McCready grabbing the second dead ball at the second attempt.

Balfour was called into action shortly afterwards as he dived to save a shot from Zander Mackenzie with Rocco Diack curling a 25-yard free-kick over before forcing Balfour into another stop just before the half-time whistle.

Half-time – Queen’s Park 0 Partick Thistle 0

The second half was just ten seconds old when Queen’s opened the scoring when Scott burst down the right wing and picked out MCLEISH who took a touch before sliding a shot underneath McCready.

Thistle looked to hit back quickly, and substitute Matthew Falconer lobbed over Balfour’s goal before Diack did likewise.

On 53 minutes Darryl Carrick stood tall to block a visiting shot that looked set to find the net with the Jags equalising two minutes later when Balfour saved a Ben McKenna drive and Diack cracked home the rebound.

Queen’s substitute Liam McVey picked up a quick-fire booking with the midfielder cautioned just two minutes after coming on and it got even more disappointing for the youngster 60 seconds later when he was judged to have committed another foul and was shown a second yellow, and then a red.

Visiting skipper Ben Stanway swept a shot just wide as Thistle looked to make their numerical advantage pay off quickly however a run from defence by Ross McLean took the ten men up the pitch on the right before he was crowded out.

Stanway came even closer to a goal on 65 minutes with his swerving effort crashing off the inside of a post before bouncing to safety.

Will Tizzard, who had been brought on as a substitute to get match practice following injury, blocked and then headed away as Thistle looked to get in front.

Another run forward by McLean relieved the pressure Thistle were building and his cross into the box had the Red and Yellow defence scrambling to get it clear.

Balfour saved an in-swinging free-kick before releasing McLeish with a quick punt with the striker’s progress only halted by two chasing defenders.

In the final minute Thistle forced a scramble in the home box and after Queen’s failed to clear Falconer sent a shot into the net.

It looked like that would be that however another late charge from QP won a throw in on the right. Tizzard sent the shy into the box where McLeish got a shot away only to be denied by Mc Cready however JAY McGARVA was on hand to slam the ball home.

Penalty kicks were called for to decide on an extra bonus point and it was Queen’s that won it with McLeish, Lennon Connolly, Jamie Bradley, Tyrece McDonell and Scott netting and Thistle’s Falconer being denied by Balfour after Stanway, Mackenzie, Charlie Sayers and Chris MacKay had replied.

Queen’s Park – Zach Balfour, Ross McLean, Magnus MacKenzie, Darryl Carrick (Will Tizzard 60), Jay McGarva, Michael Collie (Liam McVey 60), Timam Scott, Aiden McGinlay (Jamie Bradley 70), Liam McLeish, Max Fiddes (Lennon Connolly 70), Rocco Hickey-Fugaccia (Tyrece McDonnell 60).
Unused substitutes – Sam Kane (G/k), Josiah Sowa.

Partick Thistle – Mason McCready, Matthew Monaghan, Wasiri Williams, Ben McKenna (Nicholas Lockhart 72), Liam Smith, Terry Ablade (Matthew Falconer 46), Charlie Sawyers, Lee Ashcroft (Robby Johnston 5), Ben Stanway, Zander Mackenzie, Rocco Diack (Chris MacKay 84).
Unused substitutes – Luis Cameron (G/k), Jamie Low.