GORDON Smith snatched an equaliser three minutes from time for Stirling to deny Queens the chance to close to within three points of third-placed Falkirk.Stirling only arrived 45 minutes before the scheduled kick-off time after traffic problems. They were very soon under the rack from an eager Queens side who were creating planty of chances but unfortunately neither Johnston,Holmes or McLaren could convert.
Then completely against the run of play the Binos took the lead in 17 minutes when a clever back heel by ex-Dundee striker Tom Brighton, playing as a trialist, found Smith in space, who set up Chris Aitken to bury the ball beyond goalkeeper David Hutton from 12 yards for his fifth goal of the season.
Queens came roaring back but just could not find the net and the visitors were extremely lucky to be ahead at the interval.
Colin McMenamin rammed the ball home from 12 yards for the equaliser as Queens took the game to Stirling in the second period.
Queens bombarded the visitors goal and should have gone ahead when Holmes hit the underside of the bar with the goal yawning in front of him.
Ryan McGuffie eventually put Queens in front in 68 minutes with a stunning 18-yard drive. Queens should have added to their tally before Smith's dramatic equaliser, netting at the back post after a lapse in the Home defence.
This was blatant robbery by Stirling on a grand scale and on another day Queens would have won by a barrowload but hesitancy in front of goal and some howlers in defence cost the Home side two points.
Man of the Match - Colin McMenamin - Had a fine match and scored a lovely goal