THE football gods smiled on Tam McManus last night when he bagged the goal that kept alive Falkirk's hopes of gaining ground on table-toppers Raith.
Steven Pressley's Bairns had been toiling under a barrage of pressure in the first half when a sclaffed effort by McManus spun into the net.
It was a massive boost after a run of four games in which they picked up just two points.
And Pressley said: "The boys showed real character.
"It's a league in which there are a lot of upsets. We don't give up hope and don't give up belief and we'll fight all the way."
Falkirk were first to threaten and Carl Finnigan just failed to connect with a cross from Jack Compton.
Then only a fine clearance by Queens stopper Craig Reid kept the ball away from McManus.
Paul Burns tested Robert Olejnik with a drive from the edge of the box which the Falkirk keeper could only fist away.
The Falkirk defence were caught out when a throw-in rebounded to Willie McLaren and his cross set up Derek Holmes whose header flew just wide.
The Bairns broke the deadlock against the run of play in 25 minutes when a cross from Mark Stewart was mis-hit in front of goal by David Weatherston.
The ball fell to McManus five yards out and he also mis-hit but was happy to see it spin home.
Just before the break Colin McMenamin was put through by Bob Harris and tried to lob the ball home but Olejnik palmed the ball away.
After the restart Brian McLean forced Queens keeper Roddy McKenzie to scramble across his line with a 35-yard drive that flew just wide.
Queens had a let-off minutes later when Finnigan connected with a corner and the ball cannoned off a post.
Then Olejnik had to stop a header from Compton which seemed to be heading for his own net.
Falkirk had a stroke of luck when Ryan McGuffie got his head on a corner from McLaren only to see the ball cleared off the line by Burton O'Brien with the keeper stranded as the Doonhamers challenge diminished with the influencial Holmes and Reid had to leave the field.
McKenzie was caught out by a shot from Compton which he could only push out but he recovered to smother the ball as Falkirk strikers raced in.
Queens boss Kenny Brannigan said: "We played well but it's disappointing to see the number of chances we missed after they scored with what was really their only chance."
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