QUEEN’S PARK ground out a point of the season in an exhausting shift from all 16 Spiders at the WrightKerr Stadium at Firhill.

Jack Wills was on inspired form in goals – tipping a Ben McPherson drive onto the crossbar in the first half and denying former team-mate Seb Drozd in the second.

He was not alone though as each and every player in Sean Crighton’s side put their bodies on the line and defended their way a draw.

The first-team manager made two changes to the side which went down 2-0 at home to Stenhousemuir last week – and selected a formation that frustrated Partick on the final day of last season, and netted the same reward.

Possession stats for the 90 minutes are heavily weighted in the home side’s favour, and the corner count 19-2 but the resolute Spiders defence ensured not one of the 20 shots Wills and co faced, found the net.

After a push forward from the Spiders there was a very early let-off as Alex Samuel fresh air swiped at a low ball across the box and spurned what would have been a certain opener with the visiting defence flat-footed.

They re-grouped to turn in a stoic performance.

Ben MacPherson lifted a flowing Jags move over the bar on 12 minutes but the Spiders had a chance of their own a minute later. Carlo Pignatiello’s ball into the edge of the area was knocked down by Nikolay Todorov. Michael Ruth took on possession and stepped into the box but was well-marshalled by Cale Loughrey.

Wills held a low Aidan Fitzpatrick set-piece and on 35 minutes Ts’oanelo Letsosa sent an acrobatic effort over from 16 yards.

Ricki Lamie and Euan Murray headed more danger clear in their centre-back role alongside Carlo Pignatiello.

Michael Ruth’s half volley to a knock-down from Murray was gathered by Liam Macfarlane at the other end before Thistle pressure resumed.

It was a full team effort keeping them out with Nikolay Todorov making some crucial interventions when back to muck in.

Wills held a Drozd header close in and denied Ben Stanway at his near post either side of Ben McPherson rattling the crossbar before the interval – an effort later revealed to have been touched by the keeper onto the woodwork.

After the break Drozd went inches away from opening the scoring after turning Mackenzie in the box but his swerving shot swung the wrong way for the Spider-turned-Jag.

His low cross was pushed out for a corner on 55 minutes by the keeper as Thistle kept up the same pressure they ended the first half with. But by the same token, the Spiders remained as resolute at the back as they had been throughout.

Wills made another fantastic save to deny a Stanway diving header just before the hour then Sean Crighton rang the changes, adding Lewis Stewart and Jack Hamilton for Todorov and Ruth. Magnus Mackenzie also limped out with Ben Brannan on to replace him in a triple change after 61 minutes.

Zach Mauchin was next to be pitched in as the Spiders backs were kept at the wall. The defender returned after 514 days through injury – almost as long as Thistle have gone without a home league defeat. He replaced Scott Martin who had cleared, hassled and harried his old club on his own return from a much shorter injury lay-off.

A point seemed within Queen’s Park grasp with 15 to play – and Wills remained crucial to that, pushing an unchallenged Watt header out and then holding Loughrey’s effort.

Watt sent a curling shot just around the post on the angle with five minutes to go and the Spiders picked up a corner with a minute and a half of the 90 to go.

Ben Brannan struck from distance and the shot was deflected over and the corner cleared by the home side.

Wills picked up a late booking for running the clock down after Mauchin was fouled taking the ball clear – but the keeper could be forgiven for his lack of urgency as one of 16 Spiders who had given everything for the hard-earned point.