QUEEN’S PARK struck both posts, saved a penalty and had another denied in a 2-0 defeat to Ayr United in this week’s edition of Championship Friday night football.

But a goal in each half consigned Sean Crighton’s side to defeat on a soaking night on the southside of Glasgow.

The BBC Scotland cameras were at The city Stadium for the first time this season, but the Spiders were denied a second win of the league campaign.

Two goals from Michael Ruth shot down Morton in the last home match at the ground, but the striker was shackled by the visiting defence with bodies on the line early on as he shaped to shoot from similar distance to his impressive opener a fortnight ago.

Ruth led a Spiders attack supported by Aidan Connolly, Tyrece McDonnell and Callum Smith while Aiden McCallion came in for Louis Longridge to partner Scott Martin in midfield.

The on-loan Rangers teenager has been called up for Scotland under-19s and showed early intent, spreading play in the middle of the park and closing down the visitors quickly.

At the back, skipper Euan Murray partnered Ricki Lamie with Ross McLean and Carlo Pignatiello either side and Jack Wills in goal.

The keeper received high praise for his performance against Partick Thistle last month, and impressed again – including from the penalty spot. 

After Smith had a strike deflected away by the Honest Men defence, Wills pushed away an effort from Thomas Hatton to keep the scores level.

Hatton threatened again on 25 minutes, racing along the left wing before a good recovery tackle from Carlo Pignatiello cleared the danger – but the threat upped the ante leading to one of the first-half flashpoints.

Queen’s switched into attack and Scott martin’s dancing feet took him into the box but he unselfishly squared for a team-mate to tap-in – and instead an Ayr United opponent stepped in to clear.

Three minutes later and United had a penalty. Smith’s challenge on Ross Taylor was penalised by referee Josh Hay and the same player stepped up for the spot-kick, only for Wills to continue his rich vein of form and dive low to his left to gather.

Tyrece McDonnell, one of three Scottish players under-21 in the Spiders starting XI, tested Harry Stone with a reverse shot just after the half hour, as the cameras caught a contest ebbing and folowing end to end with attacks.

The next one counted though. 

A sharp interchange of passes from the visitors right to left  found Scott McMann advancing from left-back and his low cross evaded every home defender and was slammed in by Dylan Watret, ghosting in at the backpost untracked.

It knocked the wind out of Queen’s Park until the final minute of the first half when Lamie went close with a backpost header, but Sean Crighton attempted to inject fresh impetus to hsi team with Lewis Stewart and Nikolay Todorov in for Smith and McDonnell.

It almost paid off with Todorov at the heart of two big chances for a comeback goal – but Ayr ensured the points with another in the second half.

Todorov had a huge shout for a penalty kick when he was grappled from behind and hauled to the ground by McMann as McLean delivered a deep cross, but nothing was given by the referee or his assistant.

The Bulgarian was denied again a short while later when he contorted his body to fire low at goal and managed to strike BOTH posts without the ball crossing the line as the Spiders pushed to register one of their own.

However despite their chances and their attacking intent they were undone at the other end with Josh Landers’ header just after the hour-mark.

Wills beat out a drive from Taylor and when the former Stenhousemuir man delivered to the backpost, ex-Spider Leon King headed back across goal and the on-loan West Ham forward was first to react to beat Wills from close range.

It provided Ayr with a cushion to their lead and the Honest Men held on to take all three points back down the A77 with a move two places up the William Hill Championship table.

Queen’s Park remain ninth with four points, having played a game more than Morton in 10th on three.