ROSS McLEAN’S late goal wasn’t enough to salvage a point for Queen’s Park in a home defeat to Raith Rovers.

The midfielder hit his first ever senior goal 12 minutes from time as The Spiders attempted to find an equaliser after falling two behind the Fife side.

Charlie Telfer had opened the scoring in the first half with a deflected strike, then Anton Dowds doubled the advantage from the penalty spot after Ricki Lamie’s handball.

Sean Crighton rang the changes from last weekend’s opening day defeat in the William Hill Championship.

Louis Longridge, who fell heavily in that loss to Livingston, started on the bench alongside Lamie and Michael Ruth. In came Ben Brannan, Tyrece McDonnell and Callum Smith.

The visitors were forced into an early change eight minutes in when Arron Lyall was forced off and replaced by new loan signing Callum Adamson for a very early debut off the bench. 

While the Spiders were tested they had the best chance of the opening quarter when Brannan’s lob forward was cushioned into Hamiltons path by Smith as the former Rovers duo teamed up against their old side.

Hamilton faced down Josh Rae, prodded to the keeper’s right and was toppled as the ball trundled towards goal. It was rolling narrowly wide when rescued and cleared by Paul Hanlon on the recovery run.

The home side had another similar move six minutes later with some brilliant ball-winning from Scott Martin which sent Aidan Connolly scampering through, but his pass into path of McDonnell was knocked out by Jai Rowe.

Jack Wills had been well occupied without really being troubled until a brilliant stop to deny Paul McMullan  with 12 minutes of the first half to play.

Raith took the lead six minutes later with a heavily deflected strike. Scott Martin made a brilliant sliding block on the edge of the area, but it was a visiting attacker first to the rebound and Telfer fired past Wills and into the net via Matty Shiels’ outstretched leg.

The Spiders rallied before the break but Callum Smith and Euan Murray were unable to find the target after a free-kick was awarded for a push on Brannan.

At the interval Shiels, who had looked in some discomfort at times in the first half, was replaced by Ricki Lamie.

McDonnell went close with a powerful free kick as Queen’s Park searched the equaliser. He was awarded the set-piece and took it himself, driving narrowly wide of the top corner on 50 minutes.

Things went from bad to worse for The Spiders though when Ricki Lamie – on for Shiels at half-time – conceded a penalty for handball and Anton Dowds thumped in the Fifers’ second.

It would prove to be decisive.

Sean Crighton immediately pitched Michael Ruth and Ross McLean into proceedings and switched from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2.

The Spiders pushed to get back into the game and finally did – with Connolly’s cross-ball hammered at goal by captain Euan Murray. The shot was blocked but fell kindly for the defender who stayed high and steered the rebound at goal again where it was forced in by sub McLean.

Rangers pair Zeb Lawson and Aidan McCallion added fresh legs and McCallion had plenty of opportunity to exhibit more of his passing range and composure in the middle of the park, even forcing Josh Rae into a match-winning save in the closing stages, but the home side couldn’t translate their rallying play into an equaliser.

They had a late penalty shout – claiming handball as Dylan Easton controlled in the area but nothing was given as the points headed back east to Kirkcaldy.