QUEEN OF THE SOUTH staved off relegation for another few days at least as the Doonhammers saw off Billy Dodds’ Inverness with a 2-1 victory in the Championship.

The Dumfries club trail ninth-placed Ayr United by six points and four goals with two fixtures left to play this term, and the win over the Caley Jags gives them a fighting chance of beating the drop – should other results go their way this weekend.

The home players didn’t have long to wait before they had a lead to defend. With four minutes played, midfielder Josh Todd played a neat one-two on the edge of the Inverness box before making the most of his sight at goal by coolly placing the ball beyond away goalkeeper Mark Ridgers.

It was the perfect start from Wullie Gibson’s men but it wasn’t long before the visitors started showing some signs of life. Joe Hardy slipped through Aaron Doran with a well-timed through ball but the winger’s shot was deflected behind for a corner.

It should have acted as a wake-up call for Queens but it went unheeded as Logan Chalmers soon equalised in spectacular fashion. The on-loan Dundee United midfielder skipped past two challenges on the left wing before unleashing a long-range effort that flew into the back of Joshua Rae’s net as the 22-year-old scored his fifth goal in as many games.

The hosts would rally, though, and found themselves back in front with five minutes of the first half left to play. A free-kick awarded to Queens was swung into the Inverness box from deep and the ball fell invitingly into the path of Euan East, who lashed the ball home for 2-1.

Queens could have had the contest sewn up on 60 minutes courtesy of a dangerous-looking corner but the Inverness defence stood firm and hastily clattered the ball clear. Dodds’ men applied some late pressure but it wasn’t enough as the Highlanders went home empty-handed.