Leon King’s eagerly awaited full debut for Queen’s Park was marred by a heartbreaking late collapse, as the Spiders squandered a 2-0 lead to fall 3-2 to Ayr United at Hampden Park on Tuesday night.
Having made a promising 15-minute cameo in Saturday’s resounding 4-0 victory over Raith Rovers, King’s first start for the club saw him play a pivotal role in the heart of the defence.
The 21-year-old, who joined on loan from Rangers last weekend, had looked composed and confident at right-centre-back as Queen’s Park led 2-1 in the 70th minute.
But following his substitution, Ayr United mounted a dramatic comeback, scoring twice in quick succession to snatch all three points.
The loss leaves Queen’s Park with an uphill battle to break into the play-off positions, while Ayr United’s victory keeps them in close pursuit of league leaders Falkirk, with the race for the second-tier title intensifying.
