DUMFRIES, Scotland (Interstat) — In a Scottish League One opener that defied pregame projections, Queen of the South and Stenhousemuir played to a 1-1 draw Saturday at Palmerston Park, with a dramatic, last-gasp equalizer from a substitute spoiling the visitors’ hopes for a road victory.

The match, which saw both sides finish with a man advantage for a frantic final period, was a tale of two halves and a flurry of late substitutions that ultimately decided the outcome.

Stenhousemuir, which entered the contest with a 55.90 percent probability to win according to Interstat’s ELO system, looked to be vindicating that favoritism for much of the match. The visitors controlled the early tempo and were rewarded in the 19th minute. The opening goal came from midfielder Jack Stott, who found the back of the net to give Stenhousemuir a lead they would cling to for the vast majority of the contest.

The first half and much of the second were marked by disciplined, if sometimes physical, defending from both sides. The officiating crew was kept busy, issuing seven yellow cards throughout the match in a sequence that escalated dramatically in the final half-hour.

The disciplinary action began early with Stenhousemuir’s Benjamin Luissint booked in the 14th minute. The second half, however, became a stop-start affair. Queen of the South’s Freddie O’Donoghue was shown a yellow card on the hour mark, followed by Stenhousemuir’s Zander MacKenzie in the 67th.

The game’s complexion shifted irrevocably in a chaotic six-minute span beginning in the 75th minute. Stenhousemuir’s substitute Gregor Buchanan was booked, followed just four minutes later by Queen of the South’s substitute Ross Taylor. The situation intensified a minute later when Queen of the South goalkeeper Ross Stewart received a yellow card. The flurry of cards culminated in the 83rd minute with a booking for Stenhousemuir’s Euan O’Reilly.

The frantic closing minutes set the stage for a stunning conclusion. As the match ticked into the third minute of second-half stoppage time, Queen of the South, pushing desperately for an equalizer, found their breakthrough. The goal was created by a most unlikely source, as goalkeeper Ross Stewart, who had been cautioned just minutes prior, recorded a rare assist. His long, searching ball up the pitch was met by substitute Ross Taylor, who managed to steer it past the Stenhousemuir keeper to send the home supporters into a frenzy.

Taylor’s goal was not only the equalizer but also capped a remarkable individual performance off the bench. In his limited time on the pitch, he was directly involved in both of the game’s scores, having also provided the assist on Stott’s first-half goal for Stenhousemuir before netting the dramatic leveler for his own side.

The draw leaves both teams with identical records to start their League One campaigns. Each side now holds 0 wins, 0 losses, and 1 draw, a record that also mirrors their standing across all competitions for the young season. The result will feel like a victory salvaged for Queen of the South, who managed a point despite being projected to lose 2-1 by Interstat’s game simulator. For Stenhousemuir, it will be a case of two points dropped after coming within moments of a winning start on the road.