The vital moments

May 25 2008 By Alan Robertson

RANGERS faced one of their stiffest tests in an exhausting 68-game season against a Queen of the South side desperate to win their first major final at Hampden.

Gers looked to have tied it up after a strong first-half performance left them 2-0 up but Queens fought back brilliantly to level.

That had the fans dreaming of a repeat of their semi-final heroics against Aberdeen before Gers hit them with a cruel late blow.

Walter Smith's men secured a cup double but they were pushed all the way by the First Division side. Here's how it happened...

3:00: Queen of the South kick off in the Hampden sun.

3:02: Doonhamers defender Ryan McCann takes a head knock and has to go off the field for some lengthy treatment.

3:04: Ibrox midfielder Lee McCulloch is booked for a nasty challenge on Bob Harris.

3:10: Stephen Dobbie picks out Stevie Tosh who fires across the box but none of his Queens team-mates is there to threaten.

3:12: DaMarcus Beasley breaks down the left for Gers but the move comes to nothing as the defence clears the danger.

3:22: Jim Thomson concedes a free-kick for Queens after going through the back of Jean-Claude Darcheville.

3:23: A clearance falls to Kevin Thomson 30 yards out and the Ibrox midfielder fires low and wide on the half-volley.

3:23: The best chance of the match falls to Beasley with Kris Boyd slipping the ball through to the American whose left-foot strike curls wide.

3:26 Boyd comes within inches of his 10th goal in the Scottish Cup after the unmarked striker latches on to a Beasley cross with a diving header that goes just over.

3:32: Tosh catches Beasley just outside the Queens box.

3:33: From the free-kick Boyd rattles a sensational strike into the top corner for the opener.

3:38: Tosh bursts past Davie Weir and into the Rangers box but is met by keeper Neil Alexander. The ball ends up with Paul Burns and he tries to pick out Sean O'Connor who appears to be nudged by Steven Whittaker. But the penalty shouts are ignored.

3:43: Rangers go 2-0 up when Carlos Cuellar's header across the box beats Thomson and Andy Aitken to find Beasley who slots under the Queens keeper.

4:04: Tosh fires Queens back into the game after throwing himself at O'Connor's pinpoint cross ball for his second goal of the Scottish Cup campaign.

4:10: Boyd gets his head on a Rangers corner but his effort is caught easily by Jamie MacDonald in goal.

4:11: Thomson levels for the Doonhamers when he climbs above the Ibrox defence to send a bullet header into the net from a Harris cross.

4:15: McCann breaks down the right for Queens and passes across the box to Dobbie but his first touch lets him down.

4:17: Another move down the right results in Dobbie firing across the box but Cuellar makes a decisive challenge to stop O'Connor getting a shot in.

4:19: Beasley plays in Barry Ferguson for a glorious chance but the Rangers skipper's balance lets him down as he mis-hits his shot and the ball rolls into the hands of keeper MacDonald.

4:27: Darcheville crosses for Beasley but the American can't get his shot away.

4:30: Rangers go 3-2 ahead when Boyd meets a Beasley corner to head past MacDonald with a powerful effort.

4:36: Boyd comes close to his hat-trick with a header across goal from a Steve Davis cross but Queens keeper MacDonaldmakes a terrific stretching save.

4.44: Darcheville makes some room outside the box and cuts inside past McCann. However, the French striker smashes his shot high over the bar.

4:50: Queen of the South look for a late equaliser as Harris fires a free-kick at goal but his effort is blocked by Boyd who proves to be a hero at both ends.

4:51: Ref Stuart Dougal blows his whistle to give relieved Rangers their 32nd Scottish Cup.