Boyd double gives Rangers Scottish Cup triumph

A double from striker Kris Boyd helped Rangers beat second division Queen of the South 3-2 in a pulsating Scottish FA Cup final yesterday.

Boyd grabbed the winner in the 72nd minute with a powerful close range header from DaMarcus Beasley's corner after Queens had fought back valiantly from 2-0 down at half-time.

The victory was a relief for Rangers, who had already lifted the League Cup this season, after they lost out on the Premier League title.

The first half was a tense affair with few chances in the opening half hour and it took a ferocious strike from Boyd to break the deadlock 11 minutes from the interval.

Skipper Barry Ferguson nudged a free-kick sideways into his path 25 metres out and Boyd crashed a fierce, rising shot from the left into the top corner for a spectacular opener.

The final seemed over as a contest when Beasley scored Rangers's second goal after 43 minutes.

However, the heavy underdogs bounced back with two goals inside two minutes to reignite the Hampden Park final.

Stevie Tosh drove home a low shot five minutes into the second half after Sean O'Connor tore down the right and burst into the area before pulling the ball back across goal.

Queens then equalised through captain Jim Thomson who launched himself at a free-kick from Robert Harris to power a header past keeper Neil Alexander from 12 metres.

But Rangers, bidding for a quadruple just over a week ago before losing the UEFA Cup final, finished the season with another trophy when Boyd met Beasley's swirling corner.