Two first half goals saw Queens take all three points from their opening Scottish Championship game against Alloa this afternoon ,as the hosts ran out comfortable winners in what was Manager, Jim McIntyre`s 50th competitive game in charge.

   Following the win over Elgin last weekend, Queens began with the same team that started that match, with new signing, John Baird finding a place on the bench. Visitors Alloa, who started their season with two cup victories over Arbroath, and Stirling Albion, respectively, included former Queens player, Stephen Simmons in their line up, as well as John Baird`s former strike partner at Raith, Greig Spence, the scorer of 4 goals already this season.

The visitors got the game under way, and the opening exchanges were fairly even with both sides having plenty of possession without really threatening either back-line. Alloa created the first half chance, but having got in behind the Queens defence, their attack was swiftly halted by an offside decision.

      Although probably not noticeable from the stands, there was a gusting breeze blowing around the pitch, and at times the conditions seemed to affect the quality of passing from both sides. The home side struggled to find any early rhythm to their game, however, on 8 minutes they found themselves ahead. A short back pass put Alloa `keeper Gibson, under severe pressure, and as he was closed down by, DEREK LYLE, the Queens striker got the benefit of the block and was able to guide the ball into the net as he fell to the ground. The goal was Lyle`s third of the season, and his effort took his goals tally for Queens to an impressive 60.

 

Lyle salutes the main stand

 

      The visitors responded well to going behind, and a quick break through the middle ended with a cross being well defended by Kevin Holt, which led to Alloa winning their first corner. The set-piece that followed should really have got the visitors an equalising goal as the ball fell to McCord some 8-yards out, but his shot from a tight angle went wide. That was a huge let off for Queens, and for the next few minutes, Alloa looked the more likely. They had another chance to draw level shortly afterwards, this time after good approach play by Cawley, a shot from Buchanan was comfortably saved by Zander Clark.

      Last weekend`s hat-trick hero, Iain Russell, went very close to adding to Queens` lead after 27 minutes, his attempted curling shot just clearing the top of the bar after initial good play involving Danny Carmichael and Gavin Reilly had set him up. Alloa responded with a chance of their own, and once again it was the combination of Cawley and McCord causing the problems, McCord forcing Clark into making a good blocking save. Moments later, and Queens were going forward again after Andy Dowie`s ball over the top of the defence sent Carmichael on a run down the right, the winger did remarkably well to ease past two defenders before driving a fierce shot across the face of the goal that just passed the far post. It was like the Carmichael of old, having the confidence to take on and beat defenders with his skill and pace, and the end result almost had Queens further ahead.

     Ten minutes from the break saw the first yellow card of the game. Chris Higgins was a bit clumsy with his challenge just outside the area, and the referee deemed it to be a bookable offence. The free-kick from McCord found the head of centre-back Meggatt, but although his header thumped against the bar, the flag had already been raised by the far side assistant for offside. At this stage of the game, Alloa were having their best spell, and it took a good piece of covering by Higgins, conceding a corner, to prevent Spence from having a sight of goal. However, far from putting Queens under pressure from the set-piece, Queens put together a perfect counter attack and increased their lead. As the ball broke to Lyle midway inside his own half on the right, the striker played a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Russell, who in turn played the ball inside to GAVIN REILLY,who took one touch to control, and then fired the ball past Gibson from just inside the box. That goal for Reilly continued the young striker`s impressive league scoring rate at Palmerston, scoring for the 6th league game in a row that he has played in.

 

Reilly fires home his strike

 

     Once again, the visitors reacted well to the goal they conceded, and after springing the Queens offside trap, a good save by Zander Clark denied Spence the chance to get his side back into the game, the Queens shot stopper coming out on top in the `one on one` with the Alloa striker. As the half moved towards it`s conclusion, there was just enough time for McCord to become the second player to see yellow, when he was cautioned for a trip on Russell on half-way

 

So at the break it was very much advantage Queens as the first 45 minutes of the league season went just about to plan.

 

HALF-TIME QUEENS 2-0 ALLOA

 

Queens began the second period in the ascendancy and created two decent chances in the opening minutes as firstly Carmichael`s effort was blocked for a corner, and then moments later Reilly latched on to a through ball and in attempting to lift the ball over the`keeper, he was unable to get it high enough, and the `keeper stretched just enough to touch the ball to safety. As Queens continued to press forward, a long diagonal pass from Mark Durnan picked out Kevin Holt deep in the Alloa half, and the hosts won their 3rd corner in as many minutes when Holt`s cross was blocked. Regular set-piece taker Ian McShane`s delivery to the back post almost produced Queens` third goal of the game, but as the ball fell to Durnan the big man produced a `typical` defenders finish as he blazed the ball over the bar.

 

Danny decides which way to go

 

    Up until this point of the half, the visitors had hardly broken into the Queens half, but in a rare break forward , Zander Clark had to be alert to punch away a dangerous looking cross as Alloa tried to find a way back into the contest. Just a couple of minutes later, Alloa created a good opportunity to reduce the arrears when following a corner Meggatt rose well, but he was unable to keep his close range header on target.

 

    Queens` next attacking move saw them produce what was probably their best piece of play during the game. Holt and Reilly linked up well before the ball was moved quickly on to McShane, who in turn slipped a neat pass inside to Lyle, but `keeper Gibson reacted well to block Lyle`s attempt away for a corner. From the corner, Lyle came very close to scoring again, unfortunately his powerful header was just inches too high. The home side made their first change after 70 minutes with Danny Carmichael making way for Lewis Kidd, and their next change saw new signing, John Baird, make his competitive debut for Queens, coming on in place of opening scorer Derek Lyle, for the remaining 13 minutes.

 

    The visitors then had defender Gordon booked for a blatant foul on Kevin Holt, and the resulting free-kick signalled delight amongst some of the home support when Baird flicked in McShane`s cross, but the delight was short lived as he was denied his first Queens goal having been flagged for offside. Sponsors choice of man of the match, Gavin Reilly was replaced by Kevin Dzierzawski for the final two minutes, and right at the death, Alloa spurned a great chance to net a consolation goal. Chris Higgins did well to clear a header off the line with the help of a post, and as the ball fell back into the path of Spence, he ballooned the follow up over the bar.

 

     The majority in the crowd of 1635 would have left the ground pleased with the result, but, and this is no dis-respect to Alloa, there will certainly be tougher tests ahead as the season unfolds.