Queens opened up a four point gap between themselves and Falkirk after their 4-1 win over Cowdenbeath, and Falkirk`s defeat at the hands of Champions elect, Hearts, saw Queens increase their points advantage as the season moved into it`s final quarter. After going ahead on 27 minutes, Queens were mostly in control, and apart from a ten minute spell around the hour mark during which time they gifted visitors Cowdenbeath a goal, they were certainly the better team and ran out worthy winners.

Boss, James Fowler, made just one change to the team that started against Raith last time out, as captain Chris Higgins returned to the centre of defence in place of Stephen McKenna, and back from his suspension, Mark Durnan returned to the matchday squad.

It was the home side who got the game under way, and attacking the Terregles Street end of the ground, they lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Gavin Reilly playing as the lone striker, and after a solid start Queens began to dominate and Ian McShane tested `keeper Thomson with a shot from the edge of the box that was easily held by the Cowdenbeath shot stopper. Queens next chance came following a foul on Danny Carmichael, and after a quickly taken free-kick Lewis Kidd and Carmichael combined well to create a heading opportunity for Reilly, but his effort flew wide of the far post.

The opening phase of the game was very one sided with Queens doing all the probing, and Mark Millar was next to set his sights on the target, but his half-volley from distance went high over the bar and just about managed to stay in the ground!! The hosts won their first corner of the game after 17 minutes following a break down the left by Iain Russell, and Millar`s delivery to the near post picked out Higgins, but from a tight angle the skipper was only able to knock the ball past the post. Moments later Russell, Paton and Carmichael were all involved in a move that ended with a shooting opportunity for Kidd, but he scuffed his shot and the ball trundled through to the `keeper.

Queens have been strong from set-pieces all season, and once again this proved to be the case when after 27 minutes they grabbed the lead. Iain Russell`s perseverance won corner number two, and from Millar`s deep cross to the back post,   Iain Russell was left completely unmarked to head home from close range. It was almost a carbon copy of last week`s opener against Raith, only this time Russell finished with his head rather than his foot. The goal had certainly been coming, and the hosts had further opportunities to increase their lead before the half ended. An enterprising run and cross from Carmichael almost found the head of Kevin Holt, and following another corner that caused uncertainty in the visitors defence, another Carmichael ball into the box fell between both Higgins, and Reilly and neither of them could make the desired contact.

Keeper Thomson looks to get a hand to the ball but he couldn`t stop Russell from opening the scoring

Delight from Higgins and Dowie as Russell celebrates his goal

Zander Clark had been a virtual spectator for most of the half, and even when Cowdenbeath won their first corner of the game, he was again untroubled as Andy Dowie rose well to head the ball clear. For a few minutes the visitors did have a spell of possession and their only shot of the half followed when O`Brien`s effort flew wide of the far upright. The home side had two really good chances to go further ahead before the interval, and both of the opportunities fell to Michael Paton. IanMcShane won possession in midfield and picked out Reilly who in turn laid the ball into the path of Paton, and his crisp drive was only a few feet wide of the target. If that was close for Queens, right on the stroke of half-time, Paton went even closer. Excellent work from Kidd saw him deliver a perfect ball into the penalty area, but unfortunately for Paton, from 4-yards out, he headed the ball wide. 

So after dominating much of the first half, Queens only had Russell`s second goal in as many games to show for all their efforts.

HALF-TIME QUEENS 1-0 COWDENBEATH

The second half was only 6 minutes old when Queens doubled their advantage. A delightful pass from Millar picked out the run of Russell, and his flick fell nicely into the path of the onrushing Michael Paton who showed good composure before driving the ball past the helpless Thomson. The goal was just Paton`s second of the season, and his first league goal of  what has been an injury hit season for the former Aberdeen player. As the home side continued to dominate, the game should have been wrapped up minutes later as Paton and Russell combined once more. Paton produced a neat back -heeled pass that sent Russell driving into the penalty area, but whereas Paton showed calmness ahead of finishing his chance, Russell did the opposite and blasted his effort well over the bar.

Paton steers the ball around Thomson for goal number two

 

A training ground routine almost saw Ian McShane add his name to the list of scorers, as he connected well with another Millar corner, as the midfielder`s volley from the set-piece did not miss the target by very much. Queens made their first change just short of the hour mark when Derek Lyle replaced Gavin Reilly, and the first thing that Lyle did was to re-start the game after Cowdenbeath pulled a goal back. From being comfortable at two goals ahead, a defensive error gifted the visitors a way back into the game. There seemed to be very little danger as Queens had possession in their own half, but a sloppy pass from Kevin Holt suddenly put the back line under pressure, and Sean Higgins was able to make Queens pay for the error as he slipped the ball under Clark to give his side a lifeline.

Higgins gets his customary goal at Palmerston

 

The first yellow card of the game was shown to the visitors full-back, Adamson, following a late challenge on Carmichael, and from that moment on, Danny Carmichael seemed to find something of a second wind as he began to take Cowdenbeath on almost it seemed, single handedly. His pace and trickery were now causing all sorts of problems for the visitors, as he attacked at pace and at will. He linked well with Lewis Kidd to win yet another corner for the hosts, that eventually fell to Paton who saw his shot blocked away for yet another corner as Queens continued to search for a third goal. Mark Durnan replaced Russell with 16 minutes to go, and a minute later, and with his first touch of the game, he restored his team`s two goal lead.

Durnan thanks Millar for the delivery that allowed him to score with his first touch of the match

Mark Millar`s delivery to the near post found Mark Durnan who connected well with the ball to send a half-volley flying into the net, scoring for the first time since he netted against Dumbarton back in November of last year. The points had been won at this stage, but the fans in the crowd of 1671 were being treated to some very good approach play by Queens, and Ian McShane went close to adding a fourth goal after Carmichael and Holt had worked an opening for the midfielder, but his shot from 10-yards out failed to test `keeper Thomson. With five minutes remaining, Queens made their final change when Stephen McKenna replaced Mark Millar, and as the game drifted towards it`s conclusion, Queens scored for the fourth time. The ball was worked through midfield, and then into the area on the right, and after steadying himself, Derek Lyle smashed an unstoppable drive across `keeper Thomson and into the bottom corner. It was the striker`s 6th goal against the Fifers this season, as he also completed the feat of scoring in all four games against Cowdenbeath this campaign.

Lyle finishes clinically

There was almost time for another goal, and had it have gone in, it would almost certainly have been a contender for goal of the season. Danny Carmichael collected the ball mid-way inside the visitors half and as he burst forward at pace he cut inside and then outside to leave three defenders trailing in his wake before driving a well hit shot narrowly past the far post. Sponsors chose Iain Russell as their man of the match on a day when Queens were simply too good for their opponents. A vital three points for Queens and with their next 3 fixtures all being played away from Palmerston, it was really important to get the win, and win they did, and in some style as well.