Queen of the South extended their unbeaten start to the season in fine fashion with a 3-0 win over Brechin City at Glebe Park.
Two first half corners brought the first two goals with Chris Higgins and Derek Lyle scoring before Willie Gibson completed the victory with a second half penalty.
The visitors began the game on the front foot and were gifted an opportunity to open the scoring after only five minutes. Michael Andrews in the Brechin City goal picked up a pass-back from one of his own defenders and Queens were awarded an indirect free-kick on the corner of the six-yard-box. Derek Lyle laid the ball off for Willie Gibson to strike at goal but he couldnt find a way through the mass of bodies on the goal line.
Chris Mitchell whipped in the resulting corner and Chris Higgins rose above the static defence to give Queens the lead after just seven minutes.
It wasnt the start Brechin were looking for and they immediately looked to hit back as Scott Dalziel worked his way to the byline inside the Queens box to cut the ball back across the six-yard box. Luckily for Queens Chris Mitchell was there to play the ball behind and prevent Brechin from scoring.
The Queens defence was being made to work hard and important tackles from Mark Durnan, Kevin Holt and Chris Higgins needed to be made to prevent the home side getting an equaliser. At the other end Carmichael was providing a threat and his cross found Derek Lyle free inside the box but the strikers header toward goal was blocked.
Efforts on goal were becoming fewer and farther between as the first half drew to a close but the away side eventually found a way through late in the half. A miscued clearance by a Brechin City player bobbled out for a corner kick and Chris Mitchell stepped up. The right-back put another dangerous delivery into the box and Derek Lyle was there to power a header past the helpless goalkeeper. It was almost a carbon-copy of the first goal albeit from the other side of the pitch.
Brechin managed their first effort on target as Andy Jackson brought a save from Lee Robinson before Derek Lyle almost bagged a second from yet another corner. His header was stopped by Andrews before being hacked clear from under the crossbar by Jonathan Stewart.
The home side would have went in at the break feeling they were unlucky to go in two goals down after a fairly even first period. Queens on the other hand would have been more than content with their first half efforts.
As at the start of the first half, the away side began the second well and were awarded a penalty after only five minutes. Nicky Clark received the ball inside the Brechin box and turned his marker before being tripped. Willie Gibson was the man to step up for Queens and he made no mistake as he sent the goalkeeper the wrong way.
The Doonhamers proceeded to freshen up the team after their exertions at Ibrox during the week as they introduced Gavin Reilly and Dan Orsi for Nicky Clark and Dan Carmichael.
Orsi looked bright as ever and was giving Brechins Jonathan Brown a tough time and picked up a booking for a late tackle on the winger.
Queens were in control of the match although the home side managed one or two dangerous attacks before the final whistle.
Andy Jackson is Brechins only scorer this season, on 5, and he tested Lee Robinson with a sharply hit daisy-cutter. Substitute Allan Smith had broken clear of the defence before Chris Higgins got back to challenge and the ball broke kindly for Jackson who struck the ball towards the far post but the Queens keeper was equal to it.
Derek Lyle then found himself behind the home defence only to be denied by the feet of Brechin goalkeeper Michael Andrews before Allan Smith had Brechins best opportunity of the match. The striker was found clear on the edge of the Queens area and he looked to loop the ball over the onrushing Lee Robinson but the keeper managed to get a hand on it before gathering at the second attempt.
That was the last attack of note as the league leaders played out yet another victory to continue an incredible start to the season.