Gary Naysmith made four changes from Queens` disappointing 2-0 defeat at home to Inverness. Goalkeeper Alan Martin returned to guard the visitors goal, his first appearance since he picked up an injury against St Mirren in February. Scott Mercer replaced on-loan defender Kyle Cameron, so Calum Fordyce shuffled across to partner Darren Brownlie at centre back. Dom Thomas and Lyndon Dykes also returned in place of Danny Carmichael and captain John Rankin.

 

The visitors shaded the opening exchanges with the returning Thomas having the first effort at goal on six minutes. The on-loan winger danced past his marker and saw Morton stopper Connor Brennan off his line but his 30 yard effort ballooned over the crossbar.

 

Queens continued to look the most likely when a great move fell to Thomas again inside the box, but before he was able to pull the trigger referee Stephen Finnie pulled play back to the anger of the visiting players and supporters. This meant Queens had a free-kick just inches outside the Morton box. Captain for the day Stephen Dobbie failed to trouble the goalkeeper with his effort as his free-kick was always rising over the bar.

 

Dobbie shoots

 

It was a slow start from the hosts, who really needed to win the match to ensure they had a realistic chance of reaching the play-offs at the end of the campaign. Ex-Queens forward Bob McHugh had their first chance on 15 minutes when he expertly controlled a high ball over the top and whipped a low shot at goal. It would have finished in the net but for a slight flick off the legs of returning goalkeeper Alan Martin.

 

Fordyce and Martin combine to deny Morton

 

Queens countered from this but a deflected Dobbie shot was comfortably saved by the goalkeeper. 

 

Jim Duffy`s men created their second chance of the afternoon on 23 minutes when winger Scott Tiffoney fired over an inswinging cross that McHugh got under control at the near post. The ball dropped for the striker inside the six-yard box but he somehow managed to scoop his hooked half-volley on the turn over the crossbar.

 

Four minutes later Queens were denied the opening goal when Dobbie broke through the Ton defence after a slick passage of play with Thomas and fired a powerful low drive at goal. It looked to be finishing inside the right post until Brennan plunged to his left to push the ball wide and out for a corner.

 

The Doonhamers had their tails up and sensed a goal was on the horizon. Two minutes later it was another important block from Brennan. Dobbie picked out strike partner Dykes with a precise cross from the left. Dykes headed the ball goalwards but the keeper dived to his right and palmed away the forward`s header away from goal.

 

Brennan denies Dykes

 

Ton`s starman Gary Harkins found himself in Finnie`s blackbook on the half hour mark when he made a truly awful challenge on Josh Todd.

 

The on-loan St Mirren man was in the action once more nine minutes later when he slotted in Thomas but the Killie winger couldn`t direct his shot on target.

 

HALF TIME MORTON 0-0 QOS

 

After a slow five minutes of the second period, Queens had the first chance to gain an advantage when Dobbie drove into the Ton box. He pulled the trigger with his left foot but didn`t quite catch the ball right. His effort bounced beyond Brennan`s dive but rebounded off the inside of the right post to safety. 

 

Two minutes later it was the hosts to threaten when Harkins curled a free-kick up over the wall and down again. It looked to be creeping inside the left upright until Martin dived to his right to beat the ball down into the ground. McHugh met the rebound with a looping header but thankfully landed on the roof of the net.

 

Martin gets down well to push away the free kick

 

Another chance went begging for Morton when Queens goalie Martin was rounded by McHugh but was forced wide on the left. He attempted to find former Queens striker John Baird with a pull-back but was intercepted and stabbed behind for a corner.

 

Despite a couple of scares the Doonhamers took the lead on 69 minutes when Thomas drilled the ball across goal Dykes to stretch out a leg and crack the ball off the post, but he reacted quickly to knock home the rebound to the delight of the small travelling Queens support.

 

Dykes stretches to send the ball back into the net

Brennan is beaten by Dykes - photo copyright Sam Hardie

Dykes thanks the Morton fans for their words of encouragement - photo credit Sam Hardie

 

Queens did have a couple of chances to extend their lead but shots from Dobbie and Thomas were denied by the keeper.

 

Morton knew they needed a goal from somewhere and pushed forward. After a flurry of corners and keeping Queens in their own half, it looked as if the visitors had cleared any danger of a late Morton goal. 

 

In the dying stages Tom O`Ware nodded the ball back into the danger area for Harkins to head at goal from a central position six yards out. He hit the target but Martin claws the ball over the top. It was a superb reaction save that prevented Morton taking anything from the game.

 

Martin makes a superb stop to deny the homeside and equaliser at the death

 

FULL TIME MORTON 0-1 QOS

 

In all, Queens probably deserved the victory and a much-needed one. Despite the victory, Queens can`t reach the play-offs. Queens made sure they completed the away double at Cappielow after their victory there earlier in the season. 

 

For Morton, it looks highly unlikely they will be in the play-offs either, unless results go in their favour.

 

Queens play Dundee United on Saturday to wrap up the Championship season at Palmerston for another season. The match will also be Derek Lyle`s last as a Queen of the South player, so come along to say farewell to a Queens legend.