After a break for the Scottish Cup last weekend, it was a long trip north to face Cove Rangers as we resumed league business. Josh Todd hadnt recovered from the injury he picked up against St Mirren so missed out with Ben Johnstone taking his place in the middle of the park.
At a breezy Balmoral stadium goal mouth chances were limited in the opening stages with both sides cancelling each other out. The home side enjoyed possession but failed to create and after seven minutes a long ball by Lewis Gibson was chased by Lee Connelly to win a corner. Connelly delivered the set piece to the front post for Jack Brydon, but the ball was knocked clear for another corner.
That came to nothing, but Queens did manage to break the deadlock when Gibson won a free kick on the left and as Connelly played it into the danger area, Arron Darge knocked the ball onto the post. As the ball came back out into play, Connor Scully tried to clear and hit the ball off Brydon who knocked it over the line.
In the space of two minutes, Queens picked up a couple of injuries, Harry Stone took a knock to the shoulder as Rurnarn Burrell challenged and Paul McKay had to be patched up as he suffered a head wound, however, both managed to continue after treatment.
Midway through the first half Mouhamed Niang picked up a booking for a challenge and as Gibson floated the ball into the box, Brydon headed it back across, but the ball was cleared as McKay prepared to shoot.
As Cove attacked Matthew Shiels charged down the wing, he crossed looking for Mitch Megginson, but Efe Ambrose was on hand to clear.
Two minutes later Ola Lawal had the home fans excited with a cross come shot but it flew wide of Stones left-hand post. And on the stroke of half time, Nick Suman kept the score-line down as he pulled off a great one handed save to deny Kyle Doherty. The keeper was a full stretch to turn the 25-yard effort out for a corner.
HALF TIME: Cove Rangers 0 Queens 1
Stone hadnt fully recovered from the knock he took in the first half and had to be replaced by Gordon Botterill at the interval. And he was called into action quickly as Cove started the second half strongly.
But it was ten minutes after the restart that he was really tested when he pulled off a double save to deny Burrell. After blocking the first attempt he got up to get a hand to turn away the strikers second go at goal.
Just before the hour mark Cameron Stewart did have the ball in the net for the home side, after Kyle Connell s low free kick came back off the post, but the flag was up for offside on the far side.
Queens had been up against it since the interval but as they broke away Gibbo ran through the middle with Doherty on his left and Connelly on his right, he picked Doherty for the pass and with a great finish the forward smashed a right foot shot past Suman to double the lead.
Queens had marshalled the game well and in added on time couldve increased their lead when Cammy Logan found himself in the box but took to long to take the shot and the home side got back to cover.
All in all, a good team performance and a big three points that moves us to fifth in the table just outside the play-off places on goal difference.
FULL TIME: Cove Rangers 0 Queens 2