Queens made their longest trip of the season north to Inverness to take on league leaders Caley Thistle, who had a 100% record until their draw at Dunfermline last week.

The South meanwhile had only been able to pick up points on the road, including two wins in their last two away from home at Greenock Morton and Raith Rovers.

There wasn?t to be a third though after the Caley Jags? impressive run continued, winning 2-1.

Allan Johnston made three changes to his side that lost to Arbroath last week, bringing in Ben Liddle for his full debut, Niyah Joseph and Max Johnston at the expense of Ruari Paton, Ruben Soares Junior (both on bench) and Harry Cochrane (not in squad).

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It was a back four for the Doonhamers with Euan East continuing at left-back, Johnston on the right, and Josh Debayo and Paul McKay in the middle. Roberto Nditi played ahead of them in a 4-1-4-1 formation with Joseph leading the line.

Joseph up front on his own

It was an even start to proceedings with Joseph testing Mark Ridgers early on before Scott Allardice thundered an effort with of Sol Brynn?s goal.

It only took Allardice eight minutes to pick up the games first booking after grabbing the Queens skipper Wullie Gibson just as he broke away from the Caley Jags midfielder.

On 11 minutes the hosts were awarded a free-kick 25 yards from goal after Debayo fouled his man. Up stepped the home teams captain Sean Welsh to knock past Brynn low to the goalies left.

Brynn beaten

Caley?s goal wasn?t necessarily against the run of play, but neither side had really asserted themselves on the game thus far.

Both teams did begin to settle in after that though, the home side, predictably, seeing more of the ball, although they caused Queens little problems.

Manny Duku got in behind the defence on 25 minutes but his cut-back was only met by Debayo who cleared well.

Duku and Debayo battle

There really was little goalmouth action for the rest of the half. The home team dominated the ball however couldn?t test Brynn. Duku was getting on the end of some dangerous crosses but all of his efforts were wayward.

HT: ICT 1-0 Queens

A lacklustre first-half form both sides in truth. The Caley Jags weren?t playing at their best, but neither were Queens ? 1-0 to the hosts probably the fair result at half-time.

Allan Johnston opted to make no substitutions at the break, although Gibson did switch wings onto the more familiar right.

Lee Connelly had the ball in the net for Queens on 48 minutes, although the goal was ruled out for offside after the Queens forward timed his run too early.

Michael Gardyne tested Brynn on 61 minutes, but the Middlesbrough loanee done well to get down to his left and deny Gardyne a goal.

Less than a minute later Queens had their best chance of the game as Johnston fired millimetres wide of Ridgers? post from a dangerous counter-attack.

Junior was introduced into the action on 67 minutes, replacing Liddle, as Queens searched for an equaliser.

Tom Walsh, who was having a quietly effective game on the right, struck the bar from a cross on 71 minutes, before Aidan Fitzpatrick replaced McGrory for the visitors.

Whilst Queens were creating little in the form of clear cut chances they were also defending astutely, keeping themselves in the game.

And it only takes one spark, one little bit of magic, to get back on level terms.

Step forward Lee Connelly.

Queens? number 10 stepped inside David Carson and curled an inch-perfect shot sublimely into the top-right corner, leaving Ridgers with no chance.

Connelly hits his super strike

Connelly celebrates his strike

Queens had worked exceptionally hard to get back into the game on 74 minutes, but sadly, it only lasted seven minutes.

Despite the South being well on top after the equaliser, Michael Gardyne managed to muscle his way to a shot in the box, his powerful left-footed strike beating the helpless Brynn.

Gardyne beats Brynn to win the game

FT: ICT 2-1 Queens

A far more positive second-half for Queens but it wasn`t their day in the Highlands with Inverness holding on for a narrow victory.

Finlay Jack