The new Wullie Gibson era recorded its first win today as Queens were the only team to even score in the Championship on a difficult windy day. Aidan Fitzpatrick was the man who made the difference, scoring the only goal of the game after being restored to the starting line up following the recent managerial change, but Queens were deserved winners on the day.

To no great surprise following last week`s encouraging draw with leaders Arbroath, changes were kept to a minimum with only the one expected and enforced change. The injured Lee Connelly was replaced with Shea Gordon which meant a formation tweak and a more advanced role for new captain Josh Todd.

Quens made the brighter start on a heavy pitch with Fitzpatrick and Paton causing problems down the wings early on. One Fitzpatrick delivery across the face of goal was begging to be turned home but nobody could get there whilst Innes Cameron fired another close range effort into the side netting. It was perhaps no surprise that when the breakthrough came Fitzpatrick was the source of it. It was a much greater surprise that he was the scorer of it, popping up in a central position to fire the ball in low to the bottom right corner and out of Aidan McAdams` grasp from outside the penalty area.

Queens comfortably saw out the rest of the half but Josh Todd picked up the game`s first booking having been adjudged to have fouled Sam Ashford in setting Fitzpatrick free and running towards the Ayr goal again in the final minute of the half. It looked a slightly harsh foul, never mind a booking.

The home side were obviously given a rocket by manager Lee BUllen during the interval. They were back out very early and quick to put some pressure on in the opening minutes. However, nothing particularly threatening came from it and slowly Queens took over control again. The lead should probably have been doubled when captain Josh Todd couldn`t sort his feet out and make a good contact in front of goal, instead turning the ball wide. Innes Cameron too might have made it two when he failed to get any significant contact on Max Johnston`s ball across the face of goal.

Just after the hour mark Fitzpatrick was replaced by Ally Roy after suffering from cramp which meant Todd moving wider. The home side sent on Daire O`Connor and Tomi Adeloye for Baird and McKenzie in a bid to change their fortunes. 15 minutes later Calvin McGrory joined his captain in referee Steven McLean`s notebook after stopping Sam Ashfird with something that would have been more in keeping with events at Murrayfield as the Ayr striker tried to break forward! Ryan Gondoh replaced James Maxwell as the home side shuffled the pack again and, for the first time in the match, began to exert some cpressure on the Doonhamer back line. It was Queens thogh who were next to go close when Ally Roy`s header beat McAdams but struck the post. Soon after Jordan Houston picked up a booking for halting Gibson`s run with a foul and the player/manager struck a powerful direct free kick at goal which was comfortably held by McAdam. Ruari Paton`s race was run though. The Irishman who had needed stitches in a head knock in the first half eventually going off to be replaced by Roberto Nditi. Nditi went to right back with Max Johnston pushing further up to where Paton had been.

The last 10 minutes saw the home side force a succession of corners and throw plenty of high balls into the box but Darragh O`Connor appeared to be where most of them landed and he never lost one all day,. If he wasn`t under the ball then Euan East or Innes Cameron were. Attacks were repelled until the 4th minute of injury time when Adeloye somehow found space in the six yard box to head goalward. It was a hearts in mouth moment but our luck held and the ball struck the top of the crossbar and went over for a goal kick.

When the final whistle went Queens had recorded their 5th win of the season and a 2nd straight clean sheet. The players took a well earned bow together in front of the travelling support. Next up it`s a trip to Cove Rangers on Tuesday night for the semi final of the SPFL Trust Trophy..