Queens picked up their first point of the league one season with a hard-fought goal-less draw away at Montrose.
After a disappointing opening day at home to Clyde, Manager Wullie Gibson made four changes to the starting eleven. Calvin McGrory was missing through injury while, Lee Connelly started his suspension following his red card. The other two dropping out were Dave McKay who dropped to the bench and the Gaffer himself. They were replaced by Stuart Morrison, Euan East, Kieran McKechnie and Dom McMahon. With both Josh Todd and McGrory missing Ruari Paton took over the captains armband.
Having scored within 20 seconds last week, Queens almost conceded within 90 seconds this week. Morrison mistimed his clearance and as the ball bounced Blair Lyons pounced, it caught Max Currie off guard, but the keeper recovered to catch after some juggling.
Although Lyons looked a danger for the home side and Queens had a fair bit of possession, the game lacked any serious goal-mouth action. Adam MacKinnon headed over a free kick for the hosts and McKechnie found himself up against some good defending as he tried to open up space.
It was scrappy and was calling out for something to get it going, Connor Murray raised some hope midway through the half as he connected with a Paton lay off, but his right foot shot from the edge of the box hit the side net. East was next to challenge but his header from Murrays corner was too high.
Then with just over half an hour gone, the home side were handed a great opportunity when Lyons went down in the box and Referee Duncan Williams pointed to the spot. Graham Webster stepped up to take the penalty, but Currie confidently dived to his right to save and keep Queens level.
With the interval approaching, Queens did produce a move with some good football, but the end product was missing, and Murray was off target. And in the final action of the first half, in a quick move up the park Murray crossed for McKechnie but he took too long to shoot, and the chance was cleared for a corner.
HALF-TIME: Montrose 0 Queens 0
Into the second half and there still wasn`t much to write home about. Rory McAllister did curl a free kick around the wall, but it was an easy catch for Currie.
On the hour mark, McKechnie did well to cut inside to create an opening but Ross Sinclair in the home goal pulled off a good save to clear his well taken left foot effort.
Ten minutes later East made a charge from the back and played a great one-two with Murray, but the defenders shot was turned out for a corner. Murray delivered the set piece, but Ciaran McKenna couldn`t connect properly and headed over.
The game was still crying out for some quality with both sides creating more half chances than anything to excite the crowd. Substitute Matty Allan hit a powerful angled shot that was well saved by Currie before the same player volleyed wide from the edge of the box.
Returning from injury, Queens introduced Iain Wilson and Gavin Reilly and with a stronger finish stepped it up. Paton hit a right foot shot before doing well on the by-line to set up Reilly from close range, but the forward couldn`t turn to get enough on it to turn it into the net.
Reilly had another chance in the final minute as he closed in on goal, but he fired well over as the keeper came out to close him down.
And in injury time McAllister caused an uncomfortable moment for Queens as he stabbed the ball towards goal but thankfully for the visitors it didn`t find the target.
In the end, neither side could find the net and had to settle for a point apiece as it finished goal-less.
FULL TIME: Montrose 0 Queens 0