Manager, Wullie Gibson made two changes to the starting eleven for the visit of Airdrie.  Kieran McKechnie and Dom McMahon who had started against Montrose made way for Iain Wilson and Gavin Reilly.    

 

The Diamonds travelled to Dumfries as league leaders with maximum points from their opening two games, having scored six goals without reply.  So, it was no surprise that they started strongly, Adam Frizzell hit a left foot shot into the side netting before Max Currie made a diving save to deny Callum Smith after just 15 minutes.  Stuart Morrison`s short clearance fell straight to Callum Gallagher and as he set up the chance Smith`s shot was heading for the bottom corner before the keeper`s intervention. 

 

The visitors were certainly on the front foot and took the lead just four minutes later when former midfielder now player manager of Airdrie, Rhys McCabe hit a free kick towards goal, Currie made the stop but couldn`t hold and it was an easy tap in for Smith who had followed through.   

 

In the searing heat the two sides stopped for a quick water break and it gave Queens a wee lift, but they still couldn`t cause too many problems.  Ruari Paton intercepted a poor clearance from Murray Johnson but shot wide and with half an hour gone Morrison made a good breakdown the right but his final delivery into the box couldn`t clear the defender. 

 

Queens had been second best for much of the first half but did start to come more into it as the half-time interval approached, but as they tried to walk it in, Airdrie`s defence put their bodies on the line and continued to look a danger on the break. 

 

Euan East made a well-timed challenge to halt Lewis Jamieson and as Queens were denied what looked like a free-kick, Smith shot but Currie saved before Justin Devenny fired over.   

 

And on the stroke of half-time Connor Murray played the ball wide to Paton, his lay off to substitute Josh Todd who had come on to replace Harry Cochrane, was quick but the captain fired a right foot shot over the bar. 

 

 

Chasing the game Queens made changes to the set up at half time and brought on Kieran McKechnie.  It had a positive impact and as they stepped it up Reilly made a good run down the right but tried to shoot when he probably should`ve passed.   

 

McKechnie was lively and causing a few problems and on the hour mark he did get in behind the defence but Murray`s through ball was too hard for him to chase.  It was a good spell for Queens, and they deservedly drew level when Paton showed some real determination to get the ball across the face of goal, where Reilly was on hand to finish for his first goal since returning to the club. 

 

The home side were now on top and two minutes later, Murray crossed for Reilly, but this time the striker`s header was too high.   

 

Although Queens were now the better side, Airdrie weren`t done, and Queens had to defend with East, Morrison and McKay all making clearances.   

 

However, Queens continued to have the better chances and Johnson had to make a good save to stop McKechnie`s brilliant strike from 20 yards.  Before the same player wasn`t too far away with another shot from distance, this time 35 yards from goal his effort just cleared the crossbar.   

 

Michael Ruth returned from injury to replace Reilly and hassled the defence and forced a corner as he got on the end of a Murray break.  And in the final minutes as Queens tried hard for the winner, Morrison headed over a Murray free-kick and Ruth and Paton tried to find a way through before Murray hit the final chance of the game wide. 

 

Although Queens had chances to win it, it was a game of two halves and a point apiece was probably fair.