It was Palmerston again this afternoon as Queens welcomed Alloa in the league. Following two tough games against FC Edinburgh, manager Wullie Gibson made four changes to the side that started the SPFL Trust Trophy cup tie. Max Currie, Connor Murray and Michael Ruth all dropped to the bench, while Paul McKay missed out through injury. Taking their places were Scott Fox who took over in goal, Calvin McGrory, Gavin Reilly and the Gaffer himself.

It was a scrappy start to the game as it lacked tempo and struggled to get going but as it progressed Queens were in control and with eleven minutes on the click, the manager won a free kick on the touchline and as the set piece was floated into the box Ciaran McKenna’s header was saved.

A short time later, Ruari Paton did well out wide, before McGrory worked his way to the edge of the box but as he laid it back to Josh Todd the captain was well off target and fired over.

Midway through the first half, Stephen Hendrie made a good run down the left, his delivery was decent, but Scott Taggart cleared at the front post.

Queens were still dominating the game and ten minutes before the break; Todd played a nice side pass for Paton who knocked it on for Reilly, but he failed to control it properly at the edge of the box and the chance was cleared.

Two minutes later, Paton thought he had eventually broken the deadlock with a well struck first time shot from Hendrie’s cross but keeper, Jay Hogarth made a terrific reaction save as he stuck his foot out to block on the line.

The chances kept coming and this time Gibson passed out to Hendrie, the wing back set up a shot, but he needed to keep his effort down. Paton then made a good run but as he tried to pick out McGrory, Cameron O’Donnell cleared for a corner.

Queens still had nothing to show for their efforts, but that changed with four minutes of the first half remaining. A simple ball found Reilly on the left of the box and the striker finished well as he placed the ball past Hogarth from a tight angle.

HALF TIME: QOS 1 – ALLOA 0

Into the second half and it was more of the same from the home side, as they continued as the team on top. Paton looked to have extended their advantage when he was played in by McGrory, but as the Irishman fired the ball across the keeper, it looked to be heading for the bottom corner, but as Queens fan’s prepared to celebrate the ball hit the inside of the post and come back out.

On the hour mark, Gibson’s left foot shot was tipped over by the keeper before both sides made changes.

The boss was again involved in the next Queens chance when his delivery into the box was just too high for Todd to meet with a header. And as they pushed for a second, Reilly took a shot when it was probably a better option to pass, and he made it easy for the keeper to save.

Queens missed another chance fifteen minutes from time when Reilly broke and played it left for Connor Murray, the substitute played it across for Paton, but the frontman hit it wide of the target.
Hogarth was again called into action with minutes remaining when Hendrie’s left foot shot was heading for the top corner, but the goalie did well to keep it out with a fingertip save.

And with two minutes of normal time to go, Queens were punished for not converting the pressure they’d had for much of the game, when with their one chance of the match the visitors equalised. A ball in from the left was headed past Fox by Ross McIver to earn a point.

FULL TIME: QOS 1 – ALLOA 1