With three wins in a row under our belts, we welcomed Montrose to Palmerston. Due to different circumstances, Manager Marvin Bartley had to make three changes to the side that started against Cove. The suspended Gordon Botterill was replaced in goal by new arrival, Harry Stone, while Harry Cochrane who hadnt fully recovered from his ankle knock along with Efe Ambrose started on the bench and were replaced by Alex Ferguson and Paul McKay.
After a positive start last week, the Gaffer was looking for the same, but it was the visitors who were on the front foot and after eight minutes, Michael Gardyne delivered a corner into the box and Aidan Quinn headed just the wrong side of the post. It was a warning for Queens, and they didnt take it as just two minutes later in an identical move, Montrose did take the lead as Quinn this time got the ball on the correct side of the post to head Gardynes delivery past Stone.
Things went from bad to worse, as the hosts struggled to do the basics correct, they found themselves two down within the opening fifteen minutes. Blair Lyons was instrumental in the move as he walked his way through the defence to set up Craig Brown who kept it low to beat Stone.
Queens continued to toil and rarely looked a threat, Reegan Mimnaugh did play in a corner, but it came to nothing. He was later booked for a challenge and Brown took the resulting free-kick 25-yards out but fired it straight into the arms of Stone.
Looking to get into the game, seven minutes before the interval, Kieran McKechnie made his way into the box, but his shot was blocked for a corner by Sean Dillon. Mimnaugh got the ball into the danger area where Josh Todd hooked it back across goal to Gavin Reilly. The striker tried an acrobatic kick, but it lacked power and was an easy catch for Cammy Gill.
HALF TIME: Queens 0 Montrose 2
After a terrible first half it was no surprise, the boss made changes at the break. Oscar MacIntyre, Ferguson, and Harvey Walker made way for Ambrose, Lewis Gibson, and Lee Connelly.
They came out the traps with purpose and three minutes theyd had pulled one back, as Gibson crossed from the left, McKechnie attacked at the back post and headed into the bottom corner. It was a different Queens side and as Connelly burst through, his low shot couldve done with a bit more power as it went wide.
Gibson was running riot on the wing and another great ball into the box again found McKechnie, with his back to goal, he tried to beat Gill with a back-heeled effort. A great try but just couldnt foul the keeper.
Fired up and well in the game, they levelled just after the hour mark thanks to young Gibbo as his cross come shot found its way into the net.
Back on and equal footing, Queens took a breath and paid the price as six minutes later the visitors restored their lead. Matheus Machado cut the ball back from the by-line to Brown who was in space to fire a right footed shot into the far corner.
As Queens tried again, Kyle McClelland made a run forward and picked out a good pass for Reilly, in turn he played it back to substitute, Jake Hutchinson who just couldnt connect properly. They continued to try to overturn the errors theyd made, and Reilly missed an opportunity before Hutchinson hit the post after getting on the end of Gibsons cross.
In the final five minutes, Todd did well to win it inside the box before turning to shoot but his final ball lacked power and was an easy take for the keeper. Mimnaugh was inches past the post with a free kick and in added on time, Gibson raced down the wing to deliver for Reilly, but he blasted over.
FULL TIME: Queens 2 Montrose 3