It was back to Palmerston this evening as we welcomed Cove Rangers for the first leg of our Championship play-off semi-final. After juggling the squad at Arbroath on Saturday to prepare for the tie it was back to a more familiar line-up with six changes to the starting eleven. Benjamin Luissint, Lewis ODonnell, Fraser Bryden, Josh Walker, Kyle Doherty and Jack Brydon dropped back to the bench with Harry Cochrane, Liam Smith, Kai Kennedy, Adam Brooks, Jack Hannah and Jordan Allan all coming back into the side.
It was a nervous but lively start to the game that flowed from end to end. As Allan tried to turn at the edge of the box to create an opening, the visitors hit on the counter and Jack Hannah made a timely challenge to stop Mitch Megginson early on. Smith then crossed from the right but it was just too far ahead of Allan.
Both teams were up for it and as Allan hit a back-heel flick into the path of Reece Lyon, the midfielder tried to slip it in to Brooks but it was cleared for a corner.
As Queens pressed again, Allan sneaked in but Will Gillingham was on hand to clear for a corner. It was a poorly taken set-piece by Kennedy and it allowed Paul Hartleys side to break, but Mikey Hewitt got across to cut out the danger.
Midway through the first half, Smith showed some great skill before Nick Surman made a good block with his feet to deny him an opener. Queens had a lot of the ball but the visitors sat in and didnt let much past and hit on the break. As a free-kick was played into the front post Lyon headed away before Kennedy hit his free-kick straight into the arms of the keeper.
With just over half an hour played, the tricky winger headed down the left but just couldnt breakdown the rearguard and they broke again, Hannah made another great challenge inside the box to stop Megginson.
With ten minutes of the first half remaining, the defender was up the other end of the park to play a teasing ball over the top that dropped inside the six-yard box but just out of reach of Allan. It was a busy spell for the youngster who is on loan from Middlesborough and as he got back to his usual position with no one around him, he stopped the ball dead to make another clearance.
Queens were pushing but just lacked that finishing touch and as Cochrane delivered into the box, Lyons met it with a header, he was just short of the target and Brooks couldnt force home the loose ball.
In added on time at the end of the first forty-five, Cochrane broke up play inside his own half before getting to Coves 18-yard line to hit a right foot shot. That was blocked but as he caught the rebound with a left foot volley the ball flew wide.
And with the last chance of the half, Hannah headed over a Kennedy corner.
HALF TIME: Queens 0 Cove Rangers 0
Queens made a quick start to the second half and in the opening seconds, Kennedy played it wide to Oscar MacIntyre who whipped the ball across only for Ryan Harrington to clear.
MacIntyre was involved again when he held off a challenge to get the ball out to Kennedy, this time he crossed into the box for Smith but his shot was blocked and Brooks couldnt get onto the rebound. Kennedy then picked out Hewitt with a long cross ball but the defender didnt have the best control and ended up hitting the side netting.
Kennedy and Brooks were passing the ball tightly and managed to squeeze it through for Allan, the keeper made a save but the flag was up anyway.
Ross Stewart had very little to do so far but was called upon on the hour mark and made a great save to tip over a Declan Glass effort. Heading into the final quarter, Smith skinned Harrington on the wing but his final ball was poor. Former Queens defender, Michael Doyle then cleared as Brooks played the ball across looking for Bryden.
Surman then made a great save to keep his side level when he got a hand on the ball to push away Kai Kennedys free-kick before the keeper blocked Reece Lyons header. And in the final minutes, Luissint who had come on to replace Brooks was unlucky as his low shot from close range was deflected wide.
The goal-less draw means it is still wide open and all to play for when the two sides meet at the Balmoral Stadium on Saturday.
FULL TIME: Queens 0 Cove Rangers 0