It was a long trip north to face Cove Rangers for our opening league game of 2025/26. Manager, Peter Murphy made four changes to the side that started the final Premier Sports Cup group match at Stranraer. Mikey Hewitt, Niall Rogerson, Euan Ross and Jack Stott all dropped to the bench with Matty Douglas, Taylor Charters, Jack Hannah and Benji Luissint all coming into the line-up.

Back to where it all ended last season, Queens faced a tough opener but they were up for it and within the first five minutes, Kurtis Guthrie got on the end of a cross but his header was easily collected by Robbie Mutch.

The game was free-flowing and as Ryan Harrington made his way into the box for the home side, Douglas made a good challenge. Back at the other end of the park, Ben Johnstone floated a free-kick into the box, again Guthrie got his head on it but this time it was straight into the arms of the keeper.

Douglas was called upon again when Layton Bisland played the ball along the 18-yard line for Mitch Megginson but the defender was on hand to block.

Queens were playing well and as Michael Doyle blocked from Kai Kennedy, Johnstone played in the corner only for Justin Eguaibor to clear for another set-piece. As the ball came in from the other side again from Johnstone, Jack Hannah nodded it back across and this time Guthrie?s header came off the post and into the net to give Queens the lead after 19 minutes.

Midway through the half, Kennedy hit a right foot shot but it was high and wide of the target. And as Cove attacked, Fraser Fyvie was in on goal, Ross Stewart blocked but the offside flag was up anyway.

The visitors continued to cause problems and as Liam Smith went on a great run through the middle, he created an opening for himself but his last touch inside the box was too heavy.

Minutes later Smith was involved in another Queens move when he linked up with Kennedy down the right before bursting into the box only for his shot to be saved.

With just under half an hour played, Harrington played a great ball into the box to Fyvie at the back post, he knocked it into the net but the flag was up and it didn?t count.

As Queens pushed for a second, Kennedy hit a free-kick from 25-yards but it was well taken by Mutch. Before Guthrie had another header off the post but it wouldn?t have been given as the assistant had raised the flag.

With minutes of the first half remaining Smith and Johnstone were trying to find a way through a packed six-yard area, Johnstone did manage to have a shot but it was the wrong side of the upright. Arron Darge fired wide of the post from outside of the box at the other end, before Smith was high with his effort from 25-yards for Queens. The final chance before the break fell to the hosts when Fyvie?s shot was cleared into the air by Hannah, as it dropped Stewart was there to push it over for a corner.

HALF TIME: Cove Rangers 0 Queens 1

It had been a great first half performance by Queens and they continued after the interval and J Eguaibor made a good block from Guthrie as he got on the end of a terrific cross into the area from Luissint.

With just over an hour played, Cove started to press more and Mackenzie Strachan?s free-kick had to be headed clear by Hannah. Minutes later the central defender was caught up in a moment of controversy when Queens thought they had doubled their lead. Hannah had made his way to the other end of the park and got the ball across for Guthrie to score, only for the officials to dem his challenge for the ball to be a foul of the keeper and therefore the goal didn?t stand. The defender sustained a rib injury during the collision and had to be replaced.

Queens were further aggrieved five minutes later when they were denied a penalty when Reece Lyon went down in the box.

They did get a second, nine minutes from time when Guthrie?s effort was blocked but fell to Kennedy on the left-hand side of the box and the winger hit a low shot across goal into the bottom corner.

The two- goal advantage was no more than Queens deserved but as Paul Hartley?s side hit back and Stewart had to dive to his right to stop Harrington?s low free-kick from 19-yards.

It was Queens who had the final chance of the game when Smith worked his way into the box but his left foot shot lacked power.

Overall, a good solid team performance from the boys on the opening day resulted in a two-nil win.

FULL TIME: Cove Rangers 0 Queens 2