We welcomed Clyde to Palmerston as we continued our KDM Evolution Trophy matches. Manager, Peter Murphy made two changes to the side that drew with Stenhousemuir on Saturday. Callum Penman was unavailable as he was back with his parent club, St Mirren for this competition and Kai Kennedy dropped down to the bench. Their places were taken by Mikey Hewitt and Cole Burke.

After losing the opening game away at East Kilbride, Queens wanted to make an impact but within the opening five minutes a bit of carelessness at the back opened up a chance for James Hilton but his right foot shot from 20-yards was high over the bar.

Two minutes later, Queens were unlucky not to open the scoring when Jack Stott floated a corner into the area and Jack Hannah headed it down for Ben Johnstone, the midfielder was on target but the visitors managed to clear on the line.

Queens were getting into a rhythm and Burke forced a great save from Brian Kinnear with a left foot shot. The Killie youngster was showing he could play and as he picked up the ball out wide on the left, he cut inside and fired a right foot effort across goal that was just wide.

With a quarter of an hour gone, Burke took a nice touch to take it round the defender but the ball was cleared for a corner.

The home side were dictating the play and after a great passing move the ball was played in for Kurtis Guthrie, the big striker was in the center of goal and dinked the ball over the keeper to give Queens the lead after 21 minutes.

Burke was again causing problems on the wing and as he played the ball to Reece Lyon at the edge of the box, the midfielder fired wide.

As Clyde attacked Matty Douglas and Hannah both missed a chance to halt the attack but a well-timed challenge by Taylor Charters relieved the danger.

On the half hour mark Queens made a break, Lyon raced down the left before picking out Hewitt on the right, in turn the defender played the ball back across to Lyon but it was cleared before he could sweep it into the net. Jack Stott almost scored with the resulting corner but his inswinger was tipped over the crossbar by Kinnear.

Five minutes later, Clyde hit back and Logan Dunachie was given the freedom to make a lengthy run before he was challenged at the edge of the box.

Hannah then broke down the play to start another move for the hosts and as he charged forward, he found Guthrie with a great pass. As the ball was laid back to Burke, he played it wide to Hewitt who crossed into the box only for it to be cleared.

Queens were playing some decent football and passing it around, two minutes before the break, Burke delivered a cross into the box but there were no takers. The Bully Wee made a break with Scott Williamson appearing from nowhere between the home defense to get on the end of a pass from Hilton but Charters reacted and made a good challenge.

In the final minutes of the first half, Lyon picked out Burke who again forced a great save from the keeper and in another good move Guthrie threatened with a header on the stroke of half time.

HALF TIME: Queens 1 Clyde 0

Clyde made a quick start to the second half and pulled themselves level within a minute of the restart. Darren Hynes played in Robbie Leitch, Ross Stewart made a save but as the ball spun into space, Leitch tussled with Douglas and managed to bundle the ball over the line.

Darren Young’s side came out fighting and a couple of minutes later, as Williamson shot the ball took a deflection off Douglas and out for a corner.

Queens started to regain control and Hannah took a tumble in the box but rather than a penalty the free-kick was awarded against him. Liam Smith then won a free-kick that Stott delivered into the six-yard area for Guthrie, his header was net bound but the keeper made a great stop.

Burke created a chance for Hewitt but his header missed before good work by Charters set up Stott but his shot cleared the bar.

Midway through the half, Charters made a run through the middle to get on the end of a pass from Burke, but as he made his way into the box, he ran out of space. A minute later the danger came from the other side of the park when Hewitt raced down the right to cross for Guthrie who was standing on the six-yard line. His header was strong but the goalkeeper managed to make a stop with his feet.

As play moved to the other end of the park, Williamson was in a one-to-one foot race with Douglas, the Captain managed to put enough pressure on him to make sure his shot was wide.

Stott then played a long ball forward and Charters held the line before making his way into the box, he could’ve had the shot himself but instead picked out Guthrie to his right and he grabbed his and Queens second of the night as he slid in to knock the ball past the keeper.

With fifteen minutes remaining Guthrie was denied a hat-trick, Lyon laid the ball back for the frontman who hit a decent right foot effort low towards goal but it was blocked.

Queens did put the game to bed three minutes later when Charters fired the ball low into the net to make it three.

Kennedy came off the bench and made a terrific run down the wing before shooting, as his effort was cleared it fell to Johnstone outside the box but his shot cleared not only the bar but the Oakbank Terrace. Kennedy then crossed looking for Guthrie but Kinnear rose to collect before he could get his head on it.

There were no further goalmouth chances but there was a debut for local youngster Billy Gray to round off a good evening for the Doonhamers.

FULL TIME: Queens 3 Clyde 1