Our home games continued with the visit of Kelty Hearts to Palmerston for our latest league one fixture. Manager Peter Murphy made one change to the side that faced Clyde in the cup in midweek, Kai Kennedy returned to the starting eleven with Cole Burke dropping back down to the bench.
It was the visitors who were on the front foot from kick off and within the opening minute Taylor Charters had to make a well time challenge as James Graham looked to punish an early mistake. And with five minutes played they were in again, this time a ball to the near post from the right was left by Craig Johnston for Innes Murray who hit the side netting.
Queens started to get to grips with it and as Kurtis Guthrie played the ball through the legs of Brody Paterson, he managed to get the ball across for Jack Stott who looked to open up space for himself at the edge of the box, he managed to shoot but Corey Armour got down to save. As the ball fell to Guthrie the keeper managed to block for a second time.
Kennedy then went on a run and his effort won his side a corner. Stott played in the set-piece and Jack Hannah went for the header but couldnt get enough on it to cause any danger.
The breakthrough did come midway through the first half when a great ball across the box by Liam Smith found Guthrie, the big striker rose above everyone else to loop a header over the keeper into the net.
Two minutes later, Smith tried to find Guthrie again but this time the defense managed to head clear.
On the half hour mark, Queens were passing the ball around well as they looked to create but the move ended with Mikey Hewitt being pushed in the back, he had a claim for a penalty but it wasnt given.
Stott then delivered to Guthrie at the edge of the six-yard box and he headed the ball across for Reece Lyon but he couldnt steer the ball into goal.
Queens were getting the ball forward but were finding it hard to break down a solid backline. And as we headed for the interval, Kennedy hit the ball low across the box but Armour got down to collect.
HALF TIME: Queens 1 Kelty Hearts 0
The first chance after the break came from Queens, Smith made a run and cut inside to hit a right foot shot low but the keeper got down to save. It was a chance for the home side to extend their lead but less than five minutes later, Kelty were back level, when Aaron Arnott beat Ross Stewart.
It gave the visitors a lift and two minutes later, they took a short free-kick that was played to Johnston, the frontman fired the ball across goal without any real problem.
As Queens looked to hit back, Ben Johnstone was just inside the box when he turned to hit a left foot shot that forced a save from Armour. Kennedy then made a good cross but as Guthrie went for the header, former Queens defender, Jack Brydon had him well marked.
With just over an hour played, a brilliant ball by Graham on the right found Johnston who hit it first time but Stewart made the save of the game from point blank range to keep Queens level.
Midway through the half, Kennedy set up a chance for Stott who was just wide with his low shot from 25-yards. As the game moved to the other end of the park, Hannah made a great tackle inside the box.
Armour was then called upon again as he got down to stop Kennedys free-kick. Kennedy was running the show with a man of the match performance and as he drove inside his shot was inches wide of the upright.
Charters then played a great ball across the box but it was knocked out wide to Hewitt on the other side, as he played it back in, Guthries header was an easy take for the keeper.
With ten minutes remaining, Johnston fired a shot over from inside the box before Jack Wyllies ball into the six-yard area was headed away by Hannah.
Queens pushed again and Kennedy had a chance before Freddie ODonoghue had his effort cleared by Paterson. But with two minutes remaining, Lyon sent the home fans wild when he fired a right foot shot into the net to restore the home sides lead.
As the visitors won a corner, Hannah headed clear and with the final chance of the game young Burke hit the side netting.
The late winner leaves Queens on 10 points and after five games sit top of the table.
FULL TIME: Queens 2 Kelty Hearts 1