It was a journey from the South West to the North East for our latest league one encounter away at Peterhead. Manager, Peter Murphy made three changes to the starting eleven from the one that faced Stranraer, Brennan Dickenson and Jack Hannah both returned to the squad and back into the side with Liam Smith who was on the bench last weekend regaining his place in the starting line-up. Freddie ODonoghue, Niall Rogerson and Jack Stott were the players who made way.
A later kick-off due to live coverage on television, it was the hosts who got off to the best possible start taking the lead from the penalty spot within two minutes. Taylor Charters challenge on Andy McCarthy just inside the box was punished by referee Lewis Hogarth. Ross Stewart guessed the correct way as he dived to his right but he couldnt stop Kieran Shanks converting to give his side an early advantage.
As they looked to get into the game, Dickenson crossed from the left into the box for Smith to attack but the home side managed to clear for a corner.
It was the home side who were edging it and a dangerous ball in from the right was blocked by Stewart at his front post.
Midway through the half, Dickenson played a free-kick into the back post area but it was out of reach of Kian Leslie. Minutes later, it was Kai Kennedy who took another free-kick and as he floated it in to the crowded six-yard area from the left, Dickenson couldnt get enough on it to glance a header past Jack Newman.
With just over half an hour played, a good move from Queens ended with Leslie hitting a low shot but the keeper got down to collect. The visitors had plenty of the ball and were passing it around but werent able to get it forward. Kennedy did show some skill with some tricky footwork on the left but his final ball in to the box was too close to the keeper.
Queens hadnt really threatened and eight minutes before the break found themselves further adrift when the home side scored again. Smith lost the ball inside his own half and as the Blue Toon moved the ball quickly, Cameron Smith found Shanks who in turn played a great weighted pass into the path of Craig McGuffie who took a touch with his right foot, before firing the ball past Stewart with his left.
It was a blow for Queens and left them with a mountain to climb. As Smith tried to get one back before the break, he lost out in a challenge with Flynn Duffy. And with the final chance of the first half, Kennedy found Mikey Hewitt down the right flank but as he delivered the ball for Dickenson the striker was offside.
HALF TIME: Peterhead 2 Queens 0
Queens really needed to step it up after the break to try to salvage something from the game. Stott came on for Leslie and three minutes later picked up a booking for simulation. Kennedy had created an opening with a good ball into the box for Dickenson, his touch into Stott was perfect but as the substitute homed in on goal, Newman blocked with his feet and with Stott going over the top of him, the ref judged that he dived and showed a yellow card.
Just after the hour mark, Dickenson hit a left foot effort that wasnt too far away. Minutes later, at the other end Dylan Forrest kept his shot from distance low but it was wide of the upright.
Mistakes were center to Queens downfall and as Reece Lyon gave the ball away to Caleb Goldie in the middle of the park, it was left to Hannah to make a challenge.
As they continued to look for some kind of lift, Dickenson played a cross in looking for Smith but it was an easy take for the keeper. Newman was quickly involved again, this time making a save from Kennedy.
The visitors hadnt found the energy that they needed to make something happen and with just under twenty minutes of the game remaining, Hannah headed a Goldie cross out for a corner. As the ball was played in by Niall McGinn, Jason Brown got away from Matty Douglas and headed the ball past Stewart to give the hosts a three- goal cushion.
It was a poor night for Queens and Peterhead picked up a historic first ever competitive victory over the Palmerston side.
FULL TIME: Peterhead 3 Queens 0