Hamilton Accies were the visitors to Palmerston as we got the second half of the season underway and rounded off our fixtures for 2025. Manager Peter Murphy made one change to the starting eleven, with Mikey Hewitt returning to the side and Zander Mackenzie dropping to the bench.

It was an open and even start to the game with both sides having a go but neither making the keepers work. But Queens took the lead after twelve minutes when Taylor Charters made a great run and won a corner, as Kai Kennedy floated it into the box, Matty Douglas was there to head past Jamie Smith.

The goal gave the home side a lift and as they started to take control, Kennedy played a teasing ball in from the right that Kurtis Guthrie went for but just couldn’t connect. Two minutes later, Kennedy had an effort of his own blocked and Brennan Dickenson’s effort was cleared.

Queens were on top but Stuart McKinstry who looked to be offside managed to get the ball into the area for Scott Robinson. Ross Stewart blocked the shot with his foot but the flag did go up this time and had he scored it wouldn’t have counted.

Midway through the half, Jack Hannah got out to the right-hand side to stop Kevin O’Hara from getting the ball into the box before Charters went on another charge down the left. The full-back was a real attacking threat and Smith had to make a save.

Kennedy was all over the park and as he delivered from the right, Hewitt was short with a header. It was a positive performance from Queens and as Kennedy played in another corner, Guthrie was inside the six-yard area but his header was saved by the keeper.

Smith was now having to work hard and as Guthrie won a free-kick on the edge of the box, Dickenson’s powerful kick stung the palms of the stopper. Queens were now relentless and as Kennedy fired across yet another corner, Dickenson nodded it back across for Guthrie but his diving header wasn’t high enough and landed into the arms of Smith who was on the ground.

With half an hour played, Liam Smith laid a nice pass back for Charters who hit a low shot on target but again Smith saved his side from falling further behind.

Two minutes later, Dickenson delivered from the right into a good area looking for Guthrie who was poised but Cale Loughrey managed to clear. Queens were really piling on the pressure and Guthrie and Dickenson again homed in on goal but the visitors managed to keep them out.

Ten minutes before the break, Dickenson won the ball inside his own half and used his strength before picking out Smith. The winger laid the ball back into the path of Charters who hit a left foot shot low but could only win his side another corner.

Accies were struggling to contain Queens and were finding it difficult to get forward, in a rare break Connor Smith did get a sight of goal but hit his shot well wide. The hosts were quickly back on the attack and Dickenson’s low drive was an easy take for Smith.

With five minutes of the first half remaining, Reece Lyon did well to win the ball and set-up Dickenson, he kept it low and hit it with power but it was off target. As Queens went again, Loughrey gave away a free-kick but recovered in time to head clear as Kennedy played it in.

Guthrie, Charters and Hewitt were all forward looking to add to Queens tally but it was captain Douglas who doubled the lead right on the stroke of half time. The defender did well as he drilled the ball low into the far corner to score his and Queens second of the afternoon.

It was a dominant showing from Queens and they could’ve added a third in added on time when Smith floated the ball into the back post for Guthrie, the big striker had his close-range header saved.

HALF TIME: Queens 2 Hamilton Accies 1

In the need of doing something to try to change the game, the visitors made a change to their formation at the break and within two minutes of the restart they’d pulled one back. Dickenson had tracked back but the ball broke of his leg as he tried to block and as the ball was played in Douglas and Hannah both tried to clear but at the third attempt, Stewart was beaten when Connor Smith hit a right foot shot into the net.

Queens quickly hit back and just five minutes later, Stewart came well up the park to launch the ball forward from the half way line, Hewitt headed it on and Douglas rounded off his hat-trick with another header to restore the two-goal advantage.

The home side were back on track and Lee Kilday steered the ball out as Kennedy fired towards goal. As they continued to threaten, Lyon got the break of the ball and cut it back for Dickenson, his low shot was heading for the bottom corner but was diverted at the last minute for another set-piece. Kennedy played it in and Lyon caught it on the volley but it was well over the bar.

Midway through the half, Kennedy slipped the ball past three players to find Charters; Lyon and Dickenson then got involved in some great play but the visitors managed to cut out the danger.

Accies made a break but Hewitt made a great challenge inside the box and as Lyon broke and played in Kennedy, Queens won yet another corner. Kennedy again floated the ball in and Guthrie got his head on it but it was cleared.

Dickenson then found himself inside the box but lost control as he tried to turn. As the ball came back in, he had a second chance, he got his head on it but he was offside.

Kennedy had been a thorn in the side of Accies all afternoon and with ten minutes of the half remaining, he almost got the goal he deserved but his 35-yard right foot effort clipped the top of the crossbar.

Accies had toiled for much of the game but Connor Smith did hit a curling shot that was knocked away before Jack Stott put his body on the line to clear. Sixty seconds later, the substitute was back at the other end of the park to get on the end of Dickenson’s cutback from the by-line but he was too high with his shot. Dickenson then created a chance for Lyon but he headed over.

Stott missed a good opportunity from eight yards but did manage to find the net with sixty seconds of the ninety to play. Again, it came from a Kennedy corner, the keeper saved from Dickenson but Stott kept it low as he fired home the rebound and rounded off a brilliant team performance.

FULL TIME: Queens 4 Hamilton Accies 1