After a disappointing result at Stenhousemuir it was a quick turnaround as Queens headed to Kirkcaldy to take on Raith Rovers in the last 16 of the KDM Evolution Trophy. Peter Murphy made three changes from Saturday, Brennan Dickenson missed out due to his calf injury picked up at the weekend and Reece Lyon who fell awkwardly in that game tried to lead the team at Starks Park but had to pull out of the warm up. Matty Douglas was the other player missing as he was carrying a knock. Jack Stott, Niall Rogerson and Zander Mackenzie started instead.
Kai Kennedy got the game underway but it was the hosts who had the first attempt at goal when Andy Winter hit his right foot shot wide. But Queens hit back and as Josh Rae saved from Kurtis Guthrie, Jai Rowe cleared as Kennedy pounced on the rebound.
It was back and forward and Scott Brown hit a right foot effort from the edge of the box but it was well over the bar. Two minutes later, Jack Hamilton headed wide as the corner was played into the front post before Ross Stewart came out to save at the former Queens strikers feet after Dylan Easton had played him in with a great pass. But again, Queens responded and Guthrie came closest to scoring so far with a header that came back off the post.
Midway through the half, Queens stepped up their attack and Mikey Hewitt, Mackenzie, Kennedy and Liam Smith were all involved in a good passing move as they put Raith under pressure but they couldnt break down a solid back line.
Back at the other Rowe hit a right foot shot over the bar.
With half an hour on the clock more Queens pressure from Kennedy, Smith and Mackenzie had the home side on the back foot, Mackenzies cross looking for Guthrie was cut out but the ball fell to Taylor Charters and again the defence cleared.
The hosts hit on the counter and Jack Hannah who was wearing the captains armband for the night headed away an Easton effort.
It was a positive reaction from Queens after Saturday but ten minutes before the break, they found themselves behind. As Stewart challenged Darragh OConnor inside the six-yard area, referee Josh Hay pointed to the spot. After a delay for the goalkeeper to receive treatment on his shoulder, Easton placed the ball and as Stewart dived to his right, Easton rolled the ball into the opposite corner to give Raith the lead.
Given a boost by the penalty Raith closed out the first half and Rowe headed just over before Ewan Wilson delivered a good ball from the left wing into the box but Winter couldnt connect.
Half Time. Raith 1 Queens 0
Queens started the second half strong and Rae had to make a great save with his feet to deny Smith. And five minutes later the former Queens keeper was called upon again when he came out to clear as Kennedy looked to punish a defensive mistake.
Just before the hour mark Rae made another unbelievable save as he stopped Hewitts header at the bottom corner.
While Queens were very light on the bench with only two outfield players available, Dougie Imrie made four changes in one go, bringing on Paul McMullan, Richard Chin, Josh Mullin and Lewis Gibson. The substitutions turned the game in their favour and Queens had to weather the storm for a ten-minute spell as Mullin hit a 20-yard effort with his right foot low but just wide of the upright.
McMullan came close to adding a second when his shot came back off the base of the inside post and Stewart tipped the ball over as Rowe got on the end of a corner.
Rowe was again involved in their next move when he crossed from the right and Chin tried to back heel the ball past Stewart but knocked it wide instead. Rowe then had another shot himself from distance but Stewart saw it all the way.
Queens had stuck it out and as Hewitt switched the ball from the right to find Kennedy on the left, the winger cut inside to win his side a corner.
Sixty seconds later a mistake by Mackenzie let in Chin, but the midfielder got back to clear and make up for his error.
With two minutes of the game remaining Queens had a strong claim for a penalty of their own as Rogerson went down at the edge of the box but it wasnt given.
Queens pushed for a leveller and in stoppage time, Ben Johnstone who had just come off the bench to replace Benji Luissint had his shot blocked by OConnor. As Kennedy played it in Hannah headed over.
It was another decent performance from Queens against a strong Championship side, but it was Eastons first half penalty that sealed Raith a place in the last eight.
Full Time: Raith 1 Queens 0