Kelty Hearts were the visitors as we returned back to Palmerston for our first home game of 2026. There were two changes from the side that faced Raith Rovers in Tuesday nights cup tie, Matty Douglas and Reece Lyon had both recovered from the knocks they were carrying and started ahead of Zander Mackenzie and Niall Rogerson who both dropped to the bench.
It was a slow start to the game and it was nine minutes in before we had any real attempt at goal from either side. It was Queens who had the first when Mikey Hewitt played a great right foot cross in from the right but it fell just behind Kurtis Guthrie.
Two minutes later, Lyon collected the ball at the edge of the box and turned before firing a left foot effort towards the target. It looked like it was going to beat Kyle Gourlay at his right-hand post but it was just the wrong side.
Queens had the better chances but it was Kelty who took the lead after nineteen minutes, when Luke McCarvel ran from the half way line and skipped three challenges before the ball broke to Craig Johnston who continued the run and was one on one with Ross Stewart, the keeper came out but couldnt do anything as the striker knocked it past him into the net.
Midway through the half, Jack Stott hooked the ball in for Guthrie who headed straight at the keeper but it wouldnt have counted anyway as the offside flag was up. Gourlay then produced a great save as he stopped Kai Kennedys free-kick.
As Queens tried to find a way through, Liam Smith started a move as he linked up with Kennedy, Hewitt got involved and as he played it in, Guthrie just couldnt control. A minute later, Hewitt was out on the left and played a good pass for Lyon who had his shot blocked by Jack Brydon.
On the half hour mark, Innes Murray played a short free-kick to Aaron Arnott who hit a low drive that Stewart got down to collect. The visitors were scrapping for everything and cleared from Guthrie, before Jack Hannah went on a run before he was caught at the edge of the box.
Smith was unplayable as he jinxed his way past a couple of challenges but his left foot shot was just too high.
In the closing stages of the first half, Murray got the better of Matty Douglas but Hannah cleared. His clearance fell to Arnott who hit a shot just wide of the upright. Right on half time, Smith played a great ball across that was cleared by Brydon as far as Benji Luissint who fired the ball towards goal only for Sean Fisher to clear it off the line.
HALF TIME: Queens 0 Kelty Hearts 1
Queens made a quick start to the second half and Smith played the ball in for Lyon who had his shot blocked. Three minutes later, Lyon headed over from Kennedys free-kick. On the counter attack, McCarvel was again a threat and as he beat Hannah, he set up a chance for Alex Ferguson but Hannah recovered to make a good tackle in the box.
On the hour mark, Queens pulled level, Stott knocked the ball down for Guthrie who laid it back into his path and he drilled a right foot shot into the net. Michael Tidser was unhappy at the goal and picked up two yellow cards and was removed from the dug-out.
They continued to push and as Hewitt lifted the ball across, it was headed on and back into the center where Lyon was on hand to head Queens into the lead. Well on top, Smith combined with Taylor Charters who couldnt get it back to the winger.
Kelty were still a threat on the break and McCarvel played the ball to the near post where Douglas made a good block. As the corner was played in, Lyon headed out.
Back at the other end, Hewitt caught it sweet but Gourlay saved. However, the keeper was beaten again four minutes into stoppage time when Smith played the ball out to Euan Ross before continuing his run to control and finish, a goal to round off his man of the match performance.
FULL TIME: Queens 3 Kelty Hearts 1