With a change to the fixture due to Scotland facing Japan at Hampden on Saturday, it was Friday night football in the Highlands for us as we travelled north to take on league one leaders, Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
With Jack Hannah returning from injury to take his place at the heart of defence and Taylor Charters coming in at left-back, Niall Rogerson and Liam Smith dropped to the bench in the two changes to the side. It was the hosts who got the game underway and in the opening five minutes had their first chance of the game. Matty Douglas was caught on the wrong side by Luis Longstaff who curled a shot just over the bar as he aimed for the top corner.
It was a bright start by the home side and two minutes later, Longstaff picked out Alfie Bavidge with a cross-field pass but Charters managed to cut out the danger. Sixty seconds later, a free-kick was played into the box but headed over by Billy McKay. The same player was back on the attack but Douglas managed to block him at the edge of the area.
Inverness were moving the ball around with pace but Ross Stewart made a save from his namesake, Alfie. Before Bavidge had a shot that he fired across the goal but was wide of the target. Theyd had Queens pegged back but the visitors had been resolute and started to come more into the game. Midway through the half, Reece Lyon picked out Zander Mackenzie on the right who delivered he ball into the box only for it to be cleared for a corner. As Kai Kennedy floated it to the 18-yard line, Benji Luissint skied his shot high and wide of the target.
As the game moved back to the other end, Oscar MacIntyre smashed a left foot shot off the outside of the post from close range. And Ross Millens free-kick was headed away by Douglas.
The Caley Jags had the better chances but in the final ten minutes of the first half, it was far more positive from Queens and as Kennedy created an opening for Hannah, Ross Munro had to dive to his left to stop a low drive from the centre half.
It was a warning from Queens and in a great move that started from Stewart they made a breakthrough. The keeper found Charters with a throw out and as he played it forward, Kennedy played it down the touchline where Callum Penman did really well to keep the ball in play. His cross found Mackenzie who played the ball over the top for Nicky Clark who was stretching but got his foot on it to steer the ball past Munro to give the Doonhamers the lead.
Stung by the goal, the Jags tried to get something back before the break but Stewart had his goal covered as McKay sent his effort wide.
Clark and Mackenzie then combined again but the latter couldnt get enough on his cross for the ball to reach Kennedy or Lyon inside the box. And on the counter attack with the last kick of the first half, Jordan Alonge forced a great save from Stewart.
HALF TIME: Inverness CT 0 Queens 1
Inverness were always going to come out fighting after the break and within five minutes of the restart they were handed a life line by referee Gary Hanvidge who took his time but pointed to the spot when Douglas made contact with McKay. It looked a soft penalty and Stewart made a terrific save from Millen but he couldnt do anything when the defender pounced to score from the rebound.
It gave them a lift and with just over an hour played, Alonge headed the ball past Stewart but Douglas Ross raised his flag for offside. Joe Chalmers then hit a left foot shot from distance but cleared the bar as they desperately tried to find a second.
But Queens werent lying down and as the ball was played over the top, Guthrie caught it on the turn but it was a weak connection and didnt trouble Munro.
Stewart then again denied MacIntyre when he made a save to pluck it out the air as the former Queens player tried to beat him at the near post.
Into the final fifteen minutes it was Queens who looked stronger and Mackenzie had a right foot effort from outside the box but it was rising and cleared the crossbar. It became a bit stop start with a string of substitutions and bookings before Lyon played a good ball to Ben Johnstone but the midfielder couldnt get enough power on his cross to find fellow sub, Seb Mason.
In added on time, Kennedy kept the ball low as he dragged his left foot effort wide. Assistant Manager, Colin McMenamin was then shown a red card by Hanvidge for kicking the ball away before Smith who had replaced Mackenzie played a long ball forward, it was controlled by Mason but cleared as he went to shoot. And with the final chance of the game, Penman cleared the bar with his strike.
It finished one all in the Highlands, a vast improvement on Queens last visit there and an important point.
FULL TIME: Inverness CT 1 Queens 1