It was back to Palmerston for the first of back-to-back home games as we played host to Peterhead. After defeat on the road at Montrose, manager Peter Murphy made three changes to the starting eleven, Callum Penman made his return after a long time out through injury and there were starts for Ben Johnstone and Nicky Clark. Making way for them were Taylor Charters, Kurtis Guthrie and Brennan Dickenson who all dropped to the bench.
In the opening minute, Ross Stewart felt that he had kept the ball in play and argued with the referee Iain Sneddon who award our guests a corner. As the set-piece was delivered into the box by Seb Ross, Stewart used his anger to punch clear.
Ten minutes later Josh Kerr picked up a booking as Jack Stott made a break and the defender brought him down. Kai Kennedy kept the free-kick low as he crossed into the box and Reece Lyon got on the end of it but his shot was blocked. Matty Douglas then headed on a Kennedy corner that was drilled back across by Stott only for the visitors to clear.
With quarter of an hour played, Ross fired a right foot shot over from outside the box.
Midway through the half Stott and Clark linked up with a one-two but it didnt amount to anything. And just over the half hour mark, Johnstone went down at the edge of the box, he was looking for a penalty but the official booked him for diving.
The game was very much stop start with a lack of goal chances and needed a spark. Queens did have Peterhead back in their own half but they werent causing a threat and any half chance that came their way was soaked up with ease.
It looked like it would be goal-less at the break until a moment of madness handed Peterhead a golden chance right on the stroke of half-time. Douglas missed a header and as Ross latched on to the ball and made his way to the box, Jack Hannah made a rash challenge and the ref pointed to the spot. Kieran Shanks placed the ball past Stewart to his left as the keeper dived to his right to give the visitors the lead.
HALF TIME: Queens 0 Peterhead 1
Looking for a reaction, Douglas and Johnstone made way for Niall Rogerson and Guthrie at the break and just three minutes after the restart, Penmans throw-in was headed on by Guthrie for Lyon who headed just over.
At the other end, Cammy Smith was given space and as he worked his way into the area he hit the side netting. As the play moved back up field, Kennedy crossed for Guthrie but the flag was up.
As the visitors looked to add to their advantage, a ball in from the right fell for Ross at the edge of the six-yard area but his right foot volley was blocked at close range by Penman. That was cleared but a minute later, Queens failed to deal with a corner and Jason Brown rose to head the ball past Stewart to give Peterhead a two-goal cushion.
Queens couldnt find the lift that they were looking for and as they desperately tried to find a way back into the game, Clark tried a scissors kick but it lacked power and was an easy take for Jack Newman.
Midway through the half Dickenson who had replaced Liam Smith made a brilliant cross-field pass to Kennedy and as he caught it on the volley, he hit it with force only for it to smash off the post. It was the closest Queens had come to scoring and as they continued to huff and puff, Kennedys free-kick was met by the head of Guthrie but the ref gave a foul against the striker.
Five minutes later Guthrie again got his head on to a cross from the right but it was weak.
The game petered out with more bookings and changes and Queens slumped to their third consecutive defeat.
FULL TIME: Queens 0 Peterhead 2