Queens and Kilmarnock produced a highly entertaining game in tonight`s friendly at Palmerston as the sides shared the goals in a 2-2 draw with Ryan Conroy`s equaliser for the home side being the pick of the bunch. With almost all of the `new recruits` on view to the paying public for the first time, there was the chance for the home fans to see what the new players would bring to the squad, and although it is still very early days, there were some very positive signs.Queens began in a 4-4-2 formation with Derek Lyle alongside Dale Hilson up front. Visitors Kilmarnock fielded an extremely strong line-up, although Kris Boyd had to be content with a place on the subs bench at the begining.The home side were first to threaten and should have taken a very early lead after Andy Dowie`s long ball found Iain Russell all alone with only `keeper Jamie MacDonald in his way, but Russell`s control let him down and the chance was gone. The hosts continued to have the better of the opening phase of the game, and Callum Tapping and Mark Millar showed signs that they are already starting to form a decent understanding in the centre of the park, and Tapping`s early contribution to the game saw him produce an excellent pass to find Russell whose shot was blocked away for a corner. The set-piece from Millar found the head of Kyle Jacobs but his effort flew a couple of feet over the bar.Queens were well on top at that point and their dominance was rewarded after 17 minutes when Dale Hilson latched on to Dowie`s long ball, worked an angle to shoot from and calmly drove the ball across MacDonald and into the net.

Russell congratulates Hilson on his strike

Moments later it could have got better for Queens as a quick flowing passing move almost produced a second goal. Millar began the move with a delightful crossfield pass that picked out Russell on the left,who headed the ball into the path of Hilson who then found the unmarked Derek Lyle 8-yards out, but Connolly reacted well to block both Lyle`s effort and Hilson`s follow up as Killie held on.There was a slight re-organisation for Queens after an injury to Callum Tapping saw him being replaced by Lewis Kidd, and Kyle Jacobs moved forward to take Tapping`s place in the middle of the park.

Tapping looked impressive

At the break it was advantage Queens thanks to Hilson`s well taken goal.Queens switched to a 4-2-3-1 formation at the start of the 2nd period as Ryan Conroy moved to play `in the hole` behind Lyle up front, but it was the visitors who began the half on the front foot, and Robbie Thomson had to react well to tip over a well struck half-volley from Higginbotham. Ten minutes into the half Ryan Conroy almost doubled Queens` advantage when he skipped past two defenders before crashing a right foot shot against the near post from just inside the penalty box, but unfortunately for the home side, Killie drew level moments later when substitute McKenzie was found by Magennis and he finished well.  There then followed a plethora of substitutions from both sides. The visitors made 8, which included Boyd, O`Hara and former Queens loanee, Greg Kiltie, whilst Queens introduced Jim Atkinson, Scott Hooper, Jake Pickard, Aidan Smith, and Paul Burns who was fittingly given the captain`s armband for the final period of the game.  With so many changes the game struggled a bit for the final moments, but there was enough quality on show to produce two further goals in the game, and both were really good efforts. Firstly Killie took the lead for the first time in the game when the impressive McKenzie was on hand to smash the ball past Atkinson to cap what was a decent game for the Scotland under-21 star, and then Ryan Conroy thumped home a stunning free-kick from 25-yards out to give Queens what was a well merited draw.

Conroy and Smith line up the equalising free kick

The hosts made 3 further changes for the final ten minutes with Steven Higgins, Shaun Rutherford, and Dean Brotherston all getting a run out.The loudest cheers of the night however were saved until the final whistle as the home support rose to applaud Paul Burns from the pitch as the Queens players lined up in a guard of honour as he left the Palmerston pitch at the end of a wonderful career as a Queens player.  All the best Paul, we wish you well.

Paul Burns says a final farewell