Two second half goals from new signing Sam Parkin paved the way for Queens to collect a vital win against Morton at Palmerston this afternoon with the result being good enough to lift Queens from the foot of the 1st division table, and enabled Parkin, who promised to score goals to help the club, get his Queens career off to a flying start.

After naming an unchanged team for the last 2 games, Queens boss Gus MacPherson was forced into making changes ahead of the game, with Alan Reid and Gavin Reilly replacing the suspended duo of Craig Reid and Stephen McKenna, whilst new signing Parkin replaced Tom Brighton who dropped to the bench. The visitors included former Queens favourite Peter Weatherson in their line-up, along with the influential and much praised Michael Tidser, although surprisingly top scorer Peter MacDonald had to be content with a place on the bench. Queens began the game attacking the Terregles Street end of the ground, with Parkin and Reilly-making his first start-playing as a front 2 in a straight forward 4-4-2 formation, and minutes into the game Reilly`s pace and tenacity caused problems on the edge of the area and as the ball broke to Nicky Clark his cross from the right was only just too deep for Parkin waiting at the far post.Queens had shown their intent and in a bright start, they forced the first corner of the game after just 4 minutes when Reilly and Danny Carmichael combined well on the right. From the corner Morton quickly launched a break through O`Brien and Campbell with the latter forcing Lee Robinson to make the first save of the game, comfortably holding the winger`s low drive from 18 yards.The first yellow card of the game arrived after only 6 minutes and was shown for the first real challenge of the game, although it has to be said that Chris Higgins was a little late on Campbell, and probably deserved the caution. The visitors thought that they had taken the lead minutes later after O`Brien had beaten Alan Reid and crossed to the back post, but fortunately for Queens Peter eatherson had strayed into an offside position and the goal was ruled out.

Queens pressed forward again and Allan Johnston produced a delightful crossfield pass to Clark and his deep cross to the far post towards Carmichael was cleared away for another Queens corner, but poor delivery from the set-piece enabled Morton to clear their lines with ease. Reilly, Clark and Carmichael were using their pace to good effect with Clark being particularly involved in the opening period, and he played a neat ball into the path of Parkin but the big striker`s effort was charged down almost immeadiately after leaving his boot.More good approach play involving Parkin and Carmichael saw Queens win another corner, and from this one they almost opened the scoring. Clark`s delivery bounced off the head of Parkin straight into the path of Reilly, but the youngster, slightly off balance, hurried his shot and his effort went wide of the target.On 28 minutes Queens went agonisingly close to taking the lead. A throw-in on the right found Scott McLaughlin in space just inside the box, and after drifting past two defenders he fired a low shot across the six-yard box and with the Morton `keeper well beaten the ball evaded Parkin at the far post by the smallest of margins.

The visitors had not really threatened going forward,but on a quick counter-attack Tidser released Campbell with a delightfully weighted ball, but the striker shot wide from a narrow angle. It was Morton`s turn to assert some pressure, and a Weatherson drive brought about a smart diving save from Robinson, The Queens No1 diving to his left to turn the ball away for a corner, and the resulting kick saw Chris Higgins block another effort from Weatherson away for yet another cormer, this time Weatherson again being denied as his shot was cleared from danger by Ryan McGuffie.The referee reached for his cards again after 35 minutes, this time Morton`s O`Brien was cautioned after a foul on Clark-a free-kick maybe, but a caution was slightly harsh.Another attack, this time down the left saw Kevin Holt deliver a deep cross into the box where McLaughlin`s flicked header fell to Carmichael, who in turn could only guide his header into the safe hands of the `keeper.

Minutes from the interval Higgins should perhaps have done better with a free header from a Clark corner, but he was unable to find the right contact and the ball flew well wide of the Morton goal. On the stroke of half-time, a drive from the edge of the box from Tidser was deflected for a corner, but no harm came from the set-piece, and a fairly decent half ended all square.

HALF-TIME QUEENS 0-0 MORTON

There were no changes made at the break, and just 3 minutes into the half, Queens passed up a glorious chance to take the lead. A Queens free-kick eventually found it`s way to Parkin at the back of the area and as the striker sent the ball back towards the far post, Reilly with the goal at his mercy, stumbled to the ground and failed to make contact with the ball. It was one of those moments that seemed to last forever, and just as you were expecting to see the ball cross the line a defender appears from nowhere to clear the danger. To his credit though, Reilly did not let the miss affect his game, and he can be well pleased with his all round contribution.

Gavin tumbles at the critical moment

At the other end, Morton went close to scoring the opener themselves, McGeough`s dangerous free-kick almost deceiving everyone before bouncing only just wide of the far post. A second caution of the game went the way of the visitors on 52 minutes when Little`s late challenge on Clark was adjudged to be worthy of a yellow, and from McLaughlin`s free-kick, Higgins ,again unchallenged headed wide. As Queen slowly began to take control of the game, Carmichael`s interception just inside his own half led to him having a run at goal, but after a 40-yard run and with the angle narrowing quickly, his shot although on target, was straight at the `Keeper who saved comfortably.It did look likely that a goal was coming for Queens, and sure enough on 58 minutes the goal that the majority of the 1444 fans wanted to see duly arrived. After being given a throw-in as a result of a foul throw by the visitors, Queens broke away down the left and the pacey Reilly managed to dig out a perfect cross to the far post and as the ball ran loose from Clark`s knock down, Sam Parkin turned and swept the ball in from four-yards out to give Queens the lead.The goal breathed confidence into Queens, and with Parkin`s ability to hold the ball up and bring others into the game, Queens were begining to look very threatening when going forward, and the big striker was soon involved again setting up Holt for a deep cross that was only just cleared from Clark as he arrived in the box.With Queens well in control now another goal would have been just reward for their early dominance of the half, and almost right on cue a second goal did arrive. Up until now, deliveries from set-pieces had been pretty poor, but this time Clark`s corner evaded the Morton defence, and fell nicely for Sam Parkin to drive the ball past Stewart on the half-volley from 8-yards out to give Queens a two-goal cushion.

Sam knocks home number one

And that`s number two

Although Morton had not created much going forward in the second half, a costly mistake allowed them to get back into the game with 15 minutes to go. Allan Johnston dwelt a little to long on the ball on half-way and was dispossessed by Campbell who then ran 40 yards or more before firing a low shot past Robinson into the bottom corner. Almost from nowhere and after being in control, Queens were now under pressure, and in truth were being increasingly over-run in midfield, and Stephen Simmons came on to replace the tiring Johnston with 12 minutes to go. The very first thing that Simmons had to do was to pick himself up from the ground after a late challenge on him by Evans that, rather surprisingly went unpunished by the referee, although not long after, Evans was cautioned this time for a rather less obvious foul on Parkin.

With just 8 minutes to go Reilly was replaced by Ryan Smillie, and with Queens defending a little deeper the prospect of claiming a vital win was starting to create a bit of panic in both the players and the supporters.Parkin finished his very eventful debut by being the 3rd Queens player to be booked for after disagreeing with the referee over his clash with Bachirou. Morton`s final meaningful effort came on 87 minutes when following a free-kick for handball by Reid, substitute MacDonald drove his effort well wide of the target. So that was that, Queens took their 7th point from Morton this season, made it four games unbeaten, and more importantly, lifted themselves from the foot of the table-not to mention a very encouraging debut from the sponsors man-of-the-match, Sam Parkin. All said and done, it was a very good day for managers called Gus!!!