Queens maintained their perfect start to the Championship campaign after a Lewis Kidd strike in the second half made sure the three points came back down the road to Palmerston after an impressive performance from the Doonhamers.

James Fowler made two changes to the team that beat Alloa 3-1 on the opening day of the season. Mark Millar returned to the centre of midfield replacing Jake Pickard, after sitting out the last game through suspension. Forward Dale Hilson returned from his knock he picked up the previous week, to lead the line for Queens with Scott Hooper dropping to the bench.

Joining Pickard and Hooper on the substitute bench were new signings Kyle Hutton and Paul Heffernan. Both signed six-month contracts with the club during the week.

In the final league fixture of last season the sides played each other in a dull encounter at Almondvale, a game which didn?t mean too much for Queens as they had their eyes on a Play-Off fixture with Rangers. It was an important fixture for The Lions as they secured their Championship status with a 1-0 victory thanks to a penalty from now Doonhamer Kyle Jacobs.

Kick off was delayed by 15 minutes, this meant the squad kitted out in all blue were sent back out onto the park to warm up for the second time in the afternoon, this time in front of the full away support whom cheered the players back into tunnel ahead of the revised kick off.

The visitors started the game brightly although it was Livingston who had the first shot of the afternoon but left-back Myles Hippolyte?s volley went high over the bar.

Queens had their first chance of the game came after nice link-up play from Lewis Kidd and Ryan Conroy let Derek Lyle have a shot from 12 yards out but his strike was straight down the throat of Livingston goalkeeper Darren Jamieson.

Fowlers men continued to pressure the Livingston defence and following a hearty tackle from Kyle Jacobs, Ryan Conroy found Derek Lyle with an inch perfect through ball but the strikers curling shot from just inside the box was equalled by the outstretched Jamieson.

Jacobs demonstrates the determination that made him a favourite at last term at Almondvale

Queens had another chance to break the deadlock after a fine cross from Conroy found Dale Hilson?s head which was knocked down to set up Iain Russell but his shot was wide.

It was an encouraging opening twenty minutes for the Doonhamers, managing to keep Livingston?s strike force quiet and creating several chances in the process repeating the feat of last weekend, however the ball couldn?t find the net to put Queens out of sight.

Ex-Livingston hitman Iain Russell was fouled by Ross Millen just outside the right hand side of the box. Mark Millars? free-kick was flicked on from Andy Dowie to Dale Hilson who?s chest to control was then volleyed over the bar from 6 yards.

Two minutes later in another promising attack, Derek Lyle should have gave Queens the lead. A wonderful searching ball from Mark Millar found Derek Lyle in the six-yard box but his header was blazed over the bar.

The final ten minutes of the half was pretty even as Livingston finally found a way out of the their own half in turn creating spaces in the pitch which now allowed both teams to try and force the opening goal. Livingston had a succession of corners but couldn?t trouble Queens?s goalkeeper Robbie Thomson.

HALF TIME LIVINGSTON 0-0 QUEEN OF THE SOUTH

The second half started with the teams evenly matched but it was Lions that had the first chance of the half 12 minutes from the restart. Liam Buchanan shot was straight at Thomson, the first save Queens Number 1 had to make all afternoon. The game died down with the match becoming a midfield battle, after the visitors struggled to match their first half display.

Lewis Kidd could have been sent off on the hour mark for his challenge on Myles Hippolyte. The Livi player was on the floor after winning the ball from Dale Hilson and whilst trying to recover the ball from out of his feet, Kidd came flying in with a slide tackle which outraged the home support after only a yellow card was shown for the challenge.

Despite the Lions roar over the matter, it was the right-back Kidd who gave Queens the lead. His strike from 20 yards out ended up in the bottom left hand corner of the net which sent the Queens fans into euphoria. The goal was the least that Queens deserved for their first half efforts alone. 1-0 QUEENS

Delight for Kidd as he nets the winner

Livingston could have equalised straight away but Thomson touched a cross come shot over the bar in a moment where it was better to be safe than sorry with three Livi players waiting in the box.

In was Queens? turn to attack again this time with Kidd being fouled just outside the box much to the anger of the travelling support who thought contact was made inside box. The referee disagreed and from the resulting free-kick Ryan Conroy rattled the post with another trademark effort which fell to Dale Hilson who after controlling the ball smashed his effort over the bar.

Jamieson despairs as he is beaten but the ball crashes off the post from Conroy`s free kick

 

The hosts huffed and puffed but yet again it was only a comfortable save needed from Thomson following a header from former Queens man Craig Sives header.

Queens made two substitutions in four minutes, Derek Lyle and Dale Hilson came off for Aidan Smith and new signing Kyle Hutton. With Aidan Smith?s first few touches of the ball, he managed to dance through the Livingston defence. Smith tried to square the ball to Kyle Hutton but his pass was intercepted by Sives.

Queens ended the game the way they started it, keeping the ball inside the Livingston half and pressuring the defence with good link-up play.

Livingston nearly took a share of the spoils in added on time when Spas Georgiev turned past substitute Brownlie but his dangerous cross could only find the hands of Robbie Thomson.

The Doonhamers held on for the victory which sends them top of the Championship table after two games. It was a deserved victory for Queens after dominating the majority of the first half.

With the team starting to find their feet, it looks like it will be another successful season ahead if this performance has any bearing on the rest of the campaign.

Next up for Queens in the league is the unlikely top of the league clash with Dumbarton, who beat St Mirren 2-1 today.

We do have a Petrofac Cup game on Tuesday evening. Our opponents, you guessed it, Livingston will be gunning for revenge.