Queens suffered their third consecutive defeat as they lost 3-2 to Greenock Morton despite dominating possession throughout the match.

A first-half brace from Denny Johnstone and a Paul McMullan strike gave the home side a three goal advantage going into the break but The Doonhamers came back into the match in the second-half thanks to a Dale Hilson volley and a superb Gary Oliver strike. However, the late surge from the visitors wasn?t enough to ensure the home side picking up the three points.

James Fowler made four changes to the side that lost 2-1 at Paisley on Saturday. Darren Brownlie, Jake Pickard, Dale Hilson and Kyle Hutton returned to starting eleven in place of Alex Harris, Callum Tapping and the injured duo Lewis Kidd and Jordan Marshall.

Queens lined-up in a 4-4-2 formation. Kyle Jacobs filled in to right-back position whilst Brownlie moved into the heart of the defence, shifting captain Chris Higgins to the left-hand side of defence. Gary Oliver and Andy Murdoch began the match on the flanks and leading the line for The Doonhamers were Derek Lyle and Dale Hilson.

Hilson makes his presence felt

Queens enjoyed early possession withopresence ut really testing the hosts back line and were made to pay with eight minutes on the clock. A long ball from Thomas O`Ware was cleared out for a corner by Andy Dowie who wasn`t willing to take any chances if the advancing Robbie Thomson had missed the ball. Joe McKee swung in the corner and after being partly cleared, the ball landed to the feet of the deadly Denny Johnstone and the striker poked the ball past Thomson to give the hosts an early lead.

The visitor?s night got worse seven minutes later as another name was added to the ever-growing injury list when Jake Pickard came off worse after an aerial battle with O`Ware. The youngster was helped off by teammate Derek Lyle and physio Ross Goodwin. Alex Harris replaced the injured Pickard and moved into right-wing with Murdoch slotting into the centre of midfield with Kyle Hutton.

The end of the night for youngster Pickard after an awkward fall

The on-loan Hibernian man almost had an immediate impact. Harris turned his marker and sent a through ball, between the middle of the Morton defence, towards the path of Hilson but the strikers? first touch was too heavy and goal keeper Derek Gaston gathered with ease.

Fowler`s men were beginning to play with more freedom and nearly levelled the match in the 19th minute. Hutton won the ball on the half way line and his first time pass found Murdoch who drilled a long range effort wide of the goal.

The desire to look for the equaliser left gaps of space in the Queens defence and they paid the ultimate price 22nd minute. After Harris`s corner was cleared the ball was sent to Johnstone and his burst of pace on the left-hand side beat Dowie, leaving the striker one-on-one with Thomson and he calmly slotted home his second goal of the evening.

Johnstone outpaced Dowie and cooly slotted past Thomson

The visitors would have felt hard done by as had been playing the better football and were nearly rewarded when Harris turned past Kilday and unleashed a cross which forced the goal keeper punching clear.

But The Doonhamers` evening went from bad to worse in the 29th minute as Morton pounced to score their third. An individual error from Kyle Jacobs let in winger Paul McMullan who used his pace to steam into the Queens box and slip the ball past the advancing Thomson.

Jim Duffy`s men could have piled more misery five minutes later when Denny Johnstone unleashed a low pile driver goal wards but Thomson denied the Dumfries born striker of the match ball with a remarkable save. The resulting set-piece was half-cleared and fell to Ross Forbes but the midfielder couldn`t adjust himself and his effort flew over the bar.

Queens continued to press for a goal to get back into the game and were unlucky not to peg one back when Harris` corner found Dowie at the back post, who played it back across goal to Jacobs but slid his attempt wide. Another chance fell to the away side as Higgins sprayed a long ball over the head of Gasparotto towards Lyle but his volley was straight into the arms of Gaston.

On the stroke of half-time Hilson`s strike flew wide keeping the hosts? three goal advantage going into the interval. The Doonhamers had more possession but couldn`t find the target with their threatening chances and had been punished by a clinical Morton side who looked happy to sit-back and press on the counter.

Half Time- Morton 3-0 Queens

It was a scrappy opening to the second period, with both sides struggling to create any goal scoring opportunities. James Fowler made his second substitution of the evening in the 57th minute, bringing on Callum Tapping for Kyle Jacobs. T

The introduction of Tapping injected some urgency into the team. Oliver shifted past O`Ware and his cross found Brownlie in the box who headed backwards to the fresh Tapping but he fired his fierce shot straight at Gaston.

Queens were controlling the pace of the match and were finally rewarded in the 69th minute. Alex Harris burst down the line and his inch perfect cross was volleyed home by Dale Hilson from close range to give the travelling Doonhamers something to shout about.

70th minute Harris burst down the line on the left-hand side and his inch perfect cross found Dale Hilson who volleyed home from close range.

Hilson leaves Gaston wondering what happened as he collects the ball from the net nad heads back to re-centre

The goal lifted Queens` spirit and the Morton defence were beginning to make mistakes. O`Ware`s pass back to Gaston was too short and Hilson nipped in but had to bring himself wide and his cut-back to Lyle was blocked at the last second.

The home side were beginning to feel the pressure from the home crowd who were anxious as their team were constantly punting the ball up the park for it to be returned in their half.

And they were right to feel that way as The Doonhamers silenced most of the 1175 in Cappielow with 12 minutes left to play. Andy Murdoch`s superb skill took out three Morton players then picked out Gary Oliver on the edge of the box and the former Hearts forward blasted a sensational shot into the right-hand corner of the net.

Olivers effort beats Gaston

Oliver turned from goal scorer to defender moments later as the striker made a brilliant block from Bobby Barr`s effort from a Morton counter-attack.

Ex-Ton man Iain Russell was brought on for goal scorer Hilson as Queens threw the kitchen sink to grab an equaliser but they couldn`t find the final pass to create any real chances to level the match.

Jim Duffy`s men were relieved to hear referee Don Robertson blow for full-time as they knew they had got away with one.

It`s a third straight defeat for The Doonhamers but they know that if they perform like they have done in the past two matches, results will come their way.

Next up is the visit of Dumbarton on Saturday at Palmerston Park.