The visitors went behind early doors through a Gary Harkins penalty but a classic Stephen Dobbie strike on the stroke of half time put the teams in level. Defender Callum Fordyce scored the winner early in the second half and left Queens only two points off the Championship summit.

 

Queens made one change to their starting eleven from last week`s 4-2 home victory over Falkirk.

 

Jordan Marshall returned from his injury he picked up from the Brechin City and slotted back into left back at the expense of Scott Mercer, who dropped to the bench.

 

The Doonhamers lost their previous encounter with Ton 2-1 at Palmerston earlier in the season. Jai Quitongo scored a screamer on the day but the promising forward pulled him hamstring in last week`s draw against derby rivals St Mirren so didn`t feature in the match day squad.

 

Ex-Queens players Bob McHugh, Andy Murdoch and Gary Oliver all started for Jim Duffy`s men, hoping to get one over their former employers. 

 

The constant rain made sure the surface was zippy and extra care had to be had to keep the ball. Gary Naysmith`s men struggled to get to grips with the conditions as the hosts won a corner in the opening five minutes. Harkins` deep corner wasn`t properly cleared and found  Scott Tiffoney in the box and his fierce first-time effort was blocked on the line by the Queens defence.

 

The hosts continued to pressure early on and were rewarded when a long ball from Ricki Lamie played in McHugh. On-loan St Johnstone defender Jason Kerr didn`t look comfortable with the forward`s pressure and brought down McHugh inside the area. Referee Mat Northcroft didn`t hesitate and immediately pointed to the spot.

 

McHugh goes down in the box

 

Experienced midfielder Harkins stood over the penalty kick and made no mistake and sent Queens goalkeeper Alan Martin the wrong way to give Ton the lead.

 

Harkins sends Martin the wrong way

 

The hosts didn`t look content at one early goal and sensed Queens weren`t at the races as Michael Doyle crossed an inviting delivery from the right. McHugh jumped the highest but his header glanced wide of Martin`s right-hand post. The ex-Falkirk striker was adamant his effort was deflected out but the referee waved away his protests.

 

Queens did look defensively fragile in the opening stages of the contest but once the early pressure wore off they soon came into the game, with their first chance coming on 15 minutes.

 

The energetic wide-man Connor Murray beat his man on the right and whipped in a delightful ball to Lyndon Dykes but his header dropped wide of Derek Gaston`s post.

 

The forward was in amongst the action a minute later when captain John Rankin`s shot just outside the area bounced off the defender and fell to the Australian, who directed a low shot inches wide of the target.

 

The contest was finally heating up and after a couple of chances for the visitors Morton could`ve doubled their lead on 18 minutes. McHugh made a great run into the box and his shot deflected off Marshall and into Martin`s arms. Also Murdoch ballooned an effort over from the edge of the box.

 

Queens were knocking on the door for an equaliser and got one on the stoke of half time. Rankin`s dangerous diagonal ball found centre-back Darren Brownlie. His knock down found Dobbie and his first-time low effort left Gaston no chance. The goal was Dobbie`s fifth league strike of the season and 13th in all competitions.

 

Dobbie sends the ball into the bottom corner as the visiting support wait for the net to bulge

 

Goal celebration

 

HALF TIME MORTON 1-1 QOS

 

The visitors went into the break with a spring in their step and were obviously confident coming back out and used it to full advantage.

 

James McFadden`s long throw in the box ended to Fordyce and the ex-Livingston man`s header was blocked on the line. But Fordyce made no mistake the second time and knocked home from close ranger to give Queens the lead for the first time in the contest.

 

Fordyce makes sure with the rebound

 

Fordyce celebrates the winner

 

Naysmith`s finally looked to have the upper hand and could`ve had a penalty kick to go further ahead. A brilliant move involving Dobbie and Murray ended with Dobbie in the box and his cross looked to be heading in the direction of Dykes but the defender looked to have handled the ball in the box.

 

Despite Dobbie`s appeal no penalty was given.

 

Penalty appeal

 

The hosts huffed and puffed but couldn`t muster any real chances.

 

Queens did have a couple of half chances, including an effort from the halfway line from Dobbs but Gaston comfortably collected.

 

The visitors held on for another superb victory, surprisingly their first at Greenock since 2013. Queens stay in fifth place in the Championship table but favourable results elsewhere made sure they are now within touching distance of top spot, two points to be exact. 

 

It was an excellent performance from the side and extended the unbeaten run to six matches.

 

Next up for Queens is an interesting fixture at the Welsh border when they take on The New Saints in the Irn-Bru Cup quarter-final.