A lacklustre Queens performance ensured that it would be seven without a victory for the South.

 

Allan Johnston named an unchanged line-up for the third match on the bounce, although there was a change on the bench with Niyah Joseph replacing the injured Euan East.

 

Queens again began in a 4-1-4-1 shape with last weeks goalscorer, Innes Cameron, leading the line.

 

 

Queens got the game underway but it was Inverness who had the first chance after only two minutes.

 

A training-ground corner allowed Scott Allardice a chance to shoot from the edge of the area, although Josh Debayo blocked his effort.

 

Billy McKay tested his luck next after chopping inside of Paul McKay and Debayo, but the latter recovered to block.

 

Queens grew into the game after this, slowly starting to put together passing moves, challenging the Caley Thistle resolve.

 

Some nice one-touch play allowed Queens to go from back-to-front in a matter of seconds, before Ruari Paton slotted in Max Johnston. The 17-year-old picked out Cameron in the box, however the ball was just behind the big striker, who wasn?t able to direct an effort on target.

 

After 19 minutes though the deadlock was broken by the visitors, with Queens the masters of their own downfall.

 

Debayo failed to read a long ball over the top, although recovered brilliantly to deny Billy McKay a shooting opportunity. Instead, McKay squared to Roddy MacGregor who was brought down in the box clumsily by Roberto Nditi.

 

Don Robertson awarded the penalty that Billy McKay tucked away without a problem to give his side the lead.

 

Brynn beaten by McKay for the penalty

 

The away team continued to control things after the goal, not allowing Queens to get the ball out of their own half with any regularity.

 

After half an hour, the Caley Jags almost doubled their lead when Danny Devine glanced on a header at the front post just inches wide of Sol Brynn?s post.

 

This seemed to half-spark Queens into life, who began seeing more of the ball, albeit it creating little of note.

 

The Doonhamers weren?t fluent but were getting back into the game. Ben Liddle struck two venomous shots from range in the space of a minute, although neither tested Mark Ridgers.

 

Liddle goes for goal

 

 

The away side probably edged things, although it really was a forgetful opening period with neither side anywhere near their best.

 

Allan Johnston opted to change things at the break with Alex Cooper coming on for Calvin McGrory. As a result, Nditi was switched into a defensive-midfield role with Cooper going in at left-back.

 

It was the away team again who worked the first chance of the half on 48 minutes as Robbie Deas cut the ball back to Sutherland just inside the area, only for the striker to fire his effort well over the bar.

 

On 51 minutes though the Caley Jags did double their lead. David Carson delivered a cross into the area from the right with Billy McKay managing to get in front of Josh Debayo to glance his header home.

 

McKay beats Debayo to head home the winner

 

As cliché as it is, the second goal was always going to be huge in the context of the game. Caley getting it meant Queens were forced to chase the game harder, leaving more space in behind.

 

AJ turned to his bench ten minutes after going two behind, making a double switch. Harry Cochrane and Ally Roy were the men that came on, replacing Debayo and Liddle.

 

It meant Queens went to a 4-4-2 formation with Roy joining Cameron up front, whilst Nditi partnered Paul McKay at the back.

 

Caley Thistle remained on top though and Allardice almost made it three after a late run into the box at a corner allowed him a free header, though it went whiskers wide.

 

Queens were struggling away but weren?t able to create much at all ? Ridgers hadn?t had a save to make all night.

 

That was until the 76^th minute as a Roy cross found Lee Connelly, whose first effort was blocked, only for Queens? number 10 to lash home on the rebound to give the South a fighting chance.

 

Connelly strikes

 

As Queens pushed forward, space was left at the back that Caley almost capitalised on.

 

A counter-attack led by Allardice found its way to Billy McKay who sent a curling effort onto the crossbar of Brynn?s goals, missing out on his hat-trick.

 

The South continued to press and Cochrane almost bagged his first goal for the club, firing high at goal, only for Ridgers to acrobatically deny the midfielder.

 

Queens probed away still, looking for a leveller, but it wasn?t going to come.

 

 

A disappointing performance in truth with Queens never able to really get going in Dumfries. Connelly gave Queens a brief glimmer of hope towards the end but it?s Caley who take the points.