Queens outclassed a fairly abysmal Ayr United in a performance that was far better than my sorry attempt at a headline in the years final Rabbie Burns derby.
Goals from Euan East, Innes Cameron and Josh Todd separating the sides meaning it will now be 20 years since Ayr have beat Queens at Palmerston.
There was one enforced change to the team from the side that drew with Dunfermline last week, Josh Debayo returned at left-back with Alex Cooper going out the squad, although Queens went in a 4-1-3-2 shape with Calvin McGrory playing higher up the pitch than usual, supporting Cameron and Lee Connelly up top.
The South started the better side and should have went ahead after only five minutes. The ball fell kindly to McGrory on the edge of the area who rocketed an effort off the underside of the crossbar as Queens went within inches of taking the lead.
McGrory comes close as his shot hits the bar
Moments later though, the lead did go the way of the hosts. The first corner of the afternoon was delivered by Connelly and found the feet of Euan East, unmarked, in the middle of the box, to calmly volley home into the bottom corner.
East slams home the opener
East celebrates
Nick McAllister picked up the first of six bookings handed out by David Munro after 17 minuets for a dangerous challenge on Roberto Nditi, before Connelly was cautioned after shouldering Markus Fjortoft into the barriers off the pitch.
Cameron came within millimetres of doubling Queens? lead against his former side soon after, only to see his header remarkably saved by Aidan McAdams from close range.
After 29 minutes though one did become two, as that man Innes Cameron scored against his former side. A looping ball into the box from Connelly bounced its way towards the Kilmarnock-loanee, who beat the offside trap, and nodded past McAdams.
Cameron heads home
and celebrates
It was no less than Queens deserved, who continued to press on in search of a third for the remainder of the first half.
HT: Queens 2-0 Ayr
A professional opening 45 but as ever, the next goal would be key in the game, with Ayr desperately needing it.
It didn?t come for the Honest Men though, and it only took three minutes for Josh Todd to put the game out of sight against the club he was with last season.
Todd scores a superb goal to cap off his Man of the Match performance
A sensational McGrory ball through found the feet of Todd, who took his time to slide the ball past the helpless McAdams.
It was absolutely no less than Queens deserved in truth, with the South continuing to go close right until the last minutes.
Debayo was unable to steer a Max Johnston corner on target, whilst Cameron and Connelly also sent shots the wrong side of the post.
United almost got back into it on the 71st minute as a ball over the top found its way to Cammy Salkeld, but his attempted chip of Sol Brynn came back off the bar to keep the Englishman?s clean sheet intact.
Allan Johnston made a trio of subs with minutes left, introducing Niyah Joseph, Ally Roy and Ruben Junior for Connelly, Cameron and Debayo.
FT: Queens 3-0 Ayr
The best performance of the season? Debatable. But it?s certainly up there. It was three going on five or six, in truth, but take nothing away from the players, and management, who got everything spot on this afternoon to deliver an early Christmas present to the deserving Doonhamers.
Finlay Jack