After a break due to the Scottish Cup, it was back to league one action as we headed to Peterhead. Manager, Marvin Bartley made four changes to the side that started against Montrose. Dave McKay, Gavin Reilly and Lewis Gibson all dropped to the bench with Ciaran McKenna the other player to miss out. Making a return to the starting eleven were defenders Paul McKay and Euan East along with Harry Cochrane and Michael Ruth.
It was a positive start from Queens with Kieran McKechnie hitting a low shot that was deflected out for a corner and Ruari Paton forcing a set piece from close range. Peterhead did have a chance after 15 minutes when Josh Oyinsan played the ball in for Andy McCarthy, but he hit a right foot shot just wide.Queens were playing some good passing football and with just over half an hour played Josh Todd attempted to find the net but his right foot effort from 19 yards was deflected straight at the keeper. A few minutes later, Harry Cochrane laid the ball in for Ruth, the striker did well to turn at the edge of the box, but his shot was well saved at the bottom corner. And as the ball was played in Paton and Ruth were two of a few Queens players on the line, but somehow, they couldnt force the ball past Stuart McKenzie.
As Queens continued to get stronger, Patons left foot shot was blocked by Ryan Strachan and McKechnie cut inside as he got the better of Jack Wilkie but as he aimed for the top corner, the ball was rising all the time. With half time approaching, Stephen Hendrie also hit one way too high. It was a game that Queens were the better team but on the stroke of half-time they were punished when Paul McKay gave away a needless penalty. Kevin Dabrowski guessed correctly as he dived to the right, but Kieran Shanks kept the ball low and under the keepers body to give the home side the lead.
HALF-TIME: Peterhead 1 Queens 0
Frustrated at being a goal down, Queens came out fighting in the second half and as they moved the ball around, they worked the ball up the park, resulting in a corner. The set-piece was short but as it was floated in to the six-yard box, East headed wide. However, less than a minute later, they were back level thanks to a good team goal. As the ball was played forward by Ruth, he found Todd on left and almost from the by-line, the captain cut the ball across the face of goal to Paton who fired the ball into the net.
Wilkie then fired wide as they broke, and Calvin McGrory hit a right foot shot well wide. Before the Gaffer made three substitutions, bringing Connor Murray, Jaze Kabia and Lewis Gibson off the bench. Within two minutes of coming on, young Gibbo won a free kick on the right, McGrory played it into the box but East headed wide. Queens were well on top and as Paton laid the ball back for Todd, he took a touch too many and fired high of the target.
But it was debut boy Kabia who made the biggest impact, he latched on to a poor header and used his pace to race away to round the keeper to roll the ball into the net. Ahead for the first time, Queens continued to push forward and as Todd and Kabia combined to set up a chance, Paton dragged it low and wide. And they eventually did find the net again six minutes from time when Kabia challenged the keeper who came out to clear, the stopper didnt deal with it well and as the ball fell to Murray, he lifted the ball into the empty net from 25 yards to round off the scoring and a much-deserved win.
FULL-TIME: Peterhead 1 Queens 3