Lee Connelly bagged his second goal in as many games as Queens were worthy winners against Raith Rovers at Starks Park.

 

Allan Johnston was forced into one change from last weeks resounding 3-0 win against Broomhill as Calvin McGrory came in for Josh Todd, who missed out through injury. Ally Roy was still unavailable so there was a space on the bench for ?new? signing, Aidan Fitzpatrick.

 

 

It was a 4-4-1-1 for Queen with Wullie Gibson and Ruari Paton on the wings whilst Roberto Nditi started at left-back. Lee Connelly started just off of Ruben Soares Junior who led the line.

 

The first chance in Kirkcaldy fell to Queens as Gibson got his first touch of the game, causing mayhem and finding space before crossing to Harry Cochrane. The former Hearts man couldn?t make a clean contact with the ball though as his shot came off his shin.

 

The next time Queens ventured forward, however, they came away with the lead!

 

Junior found Lee Connelly on the edge of the area, before Queens? number 10 danced his way through two of three Rovers defenders, finishing off his move perfectly by slotting past Jamie MacDonald.

 

 

Connelly produces a fantastic run and finish

Connelly celebrates

 

The South were really in their groove now, carving Rovers open with energy and pace from both sides.

 

One could have been two on 16 minutes had Junior been able to keep his shot from the left down.

 

But one should have been two on 18 minutes. Connelly?s corner found the head of Josh Debayo in the box before the Englishman watched his effort strike the face of the crossbar.

 

 

Rovers began to grow into the game afterwards winning a myriad of set-pieces, although they couldn?t trouble Brynn.

 

Reghan Tumilty caused Queens an issue with a delicious low cross into the box, but Brynn was on hand to collect.

 

Dario Zanatta, whose arguably been Rovers? best player this season, began to stamp his authority on proceedings half an hour in. A powerful run by the Canadian was cut out by a magnificent challenge from Debayo.

 

The big centre-half was there again to deny the same attacker, before Rovers won four consecutive corners.

 

The closest they came to scoring though came from Ross Matthews, whose venomous 20-yard volley was saved sublimely by Brynn, diving low to his left.

 

Great save from Brynn 

 

It was very much one-way-traffic in all honesty before the break, until Junior was brought down on to give the Queens defence a break.

 

It was a short lived on though, as Rovers were able to deliver another cross, but it was cleared well before referee Craig Napier blew for half-time.

 

 

A tale of two halves?in one half!

 

Queens very much on top in the opening 25 minutes before it was all Rovers in the final 10 or 15.

 

The Doonhamers got the second period underway although the hosts were fortunate to not be reduced to 10 men just four minutes in.

 

McGrory found Cochrane in the middle of the Rovers half, only for the midfielder to be grounded by Christoph Berra in a last ditch tackle. Napier only brandished a yellow for the experienced defender though as Queens won a free-kick on the edge of the area.

 

Cochrane bundled into the box

 

Gibson?s effort hit the wall, before Nditi and Connelly?s rebounds were both blocked.

 

Queens had switched to a 3-4-1-2 formation after Matej Poplatnik came on for the hosts, replacing Brad Spencer.

 

Johnston played at left-wing-back, with the skipper on the right.

 

The game was very much stop and start in the first part of the second period. The gaffer utilised a fairly strong looking bench for the first time on 67 minutes as Ben Liddle and Niyah Joseph replaced Cochrane and goalscorer Connelly.

 

Queens began to sit deeper and deeper with 20 minutes left as Rovers pressed on searching for an equaliser.

 

Max Johnston, who was already on a booking, was replaced by Euan East at left-wing-back with little over 15 minutes left as Queens looked to hold on.

 

Dangerman James Keatings came on in the hosts final change, replacing Ethon Varian. The subs first bit of play was to fire the ball about 10 yards over the bar as the Queens defence continued to defend astutely in the Kirkcaldy sun.

 

With plenty of stoppages in the second period for various injuries there was sure to be a nervy final few moments for the vocal travelling Queens support.

 

But the Queens rear-guard was putting in a monumental effort, something that certainly wasn?t unfamiliar at this ground.

 

McKay, Debayo and Nditi were clearing everything that came their way. The defensive trio were backed up by the brilliant Brynn, whilst every Doonhamer on the pitch was leaving it all on the astroturf.

 

But on 91 minutes it was Brynn who was on hand again to pull of a simply remarkable stop to keep Queens ahead.

 

Zanatta put in a sublime low cross that was met by Dylan Tait, but there was Brynn to deny a certain goal.

 

 

Can we play in Kirkcaldy every week?