Allan Johnston made two changes to his side that played out Saturday?s goalless draw against Greenock Morton, with Ben Liddle and Ally Roy coming in for Alex Cooper and Ruben Soares Junior. Wullie Gibson switched out to left back with Liddle coming in at the centre of midfield next to Harry Cochrane and Roberto Nditi.

 

 

Roy, who was in for his first start since the two teams met at Palmerston in August, went close in just the third minute, volleying powerfully wide of Accies net from range.

 

Roy started the match

 

Sol Brynn was called into action for the first time on eight minutes after Lewis Smith forced him into a wonderfully acrobatic save from the edge of the box.

 

A superb save from Brynn

 

A minute later and Queens were probing again, this time through Lee Connelly. The in-form forward cut inside of Jamie Hamilton, before firing across Joe Hilton in the Accies goal, only for Brian Easton to head clear off the line.

 

Josh Mullin tried his luck after 12 minutes with a free effort from just inside the area, but he sliced underneath it and it went harmlessly over.

 

Smith went forward again after 17 minutes but like Mullin, skied his effort, before picking up the first booking of the game six minutes later after fouling Connelly as Queens broke away.

 

Connelly went close again on 25 minutes, glancing a Roy cross narrowly over Hilton?s bar.

 

The best chance so far came after 28 minutes though as Hamilton broke away rapidly. Smith?s pace was too much for Gibson and Cochrane, before he squared to Mullin in the area. The shot looked easier to score than miss, 10 yards out, unchallenged, with virtually an open goal, yet he (somehow) found the stand behind the goal.

 

The game somewhat calmed down after this, although there was still half chances at either end, neither ?keeper was tested.

 

Mihai Popescu went closes on the stroke of half-time, his header cleared off the line by Max Johnston.

 

Johnston heads off the line

 

 

Either side could really have been up at the break but for some good goalkeeping and defending from both backlines.

 

David Moyo went close first in the second 45 after Mullin delivered a dangerous low cross, although Moyo couldn?t quite get on the end of it.

 

Cameron was played in by Liddle at a difficult angle, although the loanee striker was able to muster a shot at Hilton?s goal, though the ?keeper saved it at his near post.

 

Cameron gets a shot on target

 

That was to be the big striker last involvement as he was brought off just before the hour mark for Junior.

 

Connelly went close again just after the hour with a glanced diving header, but it was straight at Hilton.

 

Connelly was sacrificed with a quarter of the game to go for the returning Josh Todd, whilst Andy Ryan was brought on for the hosts.

 

Queens had switched to a 4-2-3-1 by this point with Liddle playing just behind Roy whilst Nditi went to left-back to accommodate Gibson in the middle.

 

Todd came on wide right however won Queens a free-kick on the left that Gibson cut back to Roy, only for the striker to see his s hot blocked by the myriad of Accies defenders on the goalline.

 

For the second time in the game Johnston was the hero for Queens, preventing Popescu from grabbing the games opening goal by blocking a header on the line.

 

Queens never heeded the warning though and on 75 minutes the hosts scored the opening goal through sub Andy Ryan.

 

It was all too easy for them as one long ball allowed Mullin a free run at Brynn in the Queens net. Is shot looked to be rolling whiskers wide, only for Ryan to tap in at the back post.

 

Allan Johnston made his final change of the game with 15 minutes left, Ruari Paton replaced Roy in search of an equaliser for Queens.

 

Junior looks for a penalty

 

Despite the change though Queens couldn?t get the equaliser, and Hilton was left virtually a spectator in the final 15 minutes.

 

 

We?re back on the road on Saturday as we take on league favourites Kilmarnock as we look to get some revenge after Killie?s last gasp win at Palmerston in August.