The first highly anticipated local derby of the season saw Annan visit Palmerston. Boss Peter Murphy made two changes to the side that started against Cove Rangers, with Ben Johnstone and Euan Ross moving to the bench with Josh Walker and Harry Cochrane taking their place in the starting eleven.
From kick off Queens made their intensions clear, and Kyle Doherty made a run down the right channel and left Rico Quitongo grounded to win a corner. Cochranes in-swinging ball was tipped out for another set piece but that came to nothing.
Annan werent just there to make up the numbers and at the other end, Wullie Gibsons corner was headed clear by Mikey Hewitt.
As the game moved back up field, Jack Brydons throw in was met by Matty Douglas at the back post but his header was just the wrong side of the upright.
The game was frantic and for the visitors, Aidan Smith played the ball across the box, Ji Stevenson went for a diving header but he couldnt connect.
The game was still being played at pace and going from end to end. Josh Walker picked out Benji Luissint with a pass out wide and with Annan on the back foot, they gave away another corner. Cochrane played it short to Kieran McKechnie but it didnt come off as Annan cleared.
With eleven minutes on the clock, Queens did make the breakthrough, Brydon again threw a long ball in from the right, this time Douglas out jumped all in front of him to head the ball into the net past Jamie Smith.
The goal calmed things down and it wasnt until midway through the half that another real goalmouth opportunity came. This time Gibson played a corner to the far side of the six-yard box and Goss header was strong, but Ross Stewart pulled off a terrific save to keep Queens ahead.
Queens finished the first half on top and there was more good play by Doherty as he cut inside before playing the ball over the top for Walker to run onto, however, the goalkeeper and Stevenson managed to block.
Three minutes before the break Hewitt delivered a great ball into the box but McKechnie couldnt direct his header towards the target.
HALF TIME: Queens 1 Annan 0
Six minutes into the second half the game threatened to boil over when Quitongo and Hewitt came together and others piled in, it all settled down and as play continued, a long ball by Doherty was hunted down by McKechnie but he needed support as the visitors closed in.
There was more good news for Queens, just before the hour mark as Leighton McIntosh and Brennan Dickenson made their return from injury and came off the bench.
Luissint did well to hold off a couple of challenges out on the wing before playing a cross field pass to Dickenson, he caught the ball with the outside of his left boot but as it headed for the bottom corner, the keeper got down to save.
Oscar MacIntyre left Gibson behind to cross into the box for McKechnie, but his volley was too high.
And with nine minutes of normal time remaining, Dickenson made a great drive forward through the middle before picking out McKechnie to his right, catching it sweetly with power he kept it low to beat Smith to give Queens some breathing space.
In added on time, Stewart who hadnt had a lot to do was called into action as he saved from Josh Dixon before Tommy Muirs rebound came off the bar.
FULL TIME: Queens 2 Annan 0