Kelty Hearts were the visitors as we rounded off the first quarter of the season. There was one change to the side that started against Dumbarton, Benji Luissint replaced Harry Cochrane who dropped to the bench.
In the opening stages, Queens were controlling the game, but they werent getting much space in the 18-yard area. After eight minutes, Lewis ODonnell played a cross come shot into the box, but Ruaridh Adams collected.
Five minutes later, Kai Kennedy started a move and Luissint picked out Leighton McIntosh on the left, in turn he crossed the ball back to Kieran McKechnie at the opposite post but with time and a space he blasted the ball over.
Within seconds Luissint had a right foot shot from the edge of the box but hit the side netting. And with just over quarter of an hour gone, McIntosh won a corner, ODonnell delivered it to the head of Matty Douglas, his effort was goal bound before Craig Johnston headed it off the line. Kelty hit on the counter and won their first corner of the match, Michael Tidsers set piece was cleared by McIntosh.
Queens had been on top but midway through the first half they started to get slack and allowed the visitors to attack more. Jacob MacIntyre (brother of Oscar) pounced on a mistake to set up a chance for Connor Allan, but his wild shot was well wide.
Kelty did open the scoring with twenty-five minutes on the clock and it came from a Queens chance. McIntosh got on the end of Kennedys delivery and played it to McKechnie, he didnt get the shot away quick enough and Kelty made the break. After weathering the storm, Ross Cunningham hit a right foot shot past Ross Stewart.
The advantage was doubled, ten minutes before the break from a penalty. As Johnston came in on the blindside of ODonnell as he tried to clear, the midfielder caught his foot and ref Steve Kirkland pointed to the spot. From 12-yards, Cunningham sent Stewart the wrong way, as the keeper went to his right, he placed the ball into the bottom left corner.
Queens tried to pull one back before the interval and Jack Hannah took a touch at the edge of the box to bring the ball under control before hitting a right foot volley that the keeper did well to save.
Instead of pulling one back, Queens conceded again when from nothing Scott Williamson turned inside the box to fire a shot across goal into the bottom corner to give them a three-goal lead.
On the stroke of half time, Oscar MacIntyre made his way down the left channel to get the ball into the middle for McIntosh who hit an overhead kick just wide.
HALF TIME: Queens 0 Kelty Hearts 3
With the first real chance of the second half, Queens did reduce the deficit, McIntosh had his effort stopped but Mikey Hewitt was on hand to score the rebound.
However, the hope of a comeback was short lived as within five minutes of Queens finding the net, Kelty scored again, Thomas OWares header came back off the bar but Samuel Cleall-Harding forced it past Stewart.
Four-one down things went from bad to worse for Queens when with just under half an hour to go Captain, Douglas tripped OWare at the edge of the box and picked up a second yellow of the afternoon, leaving Queens with ten men.
From the free-kick the low ball beat the wall but Stewart saved.
With Douglas off, Luissint was quickly sacrificed in order to bring on Jack Brydon but before they could settle the defence was breached again. Within two minutes of the change the ball was played across and from inside the box Williamson was left unmarked for an easy finish, scoring his second and Keltys fifth of the afternoon.
Josh Walker who had replaced McKechnie at half time did hit an effort from 25-yards, but he just couldnt find the top corner.
FULL TIME: Queens 1 Kelty Hearts 5