After what seems a long time on the road, it was back to Palmerston for the visit of Montrose. There was one change to the side that started against Annan, with Pharrell Willis getting the nod ahead of Leighton McIntosh who dropped to the bench.
It was our guests who had the better chances of the opening period and Ross Stewart was called into action after three minutes when he saved at the feet of Ben MacIver-Redwood who had got on the end of Michael Gardynes free kick. Two minutes later Callum Hannah cut inside to the middle to hit a right foot shot that the keeper collected.
And they were in again within sixty seconds as Blair Lyons shot from distance and the ball took a deflection just wide of the top corner. The same player was in at the back-post in the next attack of the game, but he headed over.
After a good ten-minute spell for Montrose, Queens were more of a threat and Kai Kennedy played a great ball into the box that was knocked away from Brennan Dickenson and Reece Lyon who were almost on the end of it by keeper Cameron Gill. Matty Douglas was at the post but couldnt connect. As the ball was played in, Dickenson unleashed a great shot from just inside the box only for Gill to match the effort with a terrific save.
The hosts did open the scoring after sixteen minutes when Kennedy found Willis on the left and he used his pace to take the ball inside before hitting the ball low into the bottom corner. Delighted, he celebrated in style with a cartwheel and backflip to mark his first goal for the club.
Montrose tried to hit back, and Stewart made a one handed save to deny Graham Webster before midway through the half, Gardyne blasted a free kick well over.
With the final real chance of the first half, Kennedy played a great cross into the six-yard box, but Gill pushed Mikey Hewitts close-range header out for a corner.
HALF TIME: Queens 1 Montrose 0
Within seventeen seconds of the restart, Dickenson looked to extend the lead when 30-yards from goal he turned to hit a decent effort only for Gill to save.
Queens were on top and after a lengthy period of passing the ball around Kennedy floated the ball to the back post, but Dickenson couldnt connect.
A goal down, the visitors were also a man down after 57 minutes when Terry Masson spoke out of turn when he was pulled back by Dickenson and was instantly shown a straight red card by referee, Craig Napier.
On the hour mark, Jack Hannah went on a run through a number of players before he was halted at the edge of the box.
And as they looked to use the sending off to their advantage, Hewitt delivered from the right, but Queens needed substitute Benjamin Luissint to be more aggressive and attack the cross. Midway through the half, Kennedy jinxed his way to the edge of the 18-yard line and hit a right foot effort, but it was just too high of the target.
With ten minutes of normal time remaining, Dickenson broke but the ball was taken from his feet as he went to cross. Montrose were determined to take something from the game and were fighting back but Queens had the chance to put the game to bed, seven minutes from time, when Kennedy burst into the box and went down under the challenge of Gardyne. It took a wee while, but after discussion from the assistant ref, Napier pointed to the spot and showed his red card for a second time, dismissing the Montrose midfielder for stopping a goal scoring opportunity.
Kennedy took the penalty himself; he had the keeper beaten but could only watch as the ball smashed off the post.
Expected to see out the game comfortably, Queens seemed to struggle and looked panicky. As they fumbled about at the back, they almost let Alex Balfour in for a shot. It was a nervy time for the hosts but fortunately Montrose couldnt take advantage.
In the eight minutes of additional time, the home side lost Lyon to injury and Gill came charging out of his box to almost the halfway line to clear from Dickenson.
FULL TIME: Queens 1 Montrose 0