Kelty Hearts were the visitors to Palmerston for our first game in March. Having picked up the away win at Montrose last weekend, Manager Peter Murphy stuck with the same starting eleven.
Queens have a poor record against Kelty and it was the visitors who had the first attempt on goal, when Ross Cunningham hit a left foot volley, but he was just over and wide of the target after five minutes.
As the home side took control of the ball, Liam Smith, and Kyle Doherty both had shots blocked and Craig Johnston then got back to defend as he turned a shot from Adam Brooks out for a corner. As the ball came back in Queens were on top and Kelty cleared again, this time Jack Brydons throw in was headed back by Calum Flatman but they scrambled to clear as Brooks pounced.
With quarter of an hour gone, Reece Lyon burst into the box but Thomas OWare challenged.
Three minutes later in a breakaway Lewis Moore got the break of the ball from Connor Allan and his shot won his side a corner. That came to nothing and as Queens regained possession Brennan Dickenson played a brilliant pass in for Brooks but the striker was left frustrated as OWare turned it away for another corner.
Queens had to make a change just before the half hour mark when Harry Cochrane charged into the final third, but tool a heavy knock as Kelty challenged and the midfielder couldnt continue.
As they struggled to find a way past the five Kelty had at the back, Lyon hit a low right foot drive from 30-yards that wasnt too far away.
Despite dominating the ball, Queens werent testing Ruairidh Adams as his defenders protected the goal well. Brydon got himself into the box and held off a couple of challenges before laying the ball back to Brooks, again the ball was deflected behind for a corner. Brydon and Lyon played a bit of head tennis inside the box as the ball came in, it eventually fell to Smith but he was well off target.
Continuing to huff and puff, Doherty and Smith combined as they looked to create a chance for Jordan Allan but the final ball was slack and the visitors knocked it away.
Ross Stewart had very little to do so far but he was alert to pull off a terrific one handed save to push away Cunninghams left foot shot.
Into added on time at the end of the first half, Smith waltzed his way past several players but couldnt open up enough space and ran out of steam. And with the final kick of the first half, Queens paid the price for not taking their chances when Kelty took the lead.
Substitute, Lewis ODonnell tried to play his way out but gave the ball away to Liam McLeish who crossed the ball to the unmarked Moore who fired the ball into the bottom corner.
HALF TIME Queens 0 Kelty Hearts 1
Having taken the lead just before the break, Kelty shut up shop in the second half as they looked to defend the advantage. As Queens tried to break them down, Lyon played the ball wide to Allan but as he crossed the ball for strike partner, Brooks, the visitors had bodies on the line to block.
Brooks then returned the pass as he played the ball to Allan from the wing but Flatman won the ball in the air.
Queens had Charlie Mulgrews side penned back but they didnt look a danger as they played the ball across goal with no one to challenge or the final ball was too near the keeper.
Midway through the half, Lyon floated the ball to the back-post to Fraser Bryden but he headed wide.
With just under fifteen minutes left, the home side had a very strong claim for a penalty when Smith was brought down inside the box but Graham Grainger waved play on.
As Kelty packed everyone back behind the ball and wasted as much time as they could get away with, an equalizer looked increasingly unlikely. Kai Kennedy did play the ball over for Brooks but he was offside and as the ball fell to Dickenson he blasted over.
Into injury time, and Kennedys ball from the left was turned over from close range and as Lyon played the ball across to Dickenson, he headed it back into the six-yard area to Brydon but his header was blocked.
FULL TIME Queens 0 Kelty Hearts 1