Looking to make it four wins from four Queens headed to Kelty Hearts for their penultimate away game of the schedule fixtures. With Oscar MacIntyre and Taylor Charters both missing out through injury, Manager Peter Murphy started Benji Luissint and Mikey Hewitt, as he made two changes to the side that faced Montrose last week. Hewitt making a timely return to action after nine weeks on the sidelines.
The hosts had the upper hand so far this season in terms of results and New Central Park hadnt been a happy hunting ground for Queens in the past. And as the game got underway it was the worst possible start for the visitors as Jacob MacIntyre curled a right foot shot into the net after just three minutes to give Kelty the lead.
At least Queens had plenty of time to fight back and they certainly did, as they took control of the game they won a corner from a free-kick and Matty Douglas wasnt too far away as he headed wide.
Hewitt then raced down the right only for the home side to cut out his cross but as the ball fell to Liam Smith, the winger took it back inside but again the defense cleared.
A minute later Queens were on the attack again, Luissints delivery into the box was too far for Jordan Allan but Reece Lyon made the connection but he fired over the bar.
Midway through the half, Kai Kennedy hit a free-kick into the arms of Ruairidh Adams before he did well on the wing to fire the ball across the face of goal, but it eluded Luissint and Smith.
The pressure paid off twenty-eight minutes in when Smith worked hard to turn inside the box but as his shot was blocked, he managed to get enough on it to play it back out to Luissint who fired a right footed daisy cutter low past Adams from outside the box to pull Queens level.
Kennedy was causing all sorts of problems and as he hit a terrific right foot shot the keeper got a hand on it to touch it over the bar. And in the closing minutes of the first half, Harry Cochrane made a powerful tackle before playing the ball in for Allan but from inside the box, he cleared the crossbar.
HALF TIME: Kelty Hearts 1 Queens 1
As they looked to take the lead, Queens made a couple of good crosses into the area from both sides of the park in the opening five minutes of the second half, Lyon from the left and Hewitt from the right but they couldnt take advantage.
Adams had to be alert though when Kennedy made his way to the by-line and crossed to Adam Brooks inside the six-yard area, as he looked to get a shot away, the keeper got down to smoother at the strikers feet.
On the hour mark the home side started to come back into the game more and as Scott Mercer played the ball into the box, Hewitt got there ahead of Craig Johnston to clear for a corner. But their good spell was quickly cut short as Queens made a break and took the lead. Kennedy took advantage of a slack pass by Thomas OWare and played a neat pass through for Allan, he won the race against Callum Flatman to slot the ball low into the bottom corner past Adams.
Luissint was on fire and as he jinxed his way down the right, he set up a chance for Kennedy that was just wide. The Frenchman did add an assist to his tally for the day as he slipped the ball into the middle for Kennedy who finished well to extend the lead.
Ross Stewart had little to do and had an easy take midway through the half when Johnston crossed for Luke McCarvel and he shot straight into the keepers hands from inside the box. At the other end, Lewis ODonnell who had replaced the injured Brooks cut the ball back for Allan but his left foot effort flew over the bar.
In the closing stages the substitute had a chance of his own as he took a touch and turned before hitting a shot from 19-yards that was just off target. Smith then made a great run but was blocked at the edge of the box, Kennedy kept the chance alive but he ended up balancing on the back of the defender.
With two minutes of normal time remaining, Queens changed keepers when Stewart who had been struggling with an infection was replaced by Murray Johnson.
And in added on time, Queens were denied a fourth when Josh Walkers free-kick from 35-yards crashed of the crossbar.
FULL TIME: Kelty Hearts 1 Queens 3