Queens took to the field with only one change from Saturday as John O'Neill returned and took up his front-line slot alongside Peter Weatherson with Brian McLaughlin relegated to the bench, Ben Dawson missing out from the sixteen man squad.
The first half produced some moments of panic and excitement but was not classic football as both sides struggled to find a rhythm and neither dominated the match. Inverness were the first to show though as they pressed forward early on and were awarded a free kick around twenty-five yards out, Richie Hart stepped up and following his cracking effort against Ross County at the weekend a repeat of that was feared. As it turned out however Colin Scott was well positioned to collect the ball with the minimum of fuss.
Queens then made an impression with a similarly placed free kick at the other end following a break by Bowey that saw him brought to earth, Joe McAlpine stepped up and his inswinging effort was far too close to the 'keeper for any Queens player to even attempt to get on the end off.
Derek Lyle was next for Queens with a chance as the former forward now converted into a winger beat two men on the edge of the box after being fed by a lovely ball from Bowser, Lyle's effort though was straight at Caley 'keeper Mark Brown and caused him no concerns.
After twenty minutes of the match Queens got their biggest let-off as Derek Anderson was left for dead down the right by his opponent and the resulting cross was half volleyed goalward by Ritchie with Scott stuck on his line, the ball luckily came off and landed at the foot of the post for Anderson to make amends and clear just in front of another Caley forward.
Whilst the play was generally scrappy there were a few moments that stood out, a John O'Neill pass to Joe McAlpine on thirty minutes that Joe laid into the path of Peter Weatherson was one, Nellie's effort though was blocked by a rapidly retreating defender and the ball went out for a corner.
Barry Robson was presented with a great chance with ten minutes of the half left as a cross ball looked to heading for an easy clearance by Derek Allan, however the defender slipped at the crucial moment and could only nod it to the feet of the highly rated Caley star, he dallied too long and by the time he managed to fire off an effort Jim Thomson was in position to block and clear the danger. It was however getting a bit nervy around the home goal, fortunately though both sides looked as nervy as each other.
Robson could find no way through tonight
The half finished as it has started with Caley Thistle having a free kick on the edge of the home box, this time Robson took it and his effort was well clear of the bar.
HALF TIME 0-0
The second half opened up with Queens creating a good chance as John O'Neill cleverly lifted the ball over the defence and into the path of Derek Lyle, Lyle couldn't quite connect fully with the ball and it screwed high off his boot and was cleared to safety.
At the other end Robson again searched for a way through the home defence, this time he came close as his angled drive form the left had the sting taken out of it by Colin Scott but still continued to trundle along the face of the goal, fortunately Andy Aitken was well placed to clear the ball before Wyness could reach it. The same man then forced Colin Scott into a good two palmed save to push a goal bound effort over the bar, there was a fair bit of pressure by Thistle at this time.
John Connolly then made his only substitution as Sean O'Connor replaced John O'Neill up front.
The tempo of the match changed within minutes as Queens put together some excellent football with Weatherson and Bowey combining well on the edge of the box with Bowser playing the ball into the path of Derek Lyle who struck a superb low and hard effort goalward only to see Brown make a terrific save. Queens had possibly their best spell of the match with Lyle in particular being very successful down the right and Sean O'Connor giving his usual mix of skilful groundwork and aerial prowess to great effect.
Weatherson switches play
Of the chances made in the sustained period of home pressure the best was possibly Peter Weatherson's drive just over the bar after being fed on the edge of the box by Lyle following good work by O'Connor.
Inverness responded however with Colin Scott pushing away and effort only to see it lobbed back in again and it having to be cleared off the line by the head of the back tracking Derek Allan.
With only four minutes to go it was anybody's game as both sides created chances and looked capable of scoring, perhaps Queens could have done better from a long ball that Sean O'Connor nodded into the path of Joe McAlpine, the winger elected to play the ball early across a defensively crowded box rather than hit the bye-line and square to a team mate. Inverness could also have done better as they forced a few corners that Queens defence managed to keep at bay as they cleared their lines on a number of occasions.
McAlpine makes towards the box
All in all Queens will be satisfied with the point, both teams matched each other and a draw was probably the fair result.
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