Queens began this match with a couple of changes to last week's side which had defeated Berwick at Palmerston, in came Dean Muir for Jon Sunderland and making a return to the Doonhamers ranks was familiar face Des McKeown who had signed on Thursday evening and immediately faced his old side in the first game of his second stint with Queens.
The game was a keenly contested affair with Partick and Queen's serving up some good football. Queens should have had at least a share of the points, particularly after applying immense pressure for almost all of the second half.
It was not to be though and a combination of poor luck and some good defensive play by the homesters allowed them to maintain their narrow margin to the end.
The goals came in the 27th minute when former Queen's trialist Scott McLean beat Stephen Pickering to a long clearance ball from the Thistle 'keeper to prod it past Mathieson. Then in the 33rd minute Warren Hawke found space as the Partick defence failed to clear a Peter Weatherson cross field ball and had the easiest of tasks to stroke the ball into the empty net. The final score cam of the stroke of half time, this time with McCallum as the taker for Thistle.
Queens made no further headway despite the introduction of Skinner for Suddick. The youngster certainly added a new dimension to our play but despite his close ground control he could not bring the match back to level pegging.
Queen's though can be satisfied with their performance if not the result, Partick, the league leaders by increasing margins were made to fight all of the way for their victory and Queens now have a more settled and experienced look about them.
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