Early on, Queen's did look sharper than their opponents and if Mick Dunlop and Paul Ronald didn't get their wires crossed from a corner kick by Paul Paton, you felt that Big Mickey had an easy chance at heading at goal. It took only 12 minutes for Queen's to settle the customary Firs Park nerves after a David Weatherston wonderstrike. He picked the ball up on the halfway line, beat four players before slotting under home keeper Anton Nugent to the delight of the large Spiders travelling support.
Robert Dunn then passed up a fantastic double opportunity to score. Faced with a free shot on goal three yards out from Paul Ronald's cross, he completely missed the ball and on the second attempt the red faced Dunn had his shot blocked on the line by Shire defender Carl Thywissen.
Mark Ferry then forced a good stop from Nugent before Damiano Agostini's trickling half volley was hacked away by Stephen Oates. The second goal did come however after 36 minutes, good play from Paton and Ronald forced a throw in on the right and Paton's quick thinking throw into space resulted in a powerful low cross by Cairney being tucked home by Kettlewell from close range who celebrated by running to the Queen's support. It was Ketts first Queen's strike since August 2005, when we lost 3-1 to Berwick Rangers at Hampden.
In the second half Queen's squandered chance after chance to put the game to bed. Paul Paton scooped over from six yards after Nugent made a magnificent double stop from Ferry. Ferry was denied again when his 20 yard rocket looked certain to burst the net before Paul Ronald missed an open goal from 3 yards after Canning's cross. Weatherston had a rocket shot blocked by Nugent before the on form Shire keeper blocked his neat lob. Ronald, Ferry, Paton and Dunn all had shots blocked by the Shire defence in the box and Frankie Carroll's header was just deflected past the post by Stephen Oates. Tony Quinn then slammed a shot wide before Paul Ronald's effort from the edge of the box was charged down by Oates in injury time, all in all however a good 3 points.
QUEEN'S PARK: David Crawford, Paul Paton, Mick Dunlop, Steven Canning, Damiano Agostini, Paul Cairney (Tony Quinn), Stuart Kettlewell, Robert Dunn (Frankie Carroll), Paul Ronald (Richard Bowers), David Weatherston, Mark Ferry
SUBS NOT USED: Mark Cairns, Jonny Whelan
GOALSCORERS: David Weatherston (12), Stuart Kettlewell (36)
REFEREE: Stevie O'Reilly
ATTENDANCE: 292
MAN OF THE MATCH: Damiano Agostini