Match Report
Ian McCall made just one change to the side that defeated Ross County with Jackie McNamara replacing Greg Shields at the back Stephen McKeown returning to the side to take up a midfield berth.
On a good playing surface both sides made a bright start to this game winning a succession of corners. The home side came close to a goal though after just two minutes. A run from Paul Burns went unchecked and Jonny Tuffey did well to claw Burns' deflected shot from 20 yards out.
Ryan Conroy was prominent for Thistle down the left hand side but up against a resolute home defence Thistle were struggling to make much meaningful impression. In the 16th minute Liam Buchanan was able to play in Stephen McKeown with a neat ball but McKeown's control let him down and the chance was lost.
As the half progressed the home side began to take a increasingly strong grip on the game at least in terms of possession. They were, however, restricted to a few half chances at best. Bob Harris sent a long range shot well over the bar while Thistle were a shade fortunate that no Queens foot was able to apply a finish to a Paul Burns cross.
While Queens were restricted to a few half chances it was still more than Thistle created. Liam Buchanan was well tackled by David Lilley just as gained a glimpse of goal and right on half-time David Hutton needed tow attempts to grab hold of a Bryan Hodge shot. Even then it would have been a major surprise if the ball had eluded his grasp.
Thistle were the first time on the offensive after the break with Liam Buchanan earning Thistle a corner inside the first minute. John Robertson was able to get his head to that corner but a well placed Queens defender was able to clear from close to his own goal line.
Thistle had made a positive start to the start of the second half but there was an anxious moment in the 50th minute when the ball clearly struck the hand of Bryan Hodge inside his own box. Refereee MacDonald ruled that there had been no intent, a correct decision but still a heart in the mouth moment for Thistle.
In the 54th minute the home side too the lead. Thistle had dealt well with the home side set pieces in the first half but they change their approach with their first corner of the second half. Thistle were caught napping by a short corner and when the ball was whipped in Stewart Kean headed unchallenged past Jonny Tuffey.
Thistle were almost immediately back on level terms. Stephen McKeown enjoyed a favourable break of the ball only to be denied firstly a defender then Queen of the South keeper David Hutton.
Thistle had an even better chance to level the scores on the hour mark. Stephen McKeown played in Liam Buchanan but Buchanan, with McKeown looking for a return pass, shot wide of Hutton's right hand post.
In the 69th minute Thistle were again close to an equaliser but Bryan Hodge rather wasted a good chance by blasting high over the bar from 12 yards out after being nicely set up.
Although Thistle were having by far and way their best spell of the game at this point Queens were still close to a second goal in the 70th minute when Weatherston curled a shot over Tuffey's bar from the edge of the Thistle box.
Thistle continued to do the bulk of the pressing and with six minutes left were once again close to an equaliser. Liam Buchanan did well to work the ball into the path of Chris Erskine and was denied a goal but a good stop from David Hutton who did well not just to keep the ball out but grab hold of the ball as well.
In Thistle's next attack Erskine again tested the home keeper but after turning at the edge of the box his shot though well struck was straight at Hutton.
A Queens corner deep in injury time seemed to signal Thistle's defeat but there was still time for one last chance. David Rowson pushed the ball into the path of Martyn Corrigan who had to watch in agony as his shot smacked off the cross bar. The final whistle sounded just a matter of seconds later.
