Thistle have sharp edge at Palmy

INVERNESS Caley Thistle were victorious at Palmerston Park on Saturday as they proved too strong for the Doonhamers.

The visitors were quick out of the blocks and with just three minutes played Alfie Stewart rattled a shot off the underside of the crossbar.

It was an early warning for the hosts but Thistle continued to move the ball quickly and they opened the scoring on nine minutes.

Matty Douglas cleared Liam Sole’s effort but as the ball was played back in to the back post Chanka Zimba flicked it past Ross Stewart from close range.

Goalmouth attempts for Queens had been few and far between, Kurtis Guthrie tried to backheel the ball into the net to no avail.

As the visitors broke up the park, Stewart made a superb double stop: firstly to deny Calum McLeod’s from distance and then Zimba’s effort on the rebound.

Caley then defended well as Liam Smith and Guthrie both saw their efforts blocked.

With the home side starting to become more of an attacking threat, the Highlanders were cute as they picked up bookings for professional fouls to nullify any counter attacks.

As Caley broke again, Stewart kept it at one-nil as he tipped a great strike from Wotherspoon over the bar.

In another counter attack, Sole then looked to be offside but the flag stayed down, on his own with only the keeper to beat, he dragged his shot wide.

Queens worked their way back into the game after the interval, Guthrie got on the end of a long ball and sent a looping header just onto the roof of the net.

But Inverness were a constant threat and just before the hour mark Luis Longstaff hit a shot off the underside of the bar that came off the back of Stewart and onto the base of the post.

With 15 minutes remaining, Kai Kennedy played in a free-kick and Guthrie’s headed effort was denied by the woodwork.

As the ball came back into play, Stott hit the rebound only for Remi Savage to clear off the line.

As Queens pushed everyone forward looking for an equaliser, including goalkeeper Stewart, the visitors made a break. Jack Hannah made a great challenge at the half way line to halt the attack but the ball broke to Longstaff.

He launched a shot straight down the middle into the net from a good 60-yards to secure the points with the last kick of the game.