The move to our new home at The Falkirk Stadium may have caused some consternation within the support when announced a few weeks ago - but there has been no such drama for Super Ray, his staff and his players who haven't missed a beat over the course of two impressive victories - firstly against promotion challenging Stirling Albion, and then relegation threatened Cowdenbeath.
This has been, without doubt, a massive week for Ray McKinnon's men. Another six points on the board, another two clean sheets protected and another four goals scored - we are now at the stage where it is extremely hard to see Queen's being overhauled at the League Two summit - and it is surely a matter of time before captain David Galt lifts the first Queen's Park league title in 21 years.
The clash with the Binos on Saturday was rightly touted as a huge match for the prospects of both sides, towards the end of what has been a challenging season. Stirling (one of only two teams to prevent a Spiders league win all season) were only seven points behind your favourites at kick off in FK2, and while there was a degree of confidence within the Queen's ranks there was also no doubt that the visitors would provide a sterner test than those experienced at both Glebe Park and at Cliftonhill.
Stirling were hampered by the absence of main goal threat Andy Ryan through injury but Kevin Rutkiewicz was still able to name a strong side which included two ex-Spiders in centre back Darryl Meggatt and creative midfielder Kurtis Roberts. A tight game was expected, and so it proved, but in truth this was a match which never really got going and good chances were at a premium (particularly in the first half where the Queen's opener was the only moment worth writing home about).
Luca Connell has been hogging the headlines in his formative weeks as a Queen's Park player, and following a virtuoso performance against Albion Rovers at Cliftonhill a few days before, it was no surprise that the only goal of the game came from one of his pinpoint in-swinging set pieces. Connell's ball in was begging to be met, and after a couple of nicks off attacking players, the ball spun past Binos keeper Cameron Binnie.
The final touch appeared to come off the forehead of unfortunate ex-Queen's defender Meggatt (Strawberry's uncharacteristic faux-pas coming ten years to the month since his last Spiders goal). Queen's controlled the remainder of the first period without really stamping their authority on the fixture - the midfield pairing of Connell and the revitalised Darren Lyon were controlling the tempo of the passing and the Binos could only chase shadows. When they did find controlled possession, the tireless Lyon was in their faces and he received a yellow card for his troubles following a crunching slide tackle which disrupted the early phases of a promising visiting attack.
The second half continued in a much similar vein, but to Queen's credit, we did manage to create more in the way of clear chances - and its hard to believe that we didn't add to our lead. Salim Kouder-Aissa was guilty of two horrible misses (the second in particular, not one he would've fancied watching back on QPTV), sub David Galt was somehow denied by Binnie from close range and fellow replacement Buffalo Bill Baynham had a towering header harshly ruled out for an apparent push on Meggatt.
The Binos had one clear chance of their own to salvage a draw, Jack Leitch (I am told no relation to public health buzzkill Jason) headed wide when it looked easier to score, but Queen's deserved the three points even if they did not manage to hit the heights we all know these players are capable of, particularly in the attacking areas.
With our closest rivals dispatched homewards with nothing to show for a plucky effort, confidence was rightly sky high when relegation battlers Cowdenbeath rocked up at the Falkirk Stadium for last night's 7pm kick off. The quick turnaround from Saturday's fixtures no doubt suited Ray McKinnon more than his opposite number Gary Bollan, and the Queen's gaffer surprised the support by not only changing personnel, but by moving away from his tried and tested 4-4-2 formation.
Buffalo Bill, Grant Gillespie, captain Galt and Jai Quitongo came in from the start and there was no place for the misfiring duo of Bingo Bob McHugh and Kouder-Aissa. Simon Murray, Canice Carroll and Tommy Robson were back on the bench - but the impressive young Brody Paterson kept his place at left back and Baynham was deployed as a lone striker with Galt and Louis Longridge roaming in behind.
Our visitors The Blue Brazil have had a miserable season, and by reading the contributions of Cowden supporters on popular Scottish football forum Pie & Bovril, there appears to be serious concern over their league status going into what will be a difficult final few months of fixtures for The Fifers. Last night's performance (coupled with results from elsewhere) would have done nothing to allay the relegation fears which will be dominating the thoughts of all those involved at Central Park.
In contrast to Saturday, where Queen's knew a good performance would be required to see off high flying Stirling Albion, this was a display from a side who never really had to move out of second gear (particularly in a dull first half). Cowden offered nothing in an attacking sense, and while McKinnon's boys were timid in attack for the first 45 minutes - they enjoyed complete dominance of the ball and held a 1-0 half time advantage thanks to a rocket of a shot from Jai Quitongo.
The usually impressive Connell, quiet in the first period and recipient of a few tasty challenges, was replaced at half time by Darren Lyon, and Lyon's almost instantaneous close range goal (following more superb work from Quitongo on the right) set the tone for a much improved second half performance from Queen's Park.
The home side were working harder and pressing higher, and Cowdenbeath were really struggling to cope as the minutes ticked on. This should have been the night where Queen's dished out a real doing to the opposition. We created chance after chance in the second period, but flabby finishing and the fine form of young goalkeeper Nicky Hogarth limited us to just one more in the forty minutes that remained following Lyon's 4th goal of the season.
It was Buffalo Bill Baynham, terrific throughout, who got it - heading in from the centre of the box following a sweeping delivery from Mr. Consistent Michael Doyle. In truth, Baynham would have had a hat trick if not for the performance of Cowdenbeath's number one - but it was good to see the big man back in the team and back amongst the goals.
The fixtures continue to come thick and fast for everyone in the league, but with our superior resources and full time status - we are no doubt in a much better position to cope than our divisional rivals. This has been a great few weeks for Ray McKinnon and his coaching staff and they will be particularly be pleased with the performances of players who had found themselves on the fringes of the squad prior to the lockdown in January.
Midfielders Lyon and Gillespie were maligned in some quarters in the first phase of the season, but both have been in excellent form since the restart, and the significant presence of Canice Carroll has not been missed whatsoever which is testament to the form of both players. Young loanee Brody Paterson has proven himself a more than capable backup to Tommy Robson on the left of our steely defence, while wide men Quitongo and Longridge have put in a series of eye catching displays since the return - these two should be nailed on starters for Saturday's trip to face Stenhousemuir.
While clarity relating to some serious off field problems remains nowhere to be found, Queen's supporters can at least be reassured that everything is going to plan on the field. Five games have been played since the restart, and with fifteen points (and five clean sheets) added to the record books - we look in a superb position to finish the season strongly - and lift the League Two championship in a blaze of glory come May.
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