The four-four-two system of recent matches was preserved for the beginning of this match, the starting eleven from Forthbank midweek also staying the same. Johnny Whelan returned to the squad but started on the bench.
The Hampden pitch was looking smooth due to its recent relaying and this undoubtedly contributed to the flowing, open game we would be treated to, especially in the early stages. Peterhead could have taken the lead inside the opening minute. Ferry surrendered a throw near the goalline, it was taken quickly and Bone nipped in at the near post to head wide. Queen's responded quickly, Fallon, eager to attack in his new position, driving down the left and shooting across goal at a good height for Mathers.
The first chinks in the defensive armour were revealed after 8 minutes when the highly dangerous Bone found space inside the box to skate his effort unsatisfyingly wide of the post. Peterhead returned any Queen's favour in defence with interest shortly after though. Their defence attempted to play Allan offside, but James was sharp, gathered possession just inside the area, before infuriatingly stopping to weigh up his options. Instead of calmly flighting the ball over Mathers, he chose to round him on the outside, and had his final shot intercepted on the line. Given how rarely such great chances present themselves, they can't afford to be missed.
The corner which resulted was floated to the back post by Allan, and Willie Martin should have done more than to head straight at Mathers from Agostini's nod back into the middle.
Jimmy Allan was having a field day now, and with the defence at his mercy pushed forward from deep, playing a perfect pass in to Kettlewell's feet and putting him clean through. It was a similar chance to Allan's own, and the outcome was similar as Kettlewell's effort lacked all conviction.
It was proving an entertaining game, and Alex Bone was one of the chief reasons. Skinning Agostini delightfully on the right, he lofted a cross into the area which McLean flashed wide with a diving header.
Clearly infected with this rash of positivity from both teams, Danny Ferry then marauded through the centre, troubling a reluctant defence and trundling a measured low shot off the post. Two minutes on, and Cairns was forced to tip the ball round his post somewhat awkwardly from MacDonald's header.
Queen's were beginning to allow Peterhead far too much space in which to deliver threatening crosses, and MacDonald's ball was almost converted by McLean in the 24th minute. Sadly it wouldn't be long before their obvious enthusiasm and verve bore fruit. Bone outwitted Ferry on the Queen's right, and drove on into the box, meeting Cairns who slid low to attempt to gather cleanly. He nearly made it, but under pressure lost control of the ball, and Roddie followed up to plant the ball home beyond the despairing frame of Danny Ferry. Unlike Stirling's winner on Tuesday night, there had been no hint of a foul which caused Cairns to lose possession.
Queen's opening to the game had been bright but Peterhead gradually started to assume control, though only after a brief Queen's flurry in an attempt to equalise had been quelled. Willie Martin had been quiet in the game but showed good mobility to turn on Kettlewell's pass just after the half-hour, but he could manage no power behind his shot. Peterhead again quickly broke, and Bone tried his luck from 25 yards.
The sheer pace of Peterhead's counter-attacking was now cutting Queen's in two, specifically the centre-back pairing of Agostini and Sinclair. McLean had oceans of space to slip the ball across goal, but hit it with too much purchase and the ball eluded the lurking Bone. A second goal duly materialised within the minute. Bone was able to cut in from the right with time on his hands, and with the defence in complete disarray Roddie tapped into a gaping net. Sadly, Queen's had been torn apart.
Confidence flowing through their team, Peterhead continued to make chances. McSkimming was the next to deliver from wide, giving Bone a header which he put off target. Queen's did achieve a couple of threatening attacks before half-time, but they resulted in defenders clearing for corners ( wasted ones ) in both instances. Defensive reorganisation a priority for Brannigan during the break.
KB had clearly decoded the signals, as it was a back-three which opened the second-half, Fallon being drawn in a little alongside the central defenders. This would also have the effect of curbing his considerable overlapping flair for a time.
McCallum, largely uninvolved during the game, forced a save from Cairns on 47 minutes, but Peterhead were soon back on the rampage. Agostini's lack of pace was again highlighted, by McLean this time, but he was at least able to recover to prevent a clean strike from the forward.
A further blow arrived when the stricken Richard Sinclair, struck by the ball, was forced to come off, Jamie White his straight replacement. Further substitutions arrived in the next ten minutes: Gemmell, enduring possibly his worst performance in a Queen's shirt, had his game ended by Fisher's introduction, and the ineffective McCallum was replaced by Whelan.
The latter two changes had the effect ot bringing more zest and running power into the attack, and Queen's were back in the game after 68 minutes when Martin collected Whelan's lay off from the 18 yard line and drove the ball crisply and accurately into the right hand corner of Mathers' net. Why, oh why, do we only start playing in home games around this time of every game?
The fabled Hampden Surge was in business, and the home players took the game by the throat. Steven Fallon began to venture forward to join the attack, and the midfield ground out possession well. Too often though, hesitancy in the penalty area sees Queen's Park's attacks break down before their conclusion. After Fisher had a shot deflected out of play, Ferry picked up from the corner and chipped a cross into the middle which was too high for Martin and was miscontrolled by Kettlewell.
James Allan had drifted out of the game, but Martin's superb goal had breathed new life into his performance as well as that of the team in general. Now finding space on the left freely, his dribbling seemed the best bet to produce a goal.
Defensively Queen's were still far from sound. A long ball downfield put Robertson in the clear, and Agostini again struggled to keep chase. A goal seemed certain, but the substitute fired the ball at Cairns and Stewart wasted the rebound.
Unfazed, Queen's kept going, and Fallon broke through again before firing wide of the left hand post.
It was thrilling stuff, and Stewart nearly took advantage of the gaps Queen's were leaving at the back on 79 minutes, but his finish was extremely disappointing for a man with such a fine scori