QUEEN'S climbed to the top of the First Division after a first-half double emphasised their title credentials and sent out the strongest message yet that they are prepared to dig in for the long haul.
How the fortunes have changed for both these far-flung protagonists. When County last made the journey from Dingwall to Dumfries in April they were both sitting perilously above the relegation zone. Six months on it was a clash of two clubs not disgu
ising their ambitions for elevation to the SPL.
County arrived with just one defeat away from Victoria Park this term before yesterday and miserly having conceded just three goals at the same time. It was a statistic which Derek Adams' charges had based their success on.
Queens, in contrast, were not prepared to have a statistic of their own dented, having lost just once at Palmerston in the league this campaign. Gordon Chisholm's side took the lead in 26 minutes when Stewart Kean was held off by Alex Keddie before the ball broke to Paul Burns 20 yards out and he lashed the ball high into the net.
The hosts doubled their lead two minutes from the break after a clearance from defence by Gerry McLauchlan found Willie McLaren. He carved open the County defence with a quick flick through to Burns who had the easiest of jobs in drawing goalkeeper Michael McGovern from goal and slipping the ball left for Kean to tap the ball into the empty net.
