Queen of the South 2-0 Stranraer
Last updated on .From the section Football
Second Division champions Queen of the South celebrated last weekend's Ramsdens Cup final victory with a home win over relegation-threatened Stranraer.
But Stranraer remain five points clear of relegation trouble after second-bottom East Fife also lost, at home to Stenhousemuir.
The Doonhammers started in positive fashion, with Patrick Slattery seeing his goal-bound effort kept out by Frank McKeown's block.
Queens eventually found the breakthrough when Kevin Holt applied a simple finish from six yards out in the 31st minute.
The visitors struggled to mount any pressure as they sought a way back into the game.
However, they almost levelled only for McKeown to strike his close-range effort straight at goalkeeper Lee Robinson.
Nicholas Clark was the man to secure the hosts' victory when he got on the end of substitute Derek Lyle's left-wing cross after 76 minutes.
Kevin Smith had a low strike denied by the feet of David Mitchell soon after as Allan Johnston's side were made to settle for a two-goal cushion.
Queen of the South: Robinson, McGuffie, Durnan, Black, Holt, Slattery, Burns, Young (Lyle 63), Carmichael, Paton (Fitzpatrick 85), Clark (Kevin Smith 77). Subs Not Used: Atkinson, Higgins.
Goals: Holt 31, Clark 76.
Stranraer: Mitchell,Lloyd Kinnaird,Dunlop,McKeown,Staunton, Love (Winter 82), Aitken, Gallagher, Borris, Gribben (Moore 68), Malcolm. Subs Not Used: Cadwell, One, Campbell.
Att: 1,806
Ref: Kevin Graham
