Spiders’ super fan Keith McAllister famously missed his last Queen’s Park game back in January 1979 when Peterhead were defeated by a visiting Glasgow side in the Scottish Cup however he was amongst the travelling band of fans this time out as the hosts were knocked out of the competition 3-0 at a windy Balmoor.

The northern ground has not been a happy hunting ground for Queen’s with a Dom Thomas double and a last gasp Grant Savoury strike seeing Owen Coyle’s side progress and end a nine-game winless run in the Blue Toon.

The red-shirted visiting defence was re-jigged with Jason Naismith and Stephen Eze coming in from the substitute’s bench for Lee Kilday and Charlie Fox with the attack force seeing one alteration with former home favourite Savoury starting in place of Josh McPake.

Balmoor was buffeted by a strong wind that was at the back of the visitors and that aided an early attack from Thomas on the right however there were no takers in the home box.

On three minutes the hosts launched a free-kick deep into the wind and it landed at the feet of Jason Brown who sent a shot high over from 16 yards.

Simon Murray was tripped right at the edge of the Peterhead box on six minutes, and after Jason Brown had been booked, the skipper tried a training ground routine out with Savoury before seeing his shot crash into a wall of blue shirted defenders.

With quarter of an hour gone some trickery on the left saw Jack Thomson released and his low curling cross looked perfect for Thomas to run onto however Tom Ritchie raced from his goal to gather.

The following minute saw an Andy McDonald clearance blown behind for a corner however no danger threatened from the dead ball.

As Queen’s continued to push Thomas drove forward and slipped a pass out left to the in-rushing Murray with Ritchie again winning the race to gather.

The wind was making it difficult for any side to get into a rhythm and the delay caused by Peterhead having both Jason Brown and Julien Carre down receiving treatment at the same time saw the pace slow down even further.

That all changed with half an hour played when the visitors secured another shooting chance from a free-kick 35 yards out.

THOMAS took it and sent a left-foot shot scorching over the home wall and high past Ritchie and into the net.

Seven minutes later the ball was played back to Jake Davidson who had charged into an advanced position with the full-back side-shooting over from 18 yards.

On 44 minutes Murray came close to his first ever goal at Balmoor when he twisted away from Jason Brown and fired for goal from 20 yards with the ball just whistling past Ritchie’s right-hand post.

Ninety seconds into the second half Michael Hewitt gave Owen Coyle’s side notice that the wind was now in Peterhead’s favour with a first time shot from 30 yards that flew just past Calum Ferrie’s goal.

A minute later Jason Brown saw a close-range effort scrambled clear for a corner that was headed behind by a diving Eze.

The hosts were looking to build up a head of steam however Thomson took some of the pressure off by a charging run to the other end and picked out Murray who was crowded out.

On 54 minutes a break of the ball allowed Peterhead’s McCarthy to run free on the right and his low cross looked to be causing danger until Eze stepped in to clear at the expense of another corner that McDonald landed on the roof of Ferrie’s net.

McCarthy then let fly from 20 yards with Ferrie watching it clear his bar with the shot-stopper having to move sharply to his left to clutch a long-distance McDonald drive shortly afterwards.

Coach Coyle decided to change things around with an hour gone as he brought on the more defensive minded Alex Bannon for Pat Jarrett however it was THOMAS who made a change to the score-line two minutes later.

The wide-man took responsibility for a foul wide on the right and with the home defence expecting a chipped in cross Thomas fired it low to the near post and it bounced its way past Ritchie to double Queen’s lead.

The goal did not dampen Peterhead spirits with Ferrie diving low to grab a Julien Carre drive from 20 yards before McCarthy and McDonald had shots charged down.

Home substitute Jordon Brown missed a snip shortly after coming on when he mis-fired from six yards however an offside flag saved his blushes.

A lightning break from Queen’s saw Thomson set substitute Scott Williamson running into the home goal with six minutes left with an offside flag prompting disappointment just as the ball hit Ritchie’s net.

Ferrie made a smart stop from Danny Strachan who turned and fired for goal from 8 yards with four minutes to go with Carre forcing a corner shortly afterwards.

Queen’s scrambled the flag-kick clear and Williamson picked the ball up 10 yards in his half before charging to the other end where he picked out SAVOURY who swept the ball home to complete the scoring.

Queen’s Park: Calum Ferrie, Jake Davidson, Stephen Eze, Jason Naismith, Tommy Robson, Jack Thomson, Malachi Boateng, Grant Savoury, Pat Jarrett (Alex Bannon 60), Dom Thomas (Louis Longridge 87’), Simon Murray (Scott Williamson 79’). Subs not used: Lee Kilday, Charlie Fox, Johnny Kenny, Cameron Bruce, Jacques Heraghty (G/k), David Boateng.

Peterhead: Tom Ritchie, Danny Strachan, Jack Wilkie, Jason Brown, Andrew McDonald, Julien Carre, David Wilson (Jordon Brown 79’), Michael Hewitt, Andrew McCarthy, Jack Brown, Enock Walusimbi. Subs not used: Sandy Wood (G/k), Prince Annor Asare, Robbie Scullion, Robbie McGale, Euan Murray, Ryan Dow,

Referee: Duncan Williams