Queen of the South1–4Inverness CT

A flying start to 1998/99 for Caley Thistle. The first goal came in 6 minutes when Charlie Christie twisted on the edge of the area and sent over a neat cross which Paul Sheerin nodded home. In 28 minutes Scott McLean made it 2-0. A Calder clearance reached Cherry 40 yards out and he lobbed over the defence for McLean. He hit it first time and knocked it past Mathieson. In the 42nd minute Queens had a golden chance to hit back. Paul Cherry body-checked Alexander Nesovic in the box but Steven Leslie's penalty was blocked by Jim Calder as was the follow up shot. Queens had a long spell of pressure in the second half. In 46 minutes Calder parried a 15 yard Nesovic shot but McCulloch stepped in and turned it away. Amidst the Queens pressure McLean created an opening at the other end when he turned and shot from 10 yards, Mathieson did well to get a hand to it. In 73 minutes Duncan Shearer rose at the back post and headed in a Barry Robson cross from the right. Two minutes later Barry Wilson sent in a free kick from the right and Paul Cherry headed it into the top corner. In the final minute a through ball found Ken Eadie in space and he knocked it past Calder for a consolation goal.