GOALSCORER Rhys Breen said that he was “proud” of Athletic’s display as they moved top of League One on Saturday.

The centre back, who was denied a winner against Airdrieonians the previous week following a controversial call by the referee to disallow it, scored his team’s second goal in their victory at Queen of the South.

Breen’s sliding effort at the far post – which was eventually given after referee Stewart Luke consulted his linesman over a potential offside – put the Pars two goals up at the interval.

Nikolay Todorov had put James McPake’s side ahead in the 19th minute, heading home his fourth of the season from Kyle MacDonald’s cross, as they dominated proceedings in the opening period.

Although Deniz Mehmet was called upon to save Ruari Paton’s 52nd-minute penalty – given for a foul on ex-Par Gavin Reilly by Breen – the visitorssaw the game out comfortably to move six games unbeaten and keep their fifth clean sheet in the process.

With 14 points, they are two points clear of second-top FC Edinburgh, and Breen said: “It was good to get the goal but, more importantly, the win and another clean sheet for us.

“We knew that it was going to be a tough game but the way that we have been training showed out there.

“We had a lot of chances. We definitely could have scored a couple more but we saw the game out. Even in the last couple of minutes we were putting our bodies on the line.

“I’m proud of the performance that we put in and really, really chuffed on behalf of myself and the team.”

McPake noted: “They (Queen of the South) will take points off teams throughout the season down there.

“I think they’ll be a really good side and Wullie (Gibson, player- manager) will get them going, so we’re delighted.

“We obviously had the two draws in between that so it was important to get back to winning ways.

“It’s something I’ve said for a while that, as much as we want to win games, it’s performances over the season that’s going to stand us in good stead. Performances have been good, on the whole, over the season.

“Maybe in a couple of games we’ve not been as comfortable as we should have been, but to get the two-goal cushion was really important. Once we got that, the players were pretty comfortable in the game.”