Youth Round-Up
Posted in Youth Squad, by , on 2/8/2010 3:13:00 PM
Three teams in action at the weekend, with encouraging performance from them all......................
SFA Under-19 League
Queen of the South 2 - 3 Cowdenbeath
The David Keswick Centre was the setting for this Under-19 league encounter between Queens and Cowdenbeath.
It was the visitors who adapted to the bumpy conditions best in the first half, and went in at half-time a goal to the good. Early in the second half, Queens equalised when Steven Degnan confidently finished off a fine passing move to bring the sides level. At this stage the match was evenly poised, but individual errors allowed the visitors to score twice midway through the second half to take command of the match, and whilst Degnan pulled a goal back, it was Cowdenbeath who came away with the points.
SFA Under-17 League
Alloa Athletic 3 - 3 Queen of the South
With both teams amongst the leaders in the Under-17 league, this promised to be a cracking match, and it didn't disappoint.
The home side took an early lead in the opening 20 minutes, but almost immediately Gavin Reilly struck to bring the sides level at the interval.
Alloa again took the lead early in the second half, but again it took only a matter of minutes for Queens to equalise, with Reilly again on target. With both teams pushing for a winner, it looked as though Alloa had taken all three points when they scored with only minutes remaining, but substitute Mark Dillon popped up in the 90th minute to draw the sides level, and keep the Queens 17's unbeaten run intact.
SFA Under-15 Youth Initiative
Ayr United - Queen of the South
With the Youth Initiative fixtures resuming next weekend, Queens 15s got in some much-needed match practice by facing their Ayr United counterparts in a rearranged match, postponed from the first half of the season.
Despite not having played since November, there was little sign of rustiness from the Queens side, as they matched a strong Ayr side during the first period, and it was Liam Park who gave QoS the lead at the end of the first period, outpacing the Ayr defence to latch onto a through ball by Michael Cairnie to slot home past the advancing keeper.
The second period saw Ayr attacking strongly, with Queens reduced to only sporadic breaks out of defence. Despite the mounting pressure, Queens maintained their shape and discipline, and it took the award of a penalty, which was duly converted, to bring the sides level at the end of the second period.
The third period continued in a similar vein, with Ayr moving the ball about well, and stretching the Queens side, who were beginning to show the effects of their long lay-off. However, the boys gave their all, restricting Ayr to shots from distance, none of which produced a goal, and it took a great save by the home goalkeeper in the final minutes to prevent Queens from snatching the win.
This was a very encouraging performance from the Queens boys against an Ayr side who impressed throughout. The committment of the boys was very pleasing, and it is hoped that with the start of the season upon them, regular games will help them to continue to progress.