An Iain Russell hat-trick was the highlight for Queens this afternoon as they cruised to a comfortable victory over League 2 side Elgin, scoring five times and missing just as many in a one-sided encounter that was dominated by the hosts from start to finish. With the attraction of the Agricultural show, and heavy rain showers to contend with, there was always the possibility that this game would have a low attendance, and although the figure was less than one thousand, those who made the trip to Palmerston saw their side recover from last week`s disappointing defeat by Livingston to progress into the 2nd round of the competition without being caused any problems by the lower league side.
Queens switched to a 4-4-2 formation for the game, and made two changes to the side that started against Livingston. Chris Higgins returned to the defence in place of Lewis Kidd, who began on the bench, and the injury suffered by Michael Paton, gave Derek Lyle the chance to start as he joined Gavin Reilly in attack.
The game began with Queens attacking the Terregles Street end of the ground, and they carved out an early opening after just 2 minutes, but Derek Lyle`s effort was hit straight at `keeper Fraser, who saved comfortably. Queens were soon on the attack again and this time a long ball from Andy Dowie was well controlled by Gavin Reilly right by the corner flag on the right, and under instant pressure the young striker did well to win his side their first corner of the game. From the resulting set-piece the ball ended up in the net, but even before the ball had crossed the line, the referee had blown for an infringement and awarded a free-kick to the visitors. That would have been the perfect start for Queens, but such was their dominance of the early proceedings, they and their fans did not have long to wait for the opening goal when on 6 minutes, an awful mistake by the visitors gifted them the lead. There seemed to be little danger after Mark Durnan`s long clearance entered the penalty area, but defender McLean misjudged the ball and his header fell into the path of IAIN RUSSELL who was on hand to slide the ball past the `keeper from 6-yards out.
The pattern of the game continued with Queens having virtually all of the possession, and creating all of the chances. A neat build up involving Higgins, Lyle and Reilly ended with the striker testing `keeper Fraser with a low drive from just inside the box.On the quarter hour mark, Russell went close to scoring again after his mazy run ended with a thumping shot that smashed against the far upright, and when the ball fell into the path of Danny Carmichael, his shot on the half volley was kept out by a smart diving save from Fraser.
With the visitors hardly being able to get out of their own half, Queens continued possession of the ball saw them become a little guilty of overplaying the ball on a number of occasions, but thankfully, Elgin just did not have the capability of punishing them. Most of Queens attacking play involved the impressive Russell, and he almost scored again moments later when he got on the end of a superb pass from McShane, but after side stepping the `keeper, his shot from a tight angle was just deflected past the post.
Following corner number seven for Queens, Mark Durnan went close to opening his account for the season, but slightly off balance his header sailed over the bar. There was some cause for concern for Andy Dowie as following the corner, the defender required treatment following a clash in the area, but thankfully he was able to continue. On a rare foray into the Queens half, the visitors won their first corner of the game on 33 minutes, but the delivery was so poor, Elgin boss, and former Queens player, Barry Wilson, threw his hands up in despair on the sidelines as his side wasted a golden opportunity to put Queens under pressure. Worse was to come for Wilson`s side, when Queens increased their lead 10 minutes before the break. More sloppy play at the back allowed DEREK LYLE to pounce on the loose ball and then take the ball around the `keeper to score from a tight angle. It was no more than Queens deserved, and quite frankly even at that stage, there seemed to be no way back from that moment for the visitors.
Lyle rounds the keeper to score his first
As the home side threatened to score almost every time they went forward, McShane`s probing pass sent Carmichael clear, but the winger went for a near post shot rather than picking out a fellow colleague in the middle, as the under pressure Elgin defence survived again. Queens were forced into an early change as Dowie, who had clearly not recovered from that earlier challenge, being replaced by Lewis Kidd. Queens `keeper, Zander Clark, who had been a spectator for most of the half, was required to make his only save of the game on 43 minutes, tipping Cameron`s shot round the post for a corner.
The hosts ended the half the way they had played for all of the opening period, on the attack. McShane found Russell on the left and his early cross towards the near post was only just gathered by Fraser as Reilly tried to reach Russell`s inviting delivery. The first half was very comfortable for Queens, and realistically, they probably should have been further ahead at the break.
HALF-TIME QUEENS 2-0 ELGIN
There was no let up for the overworked Elgin defence as Queens simply continued their attacking play at the start of the second period. Danny Carmichael was giving his marker an awful time, and his fine run and cross carved open a chance for Lyle, but his stooping header from the centre of the goal flew straight at the `keeper. Queens were simply flooding forward at every opportunity and an intricate flick by Russell sent Reilly bearing down on goal, but his left footed drive was deflected past the post for yet another Queens corner. Once again McShane`s delivery was a tester which bounced off of Kevin Holt and landed just past the far post.
Player-coach, James Fowler made way for Kevin Dzierzawski on 54 minutes as Queens made their second change of the game, and minutes later a jinking run from Russell ended with his shot being pushed away by Fraser. The striker was unlucky on that occasion, but just after the hour mark, the former Livingston man was all smiles once again. Carmichael`s skill on the right saw him skip past his marker and on reaching the bye-line he produced a well placed cross which gave IAIN RUSSELL the easiest of tasks to prod the ball home from close range.
Iain Russell makes the goal look easy by getting into the perfect spot to tap home Danny Carmichaels cross
Straight from the kick off Elgin managed just their second shot of the game, but from the edge of the area, Craig Gunn drove his attempt wide of the target. With the game really finished as a contest, the final 20 minutes or so was really about how many more goals Queens would score, and a speculative effort from Kidd almost produced number four. Queens third and final change saw Dean Smith, replace Reilly, with the young winger playing wide left and Russell moving to join Lyle up front. Almost straight after moving into a central role, Russell nearly completed his hat-trick. Latching onto a through ball from midfield he burst into the area and went down as he appeared to be pushed from behind, but with no foul given and play continuing, his effort whilst still grounded lacked power and rolled to safety.
Continuing to have total control, Queens almost scored again when Kidd and Carmichael linked up well to create a chance for McShane, but the midfielder`s effort was too straight and Fraser held on. Another attack produced another chance, and this time it was really close. Lyle pressurised the defence on the right wing and after gaining possession whipped in a superb cross that was met by Russell`s volley that smashed against the crossbar. Substitute Dzierzawski went close with a powerful drive from 30-yards as Queens searched for a fourth goal. Five minutes from time, Durnan rose high above the defence from Queens corner number umpteen!! but guided his header over and not under the bar. As the game entered it`s closing stages, Queens put further gloss on their performance by scoring two further goals. Firstly striker IAIN RUSSELL completed his hat-trick when he was on hand to sweep home a fantastic right wing cross from Lewis Kidd, and then almost on the full time whistle, DEREK LYLE scored his second after having his first attempt blocked by the `keeper.
Hat-trick for Russell
Lyle strikes his second
Despite the torrential rain, Derek Lyle takes great delight in notching the fifth goal
The crowd of 939 who braved the conditions certainly would have enjoyed the goals and the performance, but against a side who have only ever won two out of fifteen league cup games, a Queens win was always going to be the most likely outcome. A good boost for Queens ahead of next week`s league opener against Alloa, capped off by a well taken hat-trick from leading scorer, Iain Russell.