Queens completed their pre-season friendly fixtures with a comfortable 5-1 victory against a Rotherham side that was made up of players from the English teams Development squad. After going behind early on, Queens recovered well, and were certainly well worth their victory against a side who began brightly, but faded as the match wore on. 

     There was little sign in the early stages of the game that Queens would have as comfortable a game as it turned out to be, as it was the visitors who started the contest on the front foot with Alex Wiles hitting a drive from 25-yards out that was well saved by Zander Clark, the Queens `keeper diving to his left to turn the effort away for a corner. However, from the resulting set-piece, sloppy defending allowed Rowe the simple chance of guiding the ball into the net from close range to give the visitors the lead. The heavy downpour that preceded the kick-off led to the conditions being a bit tricky, but the teams seemed to cope well and there was some entertaining football on show from both sides.

 

Zander makes a great save early on

 

     Queens formation of 4-2-3-1 had an attacking look about it with Iain Russell, and Danny Carmichael playing either side of Michael Paton, with new signing, John Baird playing as the lone striker. After falling behind, Queens slowly worked their way into the game and the promptings of both Ian McShane, and Kevin Dzierzawski, from midfield saw the home side do the majority of the attacking, although most of the attacks ended with efforts from distance. Both Dzierzawski, and Paton, saw their attempts go well wide of the target, and again Dzierzawski was wide of the mark after good work from the lively Baird had created the opportunity for the American.

 

Quality performance from Dzierzawski in the middle

     

Little had been seen of the visitors as an attacking force since the opening minutes, and as Queens continued to dominate it seemed as though an equaliser was not far away. Another good move involving Baird and Russell almost provided the goal that Queens` play deserved, but as Russell`s cross arrived in the box, Baird and Paton got in a muddle and between them they combined to miss the chance. However, almost on the stroke of half-time, the home side drew level. A break down the left saw Kevin Holt find room for a cross and his accurate delivery was guided home at the near post by JOHN BAIRD, his header giving `keeper Thompson, no chance.

 

Baird celebrates his goal

 

HALF-TIME QUEENS 1-1 ROTHERHAM

 

Queens began the second period at a higher tempo and some of their slick, quick passing was proving to be too much for the young Rotherham side, and it was no surprise to see that most of the action was directed towards the visitors goal. The hosts had a really big chance to take the lead early in the half, but following a neat move involving Baird and Paton, Queens` new striker was just a fraction or so offside as he latched onto Paton`s pass, and although he produced a neat close range finish, the goal was rightly disallowed. That disappointment should have been cast aside minutes later when Danny Carmichael found Russell unmarked and he in turn found Baird 10-yards out, but with the goal at his mercy the striker hesitated and that allowed Rowe the chance to block his shot.

 

    Having gone close to taking the lead on several occasions, Queens continued to make all the chances, and once again the very impressive Baird was right at the heart of the action. Firstly he played a nice `one-two` with Dzierzawski who had his shot well saved, and in the very next attack, he started and ended the move which saw Queens go in front. Having collected the ball in midfield, his cushioned lay off into the path of Russell allowed Queens to break down the left, and when Russell`s pass found Holt on the overlap the full back once again picked out a perfect cross that saw JOHN BAIRD end a decent move with a calm close range finish. Queens then made no less than seven changes with Reilly,Slattery, Graham,Kidd,Dean Smith,Lyle,and Hooper, replacing Durnan,Carmichael, Baird, Paton,Holt, Russell and McShane, and minutes after the substitutions, three of them combined very well to increase the lead. A swift counter attack led by Dean Smith down the left saw the youngster race some 40-yards unopposed before delivering a fine cross field ball into the path of Connor Graham, and he in turn was able to roll the ball inside to DEREK LYLEwho stroked the ball home.

 

Lyle taps home

 

    With the youngsters from Rotherham clearly showing signs of fatigue, Queens extra match sharpness was clearly visible, and after 77 minutes they added a fourth goal when DEREK LYLE powered home a header from Lewis Kidd`s left wing corner. Just three minutes later the home side rounded off an impressive second half when they scored again. Lyle won the ball in midfield and his pass found Graham in acres of space on the right and his accurate cross fell nicely for LEWIS KIDD to finish well.

 

Kidd enjoyed his goal

 

     A good workout for Queens with some decent performances and all of this on another new surface, which by the way, looks much, much better than the previous one.