Queen of the South?s 2021/22 Premier Sports Cup campaign got underway today as we hosted Queens Park, again. And for the umpteenth meeting in a row between the sides it was the visiting side who took the spoils, with Callum Biggar?s second half strike enough to take all three points on the day that saw Queens fans return to Palmerston.

 

Fans back and new floodlights installed

 

The hosts had six debutants playing with Joshua Rae, Alex Cooper, Roberto Nditi, Lee Connelly, Ruben Soares-Junior and Ruari Paton all starting. There was a third debut for Josh Todd in the middle of the park as Euan East was tasked partnering Nditi at centre-half, while Wullie Gibson took the armband at right-back.

 

 

It was the home team who were the better of the sides in the opening period of the game. Niyah Joseph was the man that seemed to be at the heart of everything created by the Doonhamers.

 

Connelly tested his luck first up, his tame effort being saved by Willie Muir before his curling strike from 20-yards never quite bended enough to come inside of the post.

 

Connelly bends an effort just wide

 

Without creating any clear cut chances, the South were well on top. Junior had a header well saved by Muir as both Calvin McGrory and Joseph were booked in the opening quarter of the game.

 

McGrory puts in a tackle that earned him a yellow card

 

Lewis Moore had the first effort of the match for the away team but after seeing his first effort blocked, his second drifted just wide of the post.

 

Junior, who showed exceptional strength and power throughout the match, reached the by-line on the left before firing a ball across the face of the goal. It only needed a touch from anyone to find the back of the net, but Tommy Robson was on hand at the back post to clear.

 

Connelly tried his luck again from range, but once more his effort didn?t quite bend enough to hit the back of the net.

 

 

A first-half largely dominated by the South, albeit Queens Park had possession, they never really created anything of note bar Moore?s chance. Junior was winning everything in the air with Connolly looking dangerous on the wing.

 

The second-half started with Queens Park the better of the two sides. From the outset it was Callum Biggar at the heart of all the good work, and it was the Queens Park apprentice that put the away side ahead. A deep cross from the right was well cleared by Nditi, but his header found Biggar on the edge of the area to knock home via the post.

 

In off the post for the winner by Biggar

 

It was a harsh lesson in finishing from the Spiders after the hosts had the majority of chances in the opening period.

 

And the Doonhamers would have been level after 65 minutes had it not been for the outside of the post.

 

A hopeful Nditi clearance was chased down by Junior, but his left footed volley struck the outside of the post as the big striker tumbled over the advertising hoardings.

 

That was really as good as it got the home side, who looked tired as the game went on. A debut for Ally Roy and a 15 minute cameo from Dom McMahon couldn?t turn things in the South?s favour, despite their best efforts.

 

 

A disappointing defeat but plenty of positives can be taken from today?s performance. A squad of 18 that only had four players aged over 21, seven debuts, an impressive showing from our new number 49 and of course another step on our return to normality as Queens fans descended on Palmerston for the fist time in 497 days.

Special mention to Euan East, who was tasked with deputising in a position completely alien to him, but he was exceptional all day next to new-boy Nditi.