Manager Wullie Gibson made three changes for the cup tie away at Alloa. Iain Wilson and Gavin Reilly were ill while Paul McKay sat this one out as a precaution after picking up a knock. Their absence meant starts for Harry Cochrane, Ross Irving and the Gaffer himself.
Like the last visit to the Indodrill, Queens made a great start, taking the lead after just two minutes when Lee Connelly waltzed through the middle to hit a low ball into the bottom corner to the keepers left hand side.
Four minutes later, Connelly was again through as he held off the first challenge but couldnt control the ball properly with his second touch and Andy Graham cleared. Queens were dominant and as Ciaran McKenna laid the ball back for Cochrane, the midfielder knocked Graham off his feet as he blasted the ball towards goal. The defender landed on the deck but did his job as the ball went out for a corner.
Alloa stepped it up and came more into the game with Steven Buchanan testing Max Currie before Adam King pulled them level with a 25-yard effort that flew past Currie low to his left.
As Queens tried to restore the advantage Josh Todd played it wide to Ruari Paton but his shot was blocked and then Irving did well, but his final ball didnt reach Paton. Connelly then played the ball over the top but that was cleared before Wullie Gibsons delivery was well wide. Queens were playing the better football, but Alloa were direct and caused a few problems and Currie had to get down low to save from Ross MacIver. Ten minutes before the break Graham again saved his side as he cleared Patons header off the line.
In the closing stages of the first half, the visitors claimed for handball as Lewis Gibsons fired the ball into the box before Kevin Cawley gave the hosts the lead with a good finish from long range that flew past Currie into the top corner.
HALF TIME: Alloa 2 Queens 1
Having taken an early lead, Queens found themselves behind but were back level three minutes into the second half. McKenna got on the end of Todds cross to head the ball past Jay Hogarth.
It was a decent cup tie and Conor Sammon headed over from close range before Todd tried a shot from distance that Hogarth collected. Buchanan then had a chance blocked before Patons effort came back off the upright. And on the hour mark, as Sammon played the ball over the top, King set up a corner after the ref decided McKenna got the final touch. As the set piece was played in former Queens defender Mark Durnan who had come on as a half time substitute headed the ball off the underside of the crossbar. Midway through the half, Currie made a good save to deny MacIver before Bradley Rodden headed over.
With the game hanging in the balance, Michael Ruth turned at the edge of the box after a good run by Gibson senior, but the forwards shot was just high of the target. Two minutes later the game swung in Queens favour, as Connelly twisted and turned inside the box, he was dragged to the ground by Durnan. It was Lee who took the spot kick himself and fired a right foot kick into the net with Hogarth going the wrong way.
Sammon had a good chance to bring Alloa back into it but as he tried to lift it over Currie the ball dropped into the keepers arms. Stephen Hendrie then made a well-timed challenge to stop the big striker before Queens put the game beyond doubt. As they broke up the park, young Gibson hit a tremendous right foot shot that crashed off the bar, but captain Todd was on hand to head home the rebound to give Queens a two-goal advantage.
With minutes remaining, Connelly going for a hat-trick couldnt get enough curl on an effort as he aimed for the top corner and at the other end Durnans header was cleared off the line by Lewis Gibson.
FULL TIME: Alloa 2 Queens 4