It was back on the road as we headed to New Douglas Park to face Championship side Hamilton in the last four of the SPFL Trust Trophy. With Jack Brydon, Cammy Logan and Jaze Kabia all cup tied, Manager, Marvin Bartley was forced to make changes but also took the opportunity to freshen up the side after some high tempo performances in recent weeks.  With Brydon unavailable, he dropped out along with Calvin McGrory and Lewis Gibson who were on the bench.  They were replaced in the starting 11 by Connor Murray, Kieran McKechnie and young Ryan Muir who made his first start for the club. 

With the hosts being a league above, Queens went into the game as underdogs but they more than matched Hamilton as they made a very positive start.  Stephen Hendrie was first to test the keeper, Jamie Smith with a long ball that he dealt with well. The visitors were first to every loose ball and pushed forward but never really created a decent opening although, Michael Ruth had a left foot shot saved by the keeper. 

Then with 20 minutes on the clock they fell behind.  Lewis Smith got the better of Euan East on the right-hand side and as he cut the ball across the box, Jean Pierre Tiehi and Dario Zanatta were unmarked with the latter firing a right foot shot past Kevin Dabrowski to open the scoring. 

Minutes later, Ruari Paton wasn’t too far away with a 20-yard freekick, the striker struck it well, but it was just too high of the target. As Accies pushed, Tiehi held the line and the flagged stayed down but as he raced through Dabrowski made a great save to stop his right foot shot, with Zanatta heading over the resulting corner.  Tiehi was again involved on the half hour mark when the ball was delivered into the box, this time Paul McKay put enough pressure on him to keep him at bay.  

The home side were now creating the better chances and Dabrowski made another terrific save to tip over Scott Martin’s shot.  But Queens were still up for it and it was a real gritty and entertaining cup tie, with both sides going at it, Ruth broke into the box, but the ball was cleared before Murray could get near it and at the other end Zanatta was left free, but he turned it wide of the upright as he tried to place it in at the back post. And as the clock ticked down to half time, Paton kept it low, but his shot lacked power.  As Accies broke, Smith set up a shot, but Hendrie made a well-timed challenge to force him to fire over. 

HALF TIME:  Hamilton 1 Queens 0 

Queens could be disappointed that they were behind at the interval, but they have keeper Dabrowski to thank for making sure it wasn’t two.  Within 14 seconds of the restart, he again pushed one over the bar to keep his side in the tie.  

They were certainly still in it and giving everything, McKechnie did well on the by-line before Paton managed to get an in-swinging corner back across but there was nobody on hand to have a shot. Paton did have a shot minutes later, but the keeper got down to save his right foot curling shot.  Accies were closing down quickly and making it difficult for Queens to get the ball through with both Paton and Josh Todd marked closely.  The Irish frontman did win a free kick just outside the box, but his strike cleared the crossbar.  He also headed over from Lewis Gibson’s corner.  

As the game roared from end to end, Dabrowski bravely dived to collect as Andy Winter whipped the ball into the box and for Queens, McKechnie played the ball into the danger area for Ross Irving who with his back to goal had an acrobatic attempt. McKechnie himself, then went close before Queens did pull level as youngster, Irving cut inside to hit a curling shot high into the net.  Queens now had Accies rattled but Dabrowski made a point blank save to deny Ryan One. And with both teams looking for the winner, Todd laid the ball off for McGrory, although the substitute hit it well the keeper saved and as the home side broke the ball came across goal for Matthew Shiels who had a tap in at the post but somehow turned it wide instead.    

In the closing stages of the 90, Irving tried to curl one into the top corner but was wide and Todd’s effort took a bounce which allowed Smith who was unsighted the chance to get down to save.  

All square at the end of regulation time, it was into an extra half hour. 

The first chance of the additional period fell to Accies, as Martin headed wide of Dabrowski’s right hand post.  Then Ciaran McKenna had to clear as Sheils crossed before Dabrowski got down to save Reghan Tumilty’s low shot. And just five minutes into extra time Queens lost the ball in the middle of the park and with the defenders forward, One was clean through to slot the ball into the bottom corner to restore Accies lead.  

It knocked the stuffing out of Queens and took the sting out of the game, although Dabrowski did make another couple of saves, stretching to make a one-handed stop from Winter before making another from Chris McGinn.  

With Queens out on their feet, they’d given it everything but just fell short over the 120 minutes and missed out making it back-to-back finals. 

FULL TIME:  Hamilton 2 Queens 1