Our second league cup tie in group G saw us make the long trip north to Elgin City. After Tuesday nights opener against Motherwell, the manager made two changes to the starting eleven with Lee Connelly and Gordon Botterill dropping to the bench with starts for Josh Todd and goalkeeper Murray Johnson.
The home side pressed early but couldnt get it into the area to cause any danger. Queens quickly settled and with four minutes on the clock Kieran McKechnie started a move that found Craig McGuffie at the edge of the box, his shot was blocked before Todds effort was also cleared.
Two minutes later the captain sent in a cross from the right, but Daniel Hoban collected well.
At the other end as the ball fell nicely for Matty Jamieson, Johnson saved his right foot effort that he kept low. With quarter of an hour played Elgin did have the ball in the net but the flag was up on the far side. And within a minute Queens took the lead.
McKechnie won a free kick near the by-line and as Reegan Mimnaugh played it short back into the path of McKechnie, he unleashed a right foot shot past Hoban.
Midway through the first half Paul McKay almost doubled the lead as he got on the end of Mimnaughs corner, but the defenders header was just wide of the upright. The visitors were on the front foot and a short time later they won another corner, this time from the opposite side and as the ball was played in, Kyle McLelland fired over.
Queens were driving forward but the hosts looked dangerous on the break and Owen Cairns low shot across goal had Johnson diving to turn it wide. McGuffie made a break and as he tried to find McKechnie, Rory Macean got a foot on it to clear, he did get lucky with the clearance as it couldve landed anywhere.
It was still Queens in control and from another short set piece McGuffie dragged a left foot shot wide of the keepers left-hand post. McGuffie then spotted Hoban off his line and from just inside the halfway line hit a left foot effort that was heading for the empty net only for the keeper to recover and collect.
As they looked for a second Gavin Reilly and McKechnie combined to set up a chance for Mimnaugh inside the six-yard box but they home side managed to block.
And with minutes of the first half remaining, Todd headed the ball back across the 18-yard box to McGuffie who caught it on the volley, but Hoban saved. And on the stroke of half time Todd played a great splitting pass for McKechnie to cross but Reilly couldnt connect at the post.
HALF TIME: ELGIN CITY 0 QUEENS 1
Into the second half and in the early stages it was still Queens who looked likely to score. Hoban tipped an effort by Todd over the bar before Reilly was just wide from 30 yards. It was a bit scrappy for a while but midway through the half Jordan Houston stung the hands of the keeper from 20 yards and with the ball spilled, Mimnaugh was stretching but couldnt connect properly and cleared the bar.
As Ross Drapers side challenged, McLelland was booked for a challenge on Macean and picked up a second minutes later for bringing down the same player 20 yards out.
Down to ten men, the Gaffer made changes and with Connelly coming off the bench his first taste of the action was to hold off Blair McKenzie to get the ball across for Reilly, but the flag was up.
Liam Harvey passed up a golden opportunity to level as he was unmarked inside the six-yard box but blasted wide.
McKay wrapped up the win in the final minute as he headed home Mimnaughs corner. Although the victory was secured, Connelly looked to add a third when he looked up to hit a shot from 40 yards only for it to rebound off the crossbar.
FULL TIME: ELGIN CITY 0 QUEENS 2