Lesser Hampden was the venue for our final group G league cup match with Queens Park the hosts.
The Gaffer made two changes to the starting eleven that faced East Fife in midweek, with Kyle McLelland and Harry Cochrane both returning from suspension and Lee Connelly and Harvey Walker both dropping to the bench. Daniel Church and Lewis Gibson were also amongst the substitutes as they make their way back from injury and with Murray Johnson ill, Charlie Cowie was an emergency recall from Gretna as backup goalie.
It was the hosts who had the first attempt on goal after two minutes when Jack Turner hit a right foot shot low but was just off target. Our first attempt on goal came five minutes later when Paul McKay did well down the right to get the ball across for Gavin Reilly but his shot was saved by Callan McKenna.
Next it was former Queens front man Ruari Paton who tried to slip through but McLelland made a well-timed challenge to halt him at the edge of the area. It was the home side who tried again but as Dom Thomas drove in from the left, Jordan Houston did well to clear.
Dumfries Queens were well in the game and as Cammy Logan made his way through the middle his right foot shot was parried by the keeper. Reegan Mimnaugh delivered the corner but Reilly headed wide.
Midway through the first half Thomas again raced towards the box but this time the ball was cleared by McKay. And with just over half an hour gone, Kieran McKechnie did have the ball in the net but it didnt count. Cochrane blocked a clearance to set up the frontman, who rounded the goalie to finish, only for the near side assistant to raise his flag for offside.
There was a let off at the other end as Thomas almost punished a poor Houston clearance. As the winger looked to take advantage his effort was tipped onto the crossbar by Gordon Botterill.
It was a decent end to end and even cup tie and Charlie Fox blocked at the edge of the box from McKechnie, while Thomsons powerful right foot shot cleared the crossbar and Thomas fired over for the home side.
HALF TIME: Queens Park 0 Queens 0
Two minutes after the restart, the hosts were reduced to ten men when Fox was shown a straight red card for bringing down Reilly and preventing a goal-scoring opportunity.
It didnt hamper them much as they continued to push forward, Barry Hepburn crossed for Louis Longridge, but he couldnt get enough curl on the ball to get it on target. And then as Logan slipped, Paton passed for Thomas but McLelland made another good challenge.
Queens were working hard and were rewarded after 65 minutes when Josh Todd made a great run down the left, his ball into the box was met by Reilly who slotted home the opening goal.
The Glasgow Queens were desperate to get back into it and McKay headed clear Thomas free-kick before Thomas Robsons low shot was deflected for a corner.
Cochrane gave Queens some breathing space midway through the half as he did well to shut down the clearance from the keeper to take it round him and into the net. Then with just over ten minutes remaining, Reilly looked to extend the advantage when he made a run through only for the defence to stop his attempt on goal. Connelly picked up the second ball but Alex Bannon also blocked.
The home side were handed a life line seven minutes from time when Liam McLeish was fouled inside the box by Houston and Grant Irvine pointed to the spot. Paton stepped up to take the penalty but Botterill made a terrific save to keep the visitors two ahead.
The lead was reduced with a minute to go when Queens failed to clear the ball properly and it fell to Aaron Healy who hit a great strike into the bottom right hand corner.
It gave the home side hope and as Cochrane gave away a free-kick 20 yards from goal, Botterill collected comfortably and in added on time the flag stayed down as Paton looked well offside but the striker dragged his right foot side wide of the upright.
The win sees us finish second in the group, unbeaten on 8 points but unfortunately not enough to qualify for the knockout stages.
FULL TIME: Queens Park 1 Queens 2