Derek Lyle grabbed a hat-trick as Queen of the South saw off local rivals Annan Athletic 3-0 at Palmerston Park in the League Cup First Round.
This was the first meeting between the two clubs in senior competitive football and the League Two side defended stoutly for much of the tie and reduced Queens to few chances before the turning point in the match on 57 minutes. Annan`s Peter Watson picked up a second yellow card following a late challenge on Iain Russell and Queens made the extra man count immediately as Derek Lyle headed the home side in front within a minute. Lyle made it two on 66 minutes as he followed in Michael Paton`s fierce shot before bagging his hat-trick with another header just two minutes later.
Queens manager Jim McIntyre said: “It was a close game. I think we dominated the first 30 minutes and we had a good couple of opportunities to score from headers but it was a tight game. I thought Annan played very well and they were compact. The last fifteen minutes of the [first] half we got a bit sloppy in possession of the ball which gave them a wee lift and they had a couple of opportunities.
“We`ve lived dangerously there but in any game there`s always a turning point and I felt that Callum [Antell]`s save was a turning point. You need it when you`re goalie`s not been involved a lot and he has to make a crucial save and he’s done that.
“It was a fabulous hat-trick from Derek Lyle. A real top, top first goal with fantastic delivery and a great finish. Great timing of his run and then the hunger to go and get his next one, a wee rebound off the `keeper and he`s in on it so it was pleasing to see that.
“He`s a fantastic professional, he gives you his lot every day in training and he`s a great example to the kids coming through here. He`s in fantastic condition and he really looks after his body and long may that scoring streak continue.”
Derek Lyle`s tremendous hat-trick was his first for the club and for him was extra special:
“[The hat-trick] means a lot to me because it was my Dad`s brother`s wedding today and I missed it obviously with the game today. My Dad doesn`t usually miss any games and he missed the game today so it was a wee bit special. I think the ball could be getting headered about the wedding party tonight!
“That`s my first for Queens, that I can remember anyway. We knew that they would make it hard with beating Morton last week. We knew it wasn`t going to be a walkover and in the second half our `keeper’s made a great save at nothing each that maybe changed the game. With them getting a man sent gave gave us a bit more space in the box.
“I think I only really had three chances but it was just one of those games when I got the chances I was able to put them away.
“I`ve kept myself fit through the summer and I like doing the boxing training so I`ve stuck to doing that and I got a full pre-season under my belt. Last season I did my calf so I didn`t really get a full pre-season and I feel fitter this year. I just hope that continues and I keep getting goals.”
