Pre-season action began today with a low key defeat by the odd goal iin five at Cowdenbeath, There was an unfamiliar look about the Queens side with new signings Alan Martin, Callum Fordyce and Andy Stirling making their debuts along with trialist Brian McLean whilst another new signing Shaun Rooney was on the bench along with the familiar face of James McFadden as another trialist. Youngster Jesse Akubuine also made his first team bow. Cowdenbeath are much changed from last season also and included 8 trialists, two of whom started. They did though include Shaun Rutherford who spent a season with us two seasons ago.
The first half saw both sides carve out a couple of opportunities, with Queens more clinical finishing giving us a two goal lead. The scoring was opened after just three minutes when a wonderful pass from Stephen Dobbie fell perfectly for Andy Stirling to blast home from close range despite David McGurn's attempts to block. In the final minute of the half some excellent approach work from John Rankin saw him similarly release Dobbie to plant a second goal inside McGurn's post. In between times though Martin made one good stop and the home side also missed a couple of glaring opportunities without working the keeper.
At half time Queens switched their front two with Lyle and McFadden replacing Dobbie and Dykes. Not that the result of a friendly is ever massively important but this game turned in 60 seconds just after the hour mark. Queens should clearly have had a penalty when Andy Stirling received a two handed shove to the back in the penalty box but referee Craig Charleston waved play on and the home side broke straight up the park to pull a goal back when youngster Cameron Muirhead tucked in at the post from a cut back.
Queens immediately made another four changes as Jack Leighfield, Owen Bell, Jess Akubuine and Danny Carmichael replaced Alan Martin, Callum Tapping, Connor Murray and Andy Stirling. However, 10 minutes later, with Queens starting to get on top again, a ball over the top found young Muirhead bursting clear and he belied his inexperience with a cool finish into the corner to make it 2-2.
The final Queens change of the day saw Shaun Rooney, nursing a toe problem, given 15 minutes in place of Brian McLean. However it was the hosts who found a late winner when centre back David Syme rose unchallenged to head a corner kick powerfully past Leighfield. Queens almost grabbed a late draw when Rooney strode forward and exchanged passes with Carmichael before shooting but Cowden's young trialist goalkeeper produced a wonder save to deny him.
For our gallery of images from the match click here.
Team: Alan Martin, Scott Mercer, Jordan Marshall, Callum Fordyce, Trialist (Brian McLean), Callum Tapping, John Rankin, Andrew Stirling, Connor Murray, Lyndon Dykes, Stephen Dobbie
Subs: Jack Leighfield, Daniel Carmichael, Owen Bell, Derek Lyle, Jesse Akubuine, Trialist (James McFadden), Shaun Rooney
Referee - Craig Charleston