Tonight saw the end of our six games in the league stage of the KDM Evolution Trophy. With a big game against Ross County in the league to come on Saturday, the manager made five changes to the starting eleven from the win at Peterhead. Caleb Goldie, Liam Smith, Jack Stott and the Gaffer himself dropped to the bench while Shaun Want sat this one out. Aaron Davis, Brodie Dair, Chris McQueen, Ruari Ellis and Ben Johnstone were the players to come in.

It was the hosts who made the better start and as Daniel Handling chased down a long ball, Niall Rogerson had to be switched on to marshal him away from goal. Two minutes later Handling was on the right to delivery a teasing ball into the box but it went unchallenged and out to safety.

As they continued to push forward, they made a claim for a penalty but it wasn’t given as the ref had spotted a handball. Queens hadn’t really threatened but Zander Mackenzie did well to keep the ball as he skipped a couple of challenges on the left but couldn’t get past a third time as they cleared at the edge of the box.

Berwick were playing the long ball and it was working for them but as Greg Binnie tried to make the connection, Rogerson was there to knock it out for a corner. As the set piece was played in, Michael Mbewe was at the edge of the six yard box but headed wide. 

Queens huffed and puffed as they looked to get into the game, Dair won a corner that Mackenzie played in but it was an easy clearance for Grant Leitch.

Midway through the half Cole Coughlin pounced on a loose ball but as he squared it across the box for Connor Young, Alfie Robinson got there first. Then with just over half an hour played, Young held off three defenders before playing the ball across from the left but Mackenzie had his shot turned away.

Sixty seconds later, Young himself was inside the box but Owen Hayward saved at his feet. And ten minutes before the break, Taylor Charters tried to clear and as they got the break of the ball, Rogerson missed the challenge. Handling delivered but there was no takers.

HALF TIME: Berwick 0 Queens 0

Queens had struggled in the first half and Nicky Clark made changes at half time coming off the bench himself along with Smith.

Thirty seconds after the restart, Smith forced a save from the keeper and won his side a corner but it came to nothing. And within six minutes of the second half getting underway, the home side took the lead. Queens weren’t convincing as they looked to clear and as Clark was out muscled, Handling hit a right foot shot from outside the box to beat Deniz Mehmet at his left hand post.

As they hit back. Smith burst forward but Leitch cleared for a corner. On the hour mark, Davis picked up and injury and had to be replaced by Goldie. Queens had barely regrouped when, Kyle Somers fired a left foot shot from outside the area just wide.

Midway through the half, Rogerson found himself in the book as he gave away a free kick 19-yards out, it was Handling who took it and Mehmet tipped it over the bar. 

It was a let off for Queens and as they started to attack more, Rogerson was at the back post to meet Mackenzie ‘s free kick but the keeper saved. 

Two minutes from time, Smith made another lung bursting run through the middle but he was stopped on the 18-yard line by a well timed challenge. He wasn’t giving up though and at the end of regulation time he headed off down the right and kept the cross low to win a corner. As the ball was delivered, McQueen headed wide.

And in added on time McQueen’s ball down the channel was too strong for Goldie to catch and with the last chance of the game, Smith slipped the ball in for Young. The striker’s effort was cleared for a corner and as it was played to the edge of the area, Mackenzie dragged a right foot shot wide.

It was Queens first defeat in the challenge cup but a result that saw them miss out on a top six finish and a place amongst the seeded teams for the knockout stages of the tournament.

FULL TIME: Berwick Rangers 1 Queens 

Teams:

Berwick Rangers: Haywood, Robinson, Somers, Binnie, Handling (Barr 70), Mbewe (Gregory 85), Leitch, McConnell, Nelson, Turner & O’Connor (McCrone 85). Subs not used: Antell & Den.

Queens: Mehmet, Charters, McQueen, Mackenzie, Young, Dair, Johnstone (Clark 46), Rogerson, Coughlin (Smith 46), Ellis & Davis (Goldie 60). Subs not used: Petry, Stott, Luissint, Gray, Kelly & McColm.

Ref: Gary Hanvidge

Crowd: 304