Queen of the South travelled to Motherwell under the beautiful Scottish sun in our third game of the Premier Sports Cup this season. It wasn?t to be for the young Queens team though, who lost to their vastly more experienced opposition by the odd goal in five.

 

The only change from the side that defeated Annan with ease was enforced. Calvin McGrory picking up two bookings from the opening two games meant that he was suspended with Josh Todd returning to the team to take his place.

 

 

Motherwell`s side featured Euro 2020 hero Stephen O`Donnell at right-back, although it goes without saying that he was only the second best full-back on show at Fir Park. Former Doonhamer Barry Maguire started in midfield for the Steelmen and there was a place on the bench for Max Johnston, the son of Queens manager Allan Johnston.

 

Unsurprisingly it was Motherwell who saw the vast majority of the possession in the opening moments of the game. Queens` 3-4-1-2 formation was resembling more of a 5-4-1 with Ally Roy dropping into midfield to help out.

 

Dean Cornelius created the first half-chance of the game after nice play between the midfielder and Tony Watt sent Cornelius through on goal. The 20-year-old opted to pass rather than shoot though, allowing Roberto Nditi to clear.

 

The Doonhamers began to grow into the game at the 10 minute mark with Lee Connelly doing what he does best and whipping in some dangerous crosses, albeit they were dealt with well by Ricki Lamie.

 

Livewire Connelly in action

 

Queens created their first real chance 14 minutes into the game after Ruari Paton laid off to Niyah Joseph on the edge of the box, but the young midfielder placed his effort over the bar.

 

It was the away side who were probing again on 19 minutes after Ruben Soares Junior got his first feel of the ball. The English striker held the ball up before beating his man and then laying off to Roy in the box. Roy`s effort flew narrowly wide of the far post though, albeit it was from a tight angle.

 

Kevin Van Veen was the first player to test Josh Rae but the former Peterhead shot-stopper held the strikers effort well.

 

Joseph tried his luck again from range on the half hour mark but it didn`t trouble Liam Kelly in the Motherwell goal.

 

The Steelmen possession meant that they were always going to carve out chances. A looped ball over the top found Tony Watt, whose touch was ridiculously good to get past Nditi, before Euan East?s covering run prevented any shot on goal from the ex-Celtic man.

 

Van Veen tested his luck again on 36 minutes, glancing a header goal wards from an O`Donnell cross, only for Rae to gather down to his left.

 

The `Well kept pressing and probably should have taken the lead on 38 minutes. A rare loose pass from Dunn was cut-out in midfield by Liam Donnelly, who played in Watt, only for the forward to smash his effort off the bar.

 

And the hosts were made to pay for their slack finishing.

 

Junior bought a free-kick on the right hand side, before Connelly`s cross was met by East. The makeshift centre-back nodded down to Ruari Paton, who made no mistake in slotting past Kelly from an exceptionally tight angle.

 

Paton nets from an acute angle

Celebration specialist

 

Queens` goal certainly wasn`t undeserved, albeit it came during what was Motherwell`s best minutes of the opening period.

 

Despite pressing on for a quick equaliser though, it was Queens again who went forward and found the back of the net.

 

After receiving the ball 20 yards from goal, Ruari Paton struck a low shot towards Kelly, only for his effort to deflect into the back of the net off Ally Roy.

 

Paton strikes his second

The ball heads into the back of the net

 

 

A brilliant first-half from Queens who arguably weren?t even at their best. Nonetheless Paton`s brilliant brace meant Queens were two up and cruising at half-time.

 

It wasn`t going to be smooth sailing in the second half though

 

The second-half couldn`t have got off to a worse start for the visitors though as Tony Watt halved the deficit from a corner. The cross into the box was knocked down to Watt, who tapped home from close range, despite East being down with a clear head injury.

 

East gets crushed but play goes on and the home team get a goal back

 

Van Veen passed up a good chance to equalise for the home team after an hour, using his strength well to fend off Dunn, but he was only able to shot well over the bar.

 

The hosts continued to probe in desperate search of a leveller, but the young Queens back-line were holding strong.

 

Van Veen passed up another good opportunity from inside the box, his low shot was blocked on the goalline by the exceptional East, before Rae gratefully collected.

 

The one-way traffic continued in the final quarter of the game with Queens not able to get out of their own box.

 

And the pressure told after 72 minutes as Steven Lawless` cross was met by Ricki Lamie, who made no mistake in nodding past the helpless Rae.

 

Lami heads the equaliser

 

Things went from bad to worse after 75 minutes as Motherwell took the lead. After Rae made a magnificent save from Van Veen, substitute Kaiyne Woolery put the hosts ahead after his shot was deflected, completely wrong footing the `keeper.

 

In truth, it had been coming. Against a tiring Queens team, the majority of which were playing their third 90 minutes in just seven days, the Premiership outfit showed their class.

 

The Doonhamers didn`t go down without a fight though, they kept pressing on and searching for a goal to keep their faint hopes of qualification in the cup alive.

 

Junior is denied by Kelly

 

Van Veen`s goalless day continued, his final effort of the game being well cleared off of the line by Gibson, before being replaced by defender Nathan McGinley.

 

Dom McMahon came on for a cameo appearance, replacing Joseph, before referee Euan Anderson blew his whistle for the final time.

 

 

A spirited performance from this young, exciting Queens side, but it wasn`t to be as Motherwell continued their perfect start to the Premier Sports Cup.