Tue 6 May 2025
Ladbrokes Championship

Queens

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Cove Rangers

It was back to Palmerston this evening as we welcomed Cove Rangers for the first leg of our Championship play-off semi-final. After juggling the squad at Arbroath on Saturday to prepare for the tie it was back to a more familiar line-up with six changes to the starting eleven. Benjamin Luissint, Lewis O’Donnell, Fraser Bryden, Josh Walker, Kyle Doherty and Jack Brydon dropped back to the bench with Harry Cochrane, Liam Smith, Kai Kennedy, Adam Brooks, Jack Hannah and Jordan Allan all coming back into the side.

It was a nervous but lively start to the game that flowed from end to end. As Allan tried to turn at the edge of the box to create an opening, the visitors hit on the counter and Jack Hannah made a timely challenge to stop Mitch Megginson early on. Smith then crossed from the right but it was just too far ahead of Allan.

Both teams were up for it and as Allan hit a back-heel flick into the path of Reece Lyon, the midfielder tried to slip it in to Brooks but it was cleared for a corner.

As Queens pressed again, Allan sneaked in but Will Gillingham was on hand to clear for a corner. It was a poorly taken set-piece by Kennedy and it allowed Paul Hartley’s side to break, but Mikey Hewitt got across to cut out the danger.

Midway through the first half, Smith showed some great skill before Nick Surman made a good block with his feet to deny him an opener. Queens had a lot of the ball but the visitors sat in and didn’t let much past and hit on the break. As a free-kick was played into the front post Lyon headed away before Kennedy hit his free-kick straight into the arms of the keeper.

With just over half an hour played, the tricky winger headed down the left but just couldn’t breakdown the rearguard and they broke again, Hannah made another great challenge inside the box to stop Megginson.

With ten minutes of the first half remaining, the defender was up the other end of the park to play a teasing ball over the top that dropped inside the six-yard box but just out of reach of Allan. It was a busy spell for the youngster who is on loan from Middlesborough and as he got back to his usual position with no one around him, he stopped the ball dead to make another clearance.

Queens were pushing but just lacked that finishing touch and as Cochrane delivered into the box, Lyon’s met it with a header, he was just short of the target and Brooks couldn’t force home the loose ball.

In added on time at the end of the first forty-five, Cochrane broke up play inside his own half before getting to Cove’s 18-yard line to hit a right foot shot. That was blocked but as he caught the rebound with a left foot volley the ball flew wide.

And with the last chance of the half, Hannah headed over a Kennedy corner.

 

HALF TIME: Queens 0 Cove Rangers 0

 

Queens made a quick start to the second half and in the opening seconds, Kennedy played it wide to Oscar MacIntyre who whipped the ball across only for Ryan Harrington to clear.

MacIntyre was involved again when he held off a challenge to get the ball out to Kennedy, this time he crossed into the box for Smith but his shot was blocked and Brooks couldn’t get onto the rebound. Kennedy then picked out Hewitt with a long cross ball but the defender didn’t have the best control and ended up hitting the side netting.

Kennedy and Brooks were passing the ball tightly and managed to squeeze it through for Allan, the keeper made a save but the flag was up anyway.

Ross Stewart had very little to do so far but was called upon on the hour mark and made a great save to tip over a Declan Glass effort. Heading into the final quarter, Smith skinned Harrington on the wing but his final ball was poor. Former Queens defender, Michael Doyle then cleared as Brooks played the ball across looking for Bryden.

Surman then made a great save to keep his side level when he got a hand on the ball to push away Kai Kennedy’s free-kick before the keeper blocked Reece Lyon’s header. And in the final minutes, Luissint who had come on to replace Brooks was unlucky as his low shot from close range was deflected wide.

The goal-less draw means it is still wide open and all to play for when the two sides meet at the Balmoral Stadium on Saturday.

 

FULL TIME: Queens 0 Cove Rangers 0
 

  • 1
    Stewart
  • 2
    Hewitt
    (Sub1)
  • 5
    Douglas
  • 16
    Hannah
  • 22
    MacIntyre
  • 7
    Smith
  • 6
    Cochrane
    (Sub4)
  • 4
    Lyon
  • 10
    Kennedy
  • 29
    Allan
    (Sub2)
  • 12
    Brooks
    (Sub3)

Subs

20
Johnson
8
Luissint
Sub3-77
17
O`Donnell
Sub4-85
18
Charters
Sub1-66
19
Bryden
Sub2-66
23
Walker
35
Brydon
 
For Real Time Updates Go To Our Updates Page
First half begins |0-0
1%27 The first leg of our play-off semi-final against Cove Rangers gets underway here at Palmerston Park! |0-0
8%27 Both sides trying to calm the game down and get a foot on the ball in the opening stages. |0-0
10%27 What a tackle from Jack Hannah as he prevents what looked like a certain goal! |0-0
11%27 Gillingham heads wide from a Cove cross. |0-0
12%27 Hewitt splits the Cove defence with a searching pass but Allan can`t quite get on the end of it! |0-0
15%27 Douglas chips one in behind but it runs out just before Kennedy can get his cross into the danger area. A break in play now as Fyvie receives treatment. |0-0
19%27 Reece Lyon can`t quite get the ball out his feet to get the shot away on the edge of the box, but the midfielder wins a corner! |0-0
20%27 Matty Douglas rises highest from the corner, but the referee gives a free-kick for a shirt-pull. |0-0
22%27 Jordan Allan bursts into the area but his low cross is blocked for another corner. |0-0
23%27 Cove with a chance as Emslie`s strike is pushed away by Stewart. |0-0
25%27 Smith nearly gives Queens the lead! The winger wins the ball well before driving into the box, but his shot is saved by Surman! |0-0
28%27 Kennedy whips a dangerous cross in but it`s held-well by Surman. |0-0
32%27 Jack Hannah once again! What a challenge as Megginson ran in one-on-one! |0-0
35%27 Marshall is down receiving treatment, giving both sides a chance to take some water in. |0-0
42%27 Fyvie gets down the right-wing but skies his shot high and wide. |0-0
43%27 What a chance for the Doonhamers as Cochrane sends in a dangerous cross to Lyon, but the midfielders header can`t find the back of the net! |0-0
43%27 SUBSTITUTION Cove Rangers: Fyvie OFF REPLACED BY Glass |0-0
46%27 Three minutes have been added on to the first-half. |0-0
47%27 Harry Cochrane has a volley at goal but it fizzes wide! |0-0
49%27 Allan does well to win a corner for one final chance before the half-time break. |0-0
First half ends |0-0
Second half begins |0-0
46%27 The second-half gets underway! |0-0
46%27 MacIntyre (QOS) is booked |0-0
48%27 Great link-up play from Allan and Brooks nearly releases Kennedy but it`s well cleared! |0-0
51%27 MacIntyre sends Kennedy racing down the wing and his cross finds Smith, but the wingers shot is blocked! |0-0
52%27 Kennedy brings a searching pass out the air brilliantly before switching the play to Hewitt, but the full-back`s first touch lets him down. |0-0
55%27 Smith slips it through to Allan but the striker is flagged for offside as Surman smothers at his feet! |0-0
56%27 Megginson with the long-range effort but it`s tame and runs through to Stewart. |0-0
56%27 Marshall (Cove Rangers) is booked |0-0
58%27 Sublime save from Ross Stewart as Glass looked certain to score! |0-0
61%27 Megginson tries to poke a strike home from a powerful cross but it sails over. |0-0
62%27 Another dangerous cross from Kennedy causes panic in the Cove box but they eventually clear! |0-0
65%27 SUBSTITUTION QOS: Allan OFF REPLACED BY Bryden |0-0
65%27 SUBSTITUTION QOS: Hewitt OFF REPLACED BY Charters |0-0
68%27 Brilliant play from Smith as he escapes down the right but his cut-back can`t find a blue shirt! |0-0
70%27 Glass with a speculative 45-yard attempt on goal but it sails wide. |0-0
75%27 Free-kick in a dangerous area for the Doonhamers as Bryden is brought down. |0-0
78%27 Kennedy with a wonderful free-kick but it`s a great save in return from Surman. The ball comes back out to Kennedy who whips a cross on Lyon`s head but it is held by the Cove keeper. |0-0
78%27 SUBSTITUTION QOS: Brooks OFF REPLACED BY Luissint |0-0
80%27 Emslie floats a dangerous ball to the back-post but it curls just past the post. |0-0
84%27 So close from the Doonhamers yet again but Lyon`s header bounces wide! |0-0
85%27 SUBSTITUTION QOS: Cochrane OFF REPLACED BY O`Donnell |0-0
87%27 Luissint so nearly puts Queens in the lead but it`s deflected inches wide of the post! |0-0
88%27 Hannah goes down in the box after a clash of heads. |0-0
90%27 A minimum of 4 minutes have been added on as extra-time. |0-0
The game ends |0-0
Full Time All to play for in the second leg of our play-off semi-final. We`ll see you on Saturday at the Balmoral Stadium. |0-0