It was back to Stair Park for another cup game against Stranraer, having played them in the League Cup earlier in the season, it was now time to face them in the fifth of our KDM Evolution Trophy matches. As per previous games in the competition the manager took the opportunity to rotate the squad and made five changes to the side that started against Alloa. Jack Hannah, Brennan Dickenson and Callum Penman were all missing while Liam Smith and Zander Mackenzie dropped to the bench. Meaning starts for Taylor Charters, Ben Johnstone, Niall Rogerson, Freddie ODonoghue and a debut for Kian Leslie.
There were a couple of early half chances for Queens but ODonoghue and Jack Stotts shots were blocked. And as Matty Douglas won a free-kick right on the edge of the box, Leslie delivered to the front post for Mikey Hewitt, as he tried to bundle the ball home, Josh Lane managed to take control and hold on the line.
Aaron Quigg who scored the only goal of the game when we played each other in July, almost opened the scoring this time round with a header that came back off the crossbar.
After the opening ten minutes, goalmouth chances were limited and it wasnt until midway through the half that we came close to seeing an opener. Leslie who had made a decent impact on the wing, floated the ball into the area from the right-hand side but nobody could get on the end of it.
At the other end James Dolan played a low ball into the box but Rogerson did well to clear.
The game was lacking any real quality and needed a goal to create a spark. With just over half an hour played, Ryan Edgar made his way into the box where Ross Stewart made a good block but even if Edgar had been able to finish, the offside flag was up.
In the final ten minutes of the first half Queens won a corner when ODonoghue headed a Reece Lyon cross back towards goal, that came to nothing. And as Stranraer pushed Stewart made a terrific save to tip away Jordan Stuarts 20-yard effort.
On the stroke of half-time, Charters tried to lift the ball over the keeper but was too high and in added on time, the home side claimed for a penalty when Sullu Turay made his way into the box and Stewart took the ball from his feet. Both players were left on the ground needing treatment but thankfully both were able to carry on.
HALF TIME: Stranraer 0 Queens 0
Within the opening five minutes of the restart, Queens had a penalty claim of their own, when Douglas went down in the six-yard box. That wasnt given and as play carried on Rogerson was unlucky with a header that came off the woodwork.
It was a positive start to the second half from the visitors and as Leslie played a great ball into the middle of the box, Hewitt rose to head but didnt get enough power behind it.
As the hosts came back into the game, Finn Ecrepont hit a powerful strike from the edge of the box. Rogerson took the full force of the shot in his mid-rift to block before Stewart saved from Stuart.
With both sides looking for a breakthrough the game started to open up and Stott had a shot blocked by Scot Rough at the edge of the area, before Leslie fired just wide from distance.
On the hour mark it was the hosts who opened the scoring. As Douglas and Stewart played the ball around at the back, Turay was fast and homed in on the keeper, as he went to kick the ball clear, it came off the strikers heel and spun over the line. It wasnt the cleanest of goals but certainly didnt cover Queens in glory.
Frustration started to creep in and a scuffle broke out on the touchline when the home players objected to Kennedys challenge on Turay. Three players were booked in the mele, Kennedy for the challenge, Quigg who raised his hands to push Kennedy to the ground and Lyon who reacted to the push.
Things settled down and with fifteen minutes remaining, Charters made a break through the middle and played the ball forward for Billy Gray but with the youngster in an offside position he didnt chase the ball and the move broke down.
A minute later, Kennedy floated the ball into the box for Douglas to head on but Lane got there ahead of Rogerson to collect. And at the other end, Dolan hit a right foot shot from 18-yards just over.
The goal had lifted the Blues and as they were on the up, Kirk McKnight got the better of Lyon to set up a chance for Deryn Lang but Stewart saved.
As Queens made a break, Gray played the ball along the edge of the box for Johnstone but the defender made a good challenge before he could have the shot.
Sixty seconds later it was Rogerson who made a great tackle at the other end to halt Turay after Lang had laid the ball off for the goal-scorer. Lang himself was then crowded out by Douglas and Rogerson as he looked for a second to secure the win.
But two minutes from time, against the run of play, it was Queens who scored. Cole Burke delivered the ball into the six-yard area from the left to Smith who caught it on the volley. Lane made a block with his feet to deny the substitute but as the ball spun back into play, it was Smith who reacted the quickest and from a tight angle placed the ball over the keeper to pull Queens level and rescue a point.
FULL TIME: Stranraer 1 Queens 1