Queens pre-season started today with a 3-2 defeat to local rivals Annan at Palmerston.

Click here for the match photo gallery.

The home side started with a strong line-up, featuring most of the summers new signings:

Rae, Gibson, Trialist, Trialist, Trialist, Nditi, Connelly, Paton, Roy, Todd, Trialist.

It was the new striker, Ally Roy, who opened the scoring early in the first half with a low curling shot into the bottom corner. The move started with a good run from Roy into the channel, he picked up the ball wide left and cut inside two defenders before placing his shot across the Annan keeper.

The lead was doubled shortly after when one of four trialists made a run in behind from the right wing position. He collected the ball, calmly stepped past two defenders before smashing the ball high into the net.

The rest of the first half was uneventful. Queens looked the better side and while both sides had chances, neither troubled the opposing keeper too much.

Queens made 10 changes at half time with some of the rest of the squad, like East, Joseph and McMahon, featuring alongside a mix of trialists and youth players. Annan also made several changes at the half and it was the visitors who looked the stronger for it.

First, they hit the bar from a header when a back post corner was headed back across goal.

They then pulled a goal back when a short through ball was drilled home from just inside the box, to make the score 2-1.

The visitors equalised from the penalty spot when ex-Queens player, Aiden Smith, saw his spot kick almost saved but eventually trickle over the line for 2-2.

The striker almost gave Annan the lead shortly after but his attempted lob bounced off the top of the bar and behind.

Annan did eventually get the winner their second half display meritted when a cross to the back post was thundered home for a 2-3 lead.

Obviosuly, a game of two halves today with Queens fielding a strong team and looking good first half but the much younger and inexperienced second half line-up struggling against a stronger Annan display in the second half.

We look forward to visiting our neighbours on the 13th July for our Premier Sports Cup game.