After a few weeks without a game, the Under 16 side have been back in action. Coach, Ross Newlands rounded up their last two games for us.
“For our final game of April, the boys welcomed Alloa to Palmerston for our fourth and final meeting of the season. Previous meetings between the sides had provided plenty of goals and this one didn’t disappoint. Within the first 15 minutes both sides had scored and missed a couple of chances. Dylan Craig opened the scoring for Queens before Alloa levelled three minutes later. The home side largely controlled the first half, putting together neat passages of play. However, their reward didn’t come until the 43rd minute when Lewis White arrived at the back post to calmly finish a good move.
The second half started like the first; both sides creating some early chances. Shaun Dinnin soon made it 3 for Queens, finishing well from a cross before Lucas Jones made it 4-1. However, Alloa continued to work hard and scored a second. But Craig scored his second and Queens fifth from outside the box to restore Queens three goal cushion and complete a well-deserved victory.”
“On Sunday the boys travelled to Falkirk, a side that had proved a tough test so far and it was the home side who meant business from the off and with just nine seconds played they took the lead following sloppy defensive play. They went on to score another two to give them a 3-0 lead within the opening fifteen minutes, the latter a super finish from the edge of the box. The young Queens side finally managed to get a foothold on the game and could have reduced the deficit midway through the half but Lucas Jones shot over. He did score from with his next chance, firing home a Ben Morton cross. Just when it looked like the young side would go in two goals down, Falkirk scored on the stroke of half time. Goalkeeper, Isaac Scott pulled off a fantastic save from a free kick but couldn’t stop the rebound and the home side took a 4-1 lead at the interval.
The second half was a massive improvement from Queens as they upped their tempo in possession and worked harder without the ball. Their early pressure was rewarded when Jones grabbed his second of the game, finding the bottom corner of the net from just inside the box. With Queens on the front foot and Falkirk dangerous on the counter, it was clear the next goal would be massive in changing the momentum of the game. It was Queens who thought they were going to get that opportunity, when the impressive Jones was upended by not one, but two defenders as he dribbled in between them, both home and away players stopped in anticipation of the referee pointing to the spot. However, to the surprise and bewilderment of the entire stadium ‘play-on’ was the call. Neither side creating any more clearcut chances and the game finished 4-2. All at Queens 16s pass on their congratulations to Falkirk; their victory means that, just like the first team, they too are league champions.”
Next up for the 16s is a home game against Airdrieonians on Wednesday 7th May. Kick off 7:45