A last minute push which saw Queen’s hitting the bar and post in the final seconds of the game wasn’t enough to win the game for the Spiders
Queen’s made the journey North to Methil to play East Fife in their sixth SWLP2 game of the season. The last time the two sides met, in September, Queen’s ran out 5-1 winners. Currently Queen’s sit one place above East Fife in SWPL2 in seventh place with East Fife in eighth.
Head coach Craig Joyce made four changes from the starting eleven who played Rangers two weeks ago, Chloe Gibney, Hannah Fulton, Lauren Chisholm and Leah Daly return to the starting line up in place of Lauren Grant, Lauren Ray, Nicole Cairney and Jaya Gill, who all take their place on the bench.
Given that Bayview Park is located right next to the North Sea is came as no surprise that a strong wind was blowing down the park when the players emerged from the tunnel.
Queen’s kicked off into the breeze. In the opening 15 minutes they dominated play, moving the ball across the big Bayview pitch looking for gaps in the East Fife defence.
East Fife then started to get a toehold in the game and started to made inroads into the Queen’s half. They also had a couple of shots on goal.
In the 18th minute East Fife opened the scoring. The Methil side were awarded a free kick wide on the right side. The ball was played into Queen’s box and a corner was the result. The corner was hit long to the back post and flew straight into the net without a defender or attacker being involved
Queen’s battled to get back in the game. Yasmin Boyce and Lauren Chisholm were winning the midfield duels, but too often the final ball was either into the wrong place or overhit. Leah Daly was getting some success down the right wing but the final ball in was lacking.
Half time: East Fife 1 Queen’s Park 0
Queen’s started the second half very determined. The pushed East Fife back and kept them there.
In the 52nd minute Ellie Kane drove through the East Fife midfield and played a superb diagonal ball to Lauren Chisholm, who was caught just offside. A good move early in the second half.
A minute later Abby Callaghan robbed an East Fife defender and had a shot on goal which the keeper easily dealt with
In the 60th minute Queen’s made their first substitution of the day replacing Chisholm with Cairney. And two minutes later that substitution almost made an impact when Nicole Cairney was played in after good work by Leah Daly and Abby Callaghan. Nicole beat a defender and hit in a shot to test the East Fife keeper.
It was really one way traffic now with Queen’s pushing to get back on level terms. The Spiders were looking to play balls behind the East Fife defence for forwards to run onto, but too often the ball ran through to the keeper.
In the 72nd minute Queen’s replaced Fraser with McDonald.
Abby Callaghan has a great chance to score two minutes later, Lia Tweedie picked up a poor clearance, played the ball to Abby who took one touch before having a shot which narrowly missed the near post.
In the 80th minute Queen’s replaced Boyce with Gill.
In the 82nd minute Queen’s got the equaliser. Taylor Davis received a pass just inside the East Fife half, drove forward and played a ball into the East Fife box from 30 yards out. The cross was deflected by a defender past the keeper into the net.
Queen’s turned up the pressure in the final five minutes of the game and it nearly paid off. In the dying seconds of the game Lia Tweedie met a cross from Abbi McDonald from wide right. Lia’s header hit the bar then the upright before being cleared from the path of Abby Callaghan.
Full time: East Fife 1 Queen’s Park 1
Queen’s Park: Chloe Gibney, Alex Fraser (Abbi McDonald 72’), Ellie Kane, Eleanor Smith, Taylor Davis, Hannah Fulton, Yasmin Boyce (Jaya Gill 80’), Lauren Chisholm (Nicole Cairney 60’), Abby Callaghan, Leah Daly, Lia Tweedie. Subs not used: Lauren Grant, Nina Fitzsimmons, Lauren Rae, Gill Sloey, Sarah Macleod, Kyla Mackinnon.
Starting Eleven
