QUEEN’S PARK kicked off the 2026-27 pre-season preparations with an impressive five-goal win against Gretna.

The Spiders hit a high five in a dominant first half at Raydale Park.

Nikolay Todorov hit a double on his long-awaited return from injury, and was joined on the scoresheet by Michael Ruth, Aidan Connolly and Carlo Pignatello.

The Bulgarian looked to have claimed a hat-trick when he almost knocked in the right-back’s drive from the edge of the box but the scoring was well spread throughout the team.

Likewise, Sean Crighton spread the minutes throughout his squad too with none of the starting eleven finishing the match.

Milosz Sliwinski was picked in goals, and replaced shortly after the hour-mark by Jack Wills.

In the same swathe of second half substitutions, Daniel Edzii, Jack Hamilton and Ollie Fisher were given first-team time as the Spiders rang the changes.

The home side did similar, on a lesser scale, which led to a fractured half but the visitors had already ensured the result was a positive one in the exercise.

Ruth teed up Todorov for the opener after just five and a half minutes, laying into his strike partner’s path and the former Dunfermline man fired into the corner of the net with aplomb.

Ruth hooked his own effort into the arms of the home goalkeeper, but he was caught off guard when Pignatiello’s clipped effort from the corner of the area floated past him three minutes later – but no touch from Todorov.

Ruth would get his goal though, as he beat the keeper at the second attempt at the backpost, meeting Aidan Connolly’s supply in the 19th minute.

The strike settled the Spiders for the next 20 minutes and they carved out another handful of chances but neither striker could take them. The scoring wasn’t finished though, and Tyrece Mcdonnell laid a chance on a plate for Aidan Connolly, front and centre of goal. 

The midfielder did brilliantly well in the left wing corner and glided along the by-line to tee up his team-mate for a tap-in.

Less than a minute of play later it was five as Todorov netted from close range too, moments before half-time.

After the break – which saw Kyle Rodger, Magnus Mackenzie, Ross McLean and Callum Smith on as substitutes – McDonnell fired an early chance over and the latter two interval subs missed the best of the chances too.

McLean aimed for the top corner but fired a fierce snapshot into the stand, and late on Smith raced clear but his clipped effort just bounced the wrong side of the post.

Nevertheless it was a positive and worthwhile exercise in the balmy summer night near the border.

Next up for the Spiders is a trip to nearby Annan for a second friendly with the local League Two side at Galabank.