A double by Zach Mauchin and goals from Liam McLeish and Chris Mahon gave the Under 18s all three points against Partick Thistle last night at Petershill
A cold, wet and windy night greeted the players as they stepped onto the Petershill pitch.
The game started with Thistle on the offensive. They had the wind behind them and used it to their advantage. The young Thistle side moved the ball fast on the greasy surface but really didn’t challenge the Queen’s defence.
Fifteen minutes into the game and Queen’s were beginning to gain an upper hand. They were winning the ball and pushing Thistle back by playing the ball behind the full backs for the speedy Queen’s forwards to run onto.
In the 12th minute Queen’s open the scoring. Liam McLeish received a through pass. Liam raced past a couple of defenders, cut inside, and fired a low ball past the keeper and into the corner of the net from 20 yards out.
Queen’s gained in confidence after the goal and began to dominate the game. Despite driving rain, both sides attempted to play a passing game on the now wet surface. Thistle were sitting deeper, cautious of the speed of the Queen’s attacks.
In the 27th minute Thistle had a chance when their number 17 ran onto a pass and chipped the Queen’s keeper only to see his shot miss the target.
By the 30th minute the game was poised. Thistle were back in the match and were getting into the Queen’s half. However, the Spiders defence looked solid and dealt effectively with Thistle attacks. They don’t panic and move the ball away from danger very effectively. In fact, the defence’s ability to turn defence into attack in horrendous condition was impressive.
In the 45th minute Reece Beverage pulled off a fine save. Great passing by Thistle saw number 11 through on goal. His shot was superbly blocked by Reece in goal.
Half time: Partick Thistle 0 Queen’s Park 1
In the 50th minute Chris Mahon doubled Queen’s lead with a low shot across the keeper and into the far corner from 16 yards out.
In the 65th minute Queen’s added a fourth. Zach Mauchin picked the ball up wide right. He drove to the bye line and fired the ball into the far corner from an acute angle.
In the 73rd minute Thistle hit the bar. A superb ball played in from the right is met by the Thistle’s number 9 who heads the ball goalward only to it the ball come back off the bar.
Full time: Partick Thistle 0 Queen’s Park 4
Queen’s Park: Beverage, McDowall, Bruce, Graham, Reid, McQuaid, Mauchin, McLeish, McCormick, Mahon, Fairlie. Subs: Ross, Lind, Howe, Scott, Thomson, Russell.
Previous games:
St Mirren 4 Queen’s Park 3
Fife Elite 2 Queen’s Park 3
Queen’s Park 5 Dundee 0
Ayr United 0 Queen’s Park 1
Morton 1 Queen’s Park 3
Kilmarnock 0 Queen’s Park 6
Queen’s Park 3 St Johnstone 1