Montrose would pose tricky opposition for our first run of Sunday home games. Both teams would see their league position change before kick-off due to playing the game a day later than usual. Montrose would drop to 6th from 4th and Queen’s would have the unfortunate situation of being knocked off the top spot by a Cove win yesterday. Both teams would look to change that and jump up the table once again.
Queen’s would make one change with Luca Connell coming in for Grant Gillespie. The change showing how well the team is playing that we can drop the very reliable Grant Gillespie.
Montrose would make 4 changes with notably Lennox replacing Fleming in goals. Loanee Cammy F Ballantyne would also come into the side – he would end up causing problems for Queen’s Park later.
The game would start with an outrageous attempt for Montrose as James Keating tried an early overhead kick but it’s well wide of Muir’s post. Lewis Milne would continue the early pressure with a shot that went wide after some tidy play by Montrose.
The game would continue at a high pace but much of the game was played in the middle of the park – a trend that would end describing most of the game
Queen’s Park’s first real chance would come from slack play by Montrose and Brown would pick up the loose ball, quick dribble and pass to Connell but Luca’s long-range shot is deflected wide.
Connell would have another chance shortly after. McHugh’s initial shot is blocked, and Luca takes a shot that once again – is deflected wide.
We would finally have another chance in the 40th minute. Sean Dillion would be booked for an off the ball incident and it would present the Spiders with a close-range freekick. Connell’s free-kick would go just over the bar.
The first half would end with not a lot between the two sides. The support would hope for a more exciting second half.
Half time: Queen’s Park 0 Montrose 0
A half time sub for Montrose sees Kerr Waddell replace Mark Whatley. Queen’s Park remained unchanged.
The opening goal of the game would come as Doyle would chip the ball into the box and Smith would find himself in acres of space. He showed composure, rounded the keeper and slotted it into the net. 1-0 to the spiders. Get in! The first goal of the season for Connor Smith. We will need to watch this again on QPTV as the opposition claimed it was offside.
On the 66th Minute, Graham Webster would go close for Montrose. A nice backheel would set Webster free, thankfully his shot is just wide.
We would see our first QP change shortly after as Grant Gillespie would come on for Luca Connell.
Montrose would equalise on the 68th minute as Cammy F Ballantyne manages to dribble in a packed box, his cross trickles along the goal and Milne is there to tap it in. A goal that was coming after good play by Montrose, but our defence could’ve been better.
We would see a further QP change as Luis Longstaff would enter the fray replacing Liam Brown who had picked up a knock. The Spiders would make their final change on the 76th minute as goal scorer Connor Smith would come off for a returning Louis Longridge.
Montrose would also mix it up in the search for a winner as Craig Johnston would replace Graham Webster.
James Keating would be replaced by Craig Brown on the 85th minute as the final roll of the dice from Montrose. Thankfully, it came to nothing, and the match would settle into a draw.
A real game for the purists as both teams would fight hard but couldn’t make that big play, a draw was probably the right result. The draw would mean that Queen’s Park would regain the top spot in League 1, this time on goal difference, Montrose would remain sixth.
Allez Les Hoops
Queen’s Park: Muir, Doyle, Kilday, Fox, Robson, Thomson, Brown (Longstaff 69’), Connell (Gillespie 67’), Smith (Longridge 76’), McHugh, Murray. Subs not used: Ferrie, Yeats, Gillies, Moore
Montrose: Lennox, Ballantyne, Steeves, Dillion, Allan, Masson, Webster (Johnston 75’), Cammy F Ballantyne, Keating (Brown 82’), Whatley (Waddell 45’), Milne. Subs not used: Fleming, Waddell, Watson, Brown, Antoniazzi, Johnson, Lyons.
Reporter: Nathan Ferguson
Attendance: 596