Two goals in the second half against Kilmarnock earned Queen’s Park all three points in their second CAS Elite League game of the new season yesterday at Lochinch.
Queen’s had narrowly lost out to Aberdeen last week and were looking to get some points on the board against their local rivals.
Pollok Park was at its finest with warm sunshine and a gentle breeze.
The young Spiders kicked-off with the wind behind them and quickly found Kilmarnock were pressing hard. Inside the first two minutes Darryl Carrick had to clear the danger when Kilmarnock’s Cole Burk broke through.
Queen’s first attack was started by Darryl Carrick who found Jamie Bradley with a pass out of defence. Jamie drove through the Killie midfield and played a cross field pass to Dom Brady who raced into the Killle box but could not connect with the ball before it ran into the hand of Corey Armour in goal for Kilmarnock.
Two minutes later Queen’s had their first shot on goal when Jamie Bradley picked up the ball just inside the Kille half, sped towards the Kilmarnock box before taking a shot from 20 yards out.
Kilmarnock responded with a fast break down the left which gave Zander Craik a chance but he couldn’t quite connect and the ball ran through to Sam Kane.
Kilmarnock did have the ball in the net in the 15th minute only to see the assistant referee’s flag raised for offside.
Although Kilmarnock has most of the opening 15 minutes, Queen’s began to raise their game with Liam McVey and Jamie Bradley in midfield getting more of the ball.
In the 26th minute Queen’s had a series of corners with the best chance coming from the third which was delivered to the back post but Liam McVey couldn’t get to the ball.
Five minutes from half time Queen’s created another chance. The move was started once again by Darryl Carrick who drove forward then switched the ball cross-field to Dom Brady. Dom dribbled to the bye-line and cut a superb ball back across the Kilmarnock goal, but unfortunately no takers.
Half-time: Queen’s Park 0 Kilmarnock 0
Queen’s started the second half on the front foot. Tyrece McDonnell went close in the 12th minute with a shot from 20 yards out which was well saved by Harkins in goal for Killie.
Four minutes later Sam Kane pulled off a great block when a Kilmarnock forward broke through the Queen’s back line and was one on one with Sam.
Four minutes later Tyrece nearly doubled the young Spiders lead. A fast break out of defence saw Tyrece clear 20 yards from goal. His shot looked goalward but the Killie keeper dived low to his left to deny.
In the 31st minute Queen’s added a second. Leo Clark had a tremendous run down the right wing, beating three defenders before cutting the ball back for Liam McVey to smash the ball into the net from six yards out.
Five minutes from time Kilmarnock pulled one back From a long ball out of defence Zander Craik dribbled in the Queen’s box evading any challenges before slotting the ball into the next from five yards out.
Full-time: Queen’s Park 2 Kilmarnock 1
Queen’s Park: Sam Kane, Jude Bell, Dom Brady, Darryl Carrick, Michael Collie, Liam McVey, Theo McCormick, Jamie Bradley, Lewis Birchill, Tyrece McDonnell, Conor Falls.
Subs: Daniel Matheson, Alfie Lumsden, Jayden Fitzpatrick, Joshua Fitzpatrick, Mason Chisholm, Leo Clark.
Kilmarnock: Corey Armour, Ben Brannan, Ethan Mersey, Andrew Miller, Ruairi Ellis, Nathan Smith, Zander Craik, Trialist, Cole Burke, Daniel Devlin, Sonny Aluko.
Subs: Rohan Harkins, Lewis Mackie, Trialist, Reuben Cooper, Samuel Duruh, Shaun Kennedy, Adam Law.