A much improved second half performance by Queen's 18s gave the young Spiders all three points against a strong and fast Dundee United at Lochinch on Friday night.
Queen’s returned to CAS Elite league duty after a two week break due to Scottish Youth Cup ties and an uneven number of teams in the league.
Despite it being the first day of autumn you could not have wished for a better evening for football. Dry, warm and no wind, perfect conditions.
The game started at a furious pace with Dundee United pushing up and attempting to prevent Queen’s doing their usual passing build up.
A minute into the game Michael Collie started a great play driving past opposition players before moving the ball, wide right, to Jayden Fitzpatrick who played the ball inside Jamie Bradley. Jamie laid the ball to Tyrece McDonnell wide left. Tyrece cut inside and fired in a shot which was well blocked by Lewis Haldane, in goal for Dundee United.
Sam Kane had to look sharp a couple of times as he dashed for his goal line to prevent Dundee United forwards connecting with fast breaks, a tactic that Tannadice were implementing.
In the seventh minute Dundee United’s Forbes broke down the left wing and fired in a cross for forward Cameron to step onto and knock the ball past Sam Kane only to see the assistant referee raise his flag for offside.
At this stage in the game Queen’s midfielders Jamie Bradley, Liam McVey and Ross McLean were finding it difficult to get through the crowded midfield to get attacks started.
In the 14th minute Sam Kane pulled off a fine save to deny Dundee United’s Borland.
In the 28th minute The Tannadice side came very close to opening the scoring when defender Dewar missed a chance to head into the net from six yards out.
However, they did take the lead one minute later when Bertie smashed home a cross from the left wing.
Half-time: Queen’s Park 0 Dundee United 1
Queen’s made the best possible start to the second half with an equaliser one minute in. Jamie Bradley stepped onto a ball played over the heads of the United backline and knocked the ball past the advancing keeper.
The equaliser gave the young Spiders confidence and they started to take the game to the visitors with most of the action now in the United half, the reverse of the first period.
In the 51st minute Jayden Fitzpatrick broke through the defence and hit a shot which looked goal bound only to see the keeper block his shot
A minute later Lewis Burchill scored to put Queen’s in the lead when he stepped onto a mis-hit from Tyrece McDonnell to knock home from eight yards out.
Dundee United tried hard to get back into the game but a combination of good defending and goalkeeping kept them at bay.
Two minutes from time, Tyreece McDonnell was brought down at the edge of the box. Jamie Bradley took the free kick and fired a shot past the keeper into the net to make the score 3-1 to the Spiders.
Full-time: Queen’s Park 3 Dundee United 1
Queen’s Park: Sam Kane, Leo Clark, Dom Brady, Darryl Carrick, Michael Collie, Liam McVey, Jayden Fitzpatrick, Ross McLean, Lewis Burchill, Jamie Bradley, Tyrece McDonnell.
Subs: Jude Bell, Alfie Lumsden, Daniel Matheson, Theo McCormick, Leo Fisher
Dundee United: Lewis Haldane, Matty Mudie, Kier Bertie, Scott Constable, Charlie Dewer, Liam Trotter, Ezekiel Cameron, Sean Borland, Owen Stirton, Alan Domeracki, Brandon Forbes.
Subs: Adam Carnwath, Kyle Wilson, Greg Petrie, Keir Gilligan, Calvin Beattie, Harry Welsh.