A late late goal by Stirling Uni's Varnava meant Queen's finished the game empty handed for the second week in a row.
Both sides were looking to bounce back from defeats the previous weekend, Queen’s lost 3-1 to Boroughmuir Thistle and Stirling University losing by the same score to St Johnstone.
Head coach Craig Joyce made 5 changes from the team that played against Boroughmuir Thistle last weekend; Gibney, Fitzsimmons, Sloey, Daly and Callaghan replaced by Caddell, Boyce, McDonald, Preston and Chisholm.
Another very warm Sunday greeted the players to New Tinto Park for the fourth SWPL2 game of the season.
Queen’s kicked off and right from the start took the game to Stirling Uni. In the first five minutes McDonald, Preston and Cairney all had shots on goal which were either blocked or missed the mark.
Queen’s were so much in control, it wasn’t until the 12th minute that Stirling had their first attack.
That attack must have given Stirling Uni confidence as they fought back and started to get inside the Queen’s half.
In the 14th minute Rachael Caddell, in goal for Queen’s for the first time this season, had a fantastic save from a shot for 20 yards out.
In the 23rd minute Stirling Uni opened the scoring when McPhail scored from a free kick 20 yards from goal.
The game was now a battle for possession of the midfield with neither team really creating much. Beth Preston was getting a lot of success down the right but her final ball in wasn’t being met by the Queen’s forwards.
It was from one of Beth’s forward runs in the35th minute Queen’s took the lead. Beth raced past a defender, got almost to the bye line, cut the ball back only to see it being deflected by another defender past the keeper into the net.
Two minutes from half time Stirling Uni were awarded a penalty when one of their forwards was upended inside the Queen’s box. Lyons made no mistake with the kick.
Just on half time Abbi McDonald had a chance when she had a shot from 16 yards out but the Stirling keeper dealt easily with the attempt.
Half time: Queen’s Park 2 Stirling University 2
Queen’s started the second half very brightly. In the 52nd minute Nicole Cairney was one on one with the keeper after latching onto a through ball but the keeper blocked the shot.
From the loose ball the ball was played long into the Queen’s box. McPhail took advantage a failure to clear the danger and lifted the ball past Caddell into the net.
Two minutes later Abbi McDonald saw the Stirling Uni keeper off her line and scored with along effort from 35 yards out.
In the 64th minute Queen’s made their first substitution with Fraser replaced by Daly
Queen’s continued to press for a winner with Tweedie, Daly, Cairney, Preston, Chisholm and McDonald all having chances to win the game. Skelton, in goal for Stirling Uni, was having a great game racing out from her goal to either block shots or clear the danger many times.
In the 83rd minute Stirling Uni took the lead again. From along clearance down the left Varnana picked up the ball at the edge of the penalty box and hit a superb shot over Rachael Caddell into the far corner of the net.
In the 82nd minute Queen’s replaced Chisholm with Sloey.
In the dying minutes of the game Abbi McDonald has a shot which narrowly missed the post.
Full time: Queen’s Park 3 Stirling University 4
Queen’s Park: Caddell, Fraser (Daly 64′), Ray, Kane, Smith, Boyce (Fulton), McDonald, Preston, Chisholm (Sloey 82′), Cairney, Tweedie.
Subs not used: Gibney, Fitzsimmons, McLeod, Clark, Gill.
Stirling University: Skelton, Davidson, Watson, Gullan, McKay, Taylor, Jackman, Sanchez, Lyons, Varnava, McPhail.
Subs: Baker, Cunningham, Fairgrieve, Harper, Hill.
Starting 11
