Queen’s Park U19s 1 St Mirren U19s 0

QUEEN’S PARK under-19s did it the hard way against St Mirren, but they certainly earned a 1-0 win.

Connor Falls’ first half goal was the decider, but only told half the story of the game where the Young Spiders had to play 40 minutes with ten men.

Leo Clark was injured five minutes into the second half, after Queen’s Park had used all their planned substitutions.

It was an enforced scenario with eligible first team players – Ross McLean, Aiden McGinlay, Ricky Waugh and Cole Burke – starting the friendly to add match minutes, but four were withdrawn at half-time with a view to inclusion in the pool heading to Ross County at the weekend.

That provided Charley King’s team with a learning scenario – and one they dealt with, to please the coach.

He was less impressed with the first half where St Mirren had the lion’s share of possession but Queen’s Park found the net.

King said: “We started quite poorly and St Mirren were better for first half hour, dominating the ball.

“We couldn’t get our intensity or press quite right and that allowed them a foothold in the game.

“We restricted their opportunities but they had a lot of the ball, which is disappointing as we like to have the ball more.

“After 30minutes we got better and sorted the press and made a few chances. Connor Falls scored with a left foot shot at the near post to go 1-0 up.

“Then at half-time we had to make four subs with some first team players coming off and Leo Clark was injured five minutes into the second half.

“That meant we were down to 10 men but the boys dug in and defended the box very well, limiting St Mirren to some clearcut chances.

“We could have scored more and looked like a threat on the counter attack. That was a positive, and playing with ten men was a different kind of game for us.

“That was good practise if we ever need to use it in the future.”