QUEEN’S PARK B 1-1 LIVINGSTON
REIGNING champions Queen’s Park retained the Reserve League title in dramatic circumstances with two late goals in the last five minutes at Lochinch.
Sean Crighton’s side only had to avoid defeat to keep their hands on the trophy.
But a very experienced Livingston side almost wrested it from their grasp with a late penalty.
Veteran Andrew Shinnie – moved up front for the latter stages after his midfield spot – was toppled by Queen’s Park goalkeeper Milosz Sliwinski and the spot-kick converted by sub Dylan Mauchin.
There were just three minutes left to play.
Queen’s Park had enjoyed the bulk of second half possession to that point and refused to let the goal deflate them.
They resumed their positive play and Josiah Sowa burst down the left and when the ball was hung over the goalmouth Ross McLean rose highest to head the crucial equaliser that ensured Livingston couldn’t leapfrog the league leaders after all.
The Lions had named a particularly experienced team for the season’s curtain call. Joint-second with Kilmarnock on 17 points they trailed Queen’s Park on 18 meaning Sean Crighton’s team only had to avoid defeat to return the trophy to the city Stadium.
Thanks to McLean, they did.
For a long time it looked to be heading that way until the penalty’s dramatic late twist.
Queen’s Park had looked comfortable from the start, with Jamie Bradley and captain Michael Collie facing up the experienced Shinnie in midfield, and Reece Evans duelling with Michael Nottingham up front.
Bradley was shown a yellow card after 16 minutes for a powerful challenge on Lucas Stenhouse where he won the ball but wiped out the Livingston frontman.
It matched the determined tone set by the home side and a minute later they could have been ahead when Timam Scott robbed Jack Hamilton and ran wide. The angle was too tight for an attempt on goal so the winger cut-back to Lennon Connolly, but Nottingham’s block denied an opener.
Livingston had chances at the other end, Shinnie screwed a volley over and Jay McGarva had to be prompt to cut out a low cross from the right-side, but Queen’s Park ended the first half in the ascendency.
Sowa, Connolly and Evans were all involved in a progressive move but in the end Bradley’s blast flew over the bar.
Hearts were in mouths at the restart though when Stenhouse charged down a Sliwinski clearance but, like Scott in the first-half, the angle was too tight to threaten.
As every minute passed and no goals registered, it suited Queen’s Park but one would have made life more comfortable for those watching from the pavilion.
Bradley tested Hamilton from range, Cole Burke went close with a header and Evans turned a Collie cut-back narrowly wide as they pressed for the advantage but it wouldn’t come.
With 20 minutes to go the plinth emerged from the pavilion to prepare for the presentation – but the winners were yet to be decided.
Queen’s began to hit on the break, utilising Sowa’s pace – more than matched by Livi’s right-back Samson Lawal and for the most part, the sides were cancelling the other out.
Burke made a vital clearance to keep the scores blank after Mackenzye Campbell tucked a shot just inside the post but it was blocked by the defender’s vital clearance.
But the warning became a potent threat when Shinnie ran onto a ball inside from the right wing and he beat Sliwinski in the race. He rounded the keeper but was caught by an outstretched arm and ref Daniel Graves pointed to the spot.
Sub Dylan Mauchin sent the ball down the middle after a stuttered run-up and with three minutes left of the 90, and the season – Queen’s had been toppled.
Shoulders slumped among the support, but not on the sidelines. Or the pitch.
Crighton roared instructions from dugout and they regrouped, re-gathered their thoughts and conjured up an equaliser in the most dramatic ending to the season possible.
Brushing off the go-behind goal, Queen’s pressed as they had done for most of the second half and found the equaliser from the head of Ross McLean – switched up front from his left-back starting slot.
Spritely Sowa was still sprinting in the 94th minute and he moved the home team up the left, a clipped cross from Jay McGarva hung in the air and McLean rose highest to make the crucial contact and slipped the script for the final time.
He said: “At that moment I couldn’t believe it had gone over the keeper – I thought I’d jumped too early for it! To see it hit the net and then people running after me – it was just ecstatic.
“We were unlucky to go behind with the penalty – but I’m happy with the way it’s all happened. It’s brilliant to be able to give the club a positive boost right now.”
“We’ve worked hard for this all season and we’ve come through.
QPFC: Sliwinski, Hickey-Fugaccia, McLean, Burke (McVey 86), McGarva, Collie, Scott, Bradley (Mackenzie 63), Evans (McGinley 86), Connolly (Waugh 63), Sowa. Subs: Balfour, Graham, Fairlie.
Livingston: Hamilton, Lawal, Clarke, Donnellan, Nottingham, McAlear, Sole, Culbert, Stenhouse, Shinnie, Ubochioma.
