Despite taking a two goal lead against an experienced St Johnstone side Young Queen's Park conceded a late goal to lose 3-2 in a post break friendly yesterday at Lochinch.
Young Queen’s Park continued their build up to the SPFL Reserve Cup re-starting next week with a friendly game against St Johnstone yesterday at Lochinch.
Head coach Paul Nuijten included Max Gillies, Alex Bannon, Calum Biggar and Aaron Healy in the starting eleven. St Johnstone included a number of first team players in their squad with first team manager Callum Davidson in the dugout to check on their progress.
The game started Queen’s having to defend a fast moving and fast passing St Johnstone side.
Queen’s held tight at the back in the opening 15 minutes and even managed to create a number of attacks down the left wing with Cammy Bruce and Aaron Healy combing well to get beyond the St Johnstone back line.
In the 17th minute Queen’s opened the scoring. Lewis Reid played a through ball for Calum Biggar to run onto. Calum drove into the St Johnstone box and was upended by St Johnstone’s Dailly. Calum took the resultant penalty kick sending St Johnstone’s Wills the wrong way.
Four minutes later and it was almost 2-0 to Queen’s. Lennon Connolly capitalised on a St Johnstone mistake at the back and was one on one with keeper Wills. Lennon attempted to go round the keeper but Wills brought off a great diving save to deny Lennon a goal.
Queen’s did double their lead in the 25th minute. Queen’s overturned a St Johnstone attack down the right. The ball was quickly switched wide left to Aaron Healy who was in acres of space. Aaron cut inside a defender and knocked the ball back to Calum Bigger at the edge of the box. Calum took one touch and placed the ball into the far corner of the net. A well worked and well executed goal for the young Spiders.
In the 33rd minute St Johnstone pulled a goal back. A corner on the right was delivered into the Queen’s six yard box. The ball was partially cleared towards St Johnstone’s Liam Parker who volleyed the ball into the far corner of the net from eight yards out.
St Johnstone continued to pile the pressure on Young Queen’s Park and in the 40th minute they drew level. A great series of one touch passes and a crafty back heeler gave St Johnstone’s Ali Crawford a chance to shoot on goal. Crawford took his opportunity and smashed the ball low past Jacques Heraghty into the net.
Half-time: Young Queen’s Park 2 St Johnstone 2
The second half began where it ended the first half with St Johnstone pushing the Spiders back and not giving them much opportunities to attack.
Queen’s pushed to get back into the game with both Cammy Bruce and Aaron Healy creating space wide on the left. In the 59th minute Aaron Healy drove from deep inside his own half, beat a couple of defenders and played a through ball to Lennon Connolly who unfortunately was offside.
Coach Paul Nuijten begin to make changes and would bring on six subs during the course of the second half.
Queen’s continued to build up from the back but found the fast and experienced St Johnstone side tough opponents.
St Johnstone upped the pace and were by now really testing the Queen’s defence. In the 80th minute Jacques Heraghty pulled off a superb save to deny St Johnstone’s Wotherspoon.
Three minutes from time St Johnstone got the winner. A corner from the right is headed into the Queen’s six yard box. St Johnstone’s Jackson Mylchreesy was first to react to knock the ball past Jacques Heraghty into the net.
Full-time Queen’s Park 2 St Johnstone 3
Queen’s Park: Jacques Heraghty, Max Gillies, Alex Bannon, Lewis Reid, Cameron Bruce, Timam Scott, Liam Mcleish, Andrew Lind, Calum Biggar, Aaron Healy, Lennon Connelly.
Subs: Callan McKenna, Zach Mauchin, Kane Thomson, Joseph Smith, Liam McQuaid, Alex Fairlie, Lucas McCormick.
St Johnstone: Jack Wills, James Brown, Tony Gallacher, Bobby Dailly, Liam Parker, Max Kucheriavyi, Michael O’Halloran, Melker Hallberg, Theo Bair, David Wotherspoon, Alastair Crawford.
Subs: Craig Hepburn, Spencer Moreland, Joe Ellison, Scott Bright, Bailey Pert, Adam McMillan, Jackson Mylchreest, Kodi McKinstray, Ben McCrystal.