A hat-trick by Scott Williamson and a goal by Lennon Connolly saw Queen's beat Hibs by 4-2 in the sun at Rutherglen
Young Queen’s Park took on Hibs Development squad in a friendly match behind closed doors at Rutherglen Glencairn this afternoon. Both sides fielded a mix of first team and development players.
The game started in warm sunshine, Queen’s with a strong wind at their back. Hibs started the game strongly using the wind in the face to their advantage.
The Edinburgh side opened the scoring in the eleventh minute when Momoudou Bojang was upended at the edge of the box. From the resultant free kick Dylan Tait placed his shot into the far corner of the net.
Despite losing an early goal, Queen’s fought back and started to use the width of the park to get behind the Hibs defence.
Louis Longridge, in the 29th minute , had a shot on goal from just outside the box which narrowly missed the target.
In the 33rd minute Patrick Jarrett made his way through the Hibs defence only to be denied by an excellent block by Dabrowski.
Three minutes later Queen’s drew level. Louis Longridge, wide left, played a superb low cross into the Hibs six yard box. Scott Williamson pounced on the cross and directed the ball into the corner of the net.
Half-time: Young Queen’s Park 1 Hibs Development 1
Queen’s made one substitution at half time. Gregor Nicol replaced by Kane Thomson.
Four minutes into the second half, Hibs took the lead when Robbie Hamilton fired the ball home from a tight angle wide left.
Queen’s didn’t let this set back get to them. They started to find space on the wings. Lewis Moore, in particular, was causing the Hibs defence problems.
In the 61st minute Queen’s levelled the game. Patrick Jarrett delivered a cross beyond the waiting players. The ball was knocked back into the Hibs box and Scott Williamson, despite being surrounded by five Hibs defenders, played the ball through Dabrowski’s legs into the net.
Queen’s then made a triple substitution, replacing Trialist, Longridge and Jarrett with Reid, McQuaid and Fairlie.
In the 68th minute Queen’s took the lead. Kane Thomson drove down the right wing and shot on goal. Dabrowski parried the shot and Scott Williamson was waiting to calmly slotted the loose ball in to the net.
Three minutes later Scott Williamson was replaced by Lucas McCormick.
In the 81st minute Queen’s added a fourth when Lennon Connelly fasted onto a cross from the right to fire the ball into the corner of the net.
Two minutes later Hibs were awarded a penalty when Tait was brought down inside the Queen’s box. Dylan Tait took the penalty kick himself only to see his attempt saved by the trialist keeper.
Half-time: Young Queen’s Park 4 Hibs Development 2
Queen’s Park: Trialist, Mauchin, Naismith, Bannon, Bruce, Nicol, Longridge, Trialist, Jarrett, Moore, Williamson. Subs: Fairlie, Reid, Lind, Connolly, McCormick, Thomson, McQuaid, Russell.
Hibs: Dabrowski, Miller, McClelland, McGregor, Hanlon, Mitchell, Doyle-Hayes, Tait, Hamilton, O’Connor, Bojang. Subs: Balde, O. MacIntyre, Aitken, Blaney, Laidlaw, McCulloch, Megwa, J. MacIntyre, Carter.
I thought the game was really competitive from start to finish. Hibs started really well. We couldn't quite get to grips with the shape and the way they approached the game. We made a few changes in terms of where the players were picking up out of possession and I thought for the remainder of the first half we were really good.
The goal we conceded was avoidable for a number of reasons. But that's what these games are about - to allow our players to learn, to make good decisions and also make mistakes .
After we conceded I thought we created a number of good chances. The second half I thought we dominated the ball although Hibs came back into the game towards the end. I made a lot of changes as I though we looked quite tired.
It was very pleasing to score four goals against a top side. Particularly pleased for Scott Williamson who got a hat trick. Scott works very hard out of possession and certainly take his chances when they come along. Also delighted to see Lennon Connolly scoring his first goal in his first Young Queen's Park game.