With St. Johnstone deciding that Zander Clark could not be involved in the game, there was a first start of the season for Jim Atkinson in goal, and along with Derek Lyle, who replaced John Baird, they were the only two changes that Queens made to the team that started against Raith last weekend. Visitors Brora, who were making their first appearance in the 4th round of the Scottish Cup, were also appearing at Palmerston for the first time in their 135 year history, and having become Highland League champions for the first time last season, their continuing good form so far in this campaign saw them arrive in Dumfries with every reason to suspect that a cup upset could be on the cards.

 

Superb support for the visitors

 

    The visitors began the game kicking towards the Portland Drive end, but after just 3 minutes their hopes of causing a cup shock suffered a major setback, when Queens, following their first meaningful attack, scored the game`s opening goal. A long clearance from defence found Iain Russell on the left wing and after getting past the full back he was able to deliver an enticing ball into the 6-yard area where Derek Lyle was able to prod the ball home after `keeper Malin had fumbled Lyle`s initial header back into the striker`s path. It was the best possible start for Queens, and after scoring so early in the game, the home support in the crowd of 1434 must have anticipated a comfortable afternoon for their team. Indeed the hosts looked hungry for more goals, and from their first corner of the game, Russell`s header from the back post had to be headed clear as both Lyle and Chris Higgins waited to pounce. With Queens having the better of the opening exchanges, another corner almost saw them extend their lead, but unfortunately Mark Durnan`s glancing header landed the wrong side of the post. 

 

Lyle snaps up the rebound off the keeper from his initial headed effort

 

   The Queens centre back was at the heart of the action moments later, only this time at the wrong end. His misjudged header back towards Jim Atkinson was a little short, but fortunately the Queens `keeper was alert enough to clear the ball to safety. As the game began to settle, so did Brora, and in fact for the first time in the contest, they began to put some pressure on the Queens defence, and with the pace of both, Sutherland and Greig, they gradually began to work their way into the match. An awkward delivery into the Queens box from a left wing free-kick caused momentary panic in the home defence, and minutes later after Chris Higgins was penalised for a foul halfway inside his own half, Morrison`s ball in to the box had to be well defended by Durnan as both Ross and Mackay challenged. Although they had not created what could be called a real clear cut chance, Brora clearly took confidence from the way that the game was developing, and they were certainly posing problems all over the pitch for Queens.

   Somewhat against the run of play, after 26 minutes, Queens almost doubled their lead when the ball bounced between several players, Gavin Reilly showed good skill to lift the ball over a defender before smashing a left-foot volley from 12-yards out, just past the post. The game was becoming more open, and during the next passage of play, both sides created chances and either team could have scored. Brora won their first corner on 37 minutes, and after a good claim under pressure by Atkinson, his quick release sent Russell breaking clear, but his control let him down at the last second and he couldn`t find a pass for Lyle, whilst at the other end a swift move involving Sutherland, and Grieg set up a shooting chance for Morrison, and his well hit shot from 35-yards flashed past Atkinson and the near upright much to the relief of the home support. The visitors had to play for 4 minutes without defender Williamson who had to leave the field after sustaining a nasty cut to his head following an ariel challenge, but he returned to the game bandaged up and raring to go soon afterwards.

    The visitors had their tails up at this stage, and they went very, very close to coming up with an equaliser five minutes before the interval. The lively and tricky Sutherland created a shooting chance for himself, and his low hard effort towards the near post produced a fine one-handed stop from Atkinson. Sutherland went close again as the half moved towards it`s conclusion, this time he saw his effort from just inside the box deflected into the arms of the Queens `keeper.

     After going in front early on, Queens would have been frustrated not to have built on that lead, and after growing into the game, Brora would have been disappointed to have been behind at the break, and but for Jim Atkinson`s excellent stop just before the break, the Highland League team would have deservedly been level at the interval.

The visitors made a change at half-time as Kettlewell replaced the injured Williamson in defence, but it was the dangerous Sutherland who was right in the thick of the action as the second period began. Once again Queens had their `keeper to thank for keeping them ahead as he saved well from Sutherland, and Queens got the break of the ball when the rebound found it`s way to Graham but his effort was blocked. After a slow start to the half from Queens, they finally got going and Durnan`s burst from the back saw him skip past 3 Brora men before sliding the ball through to Lyle, who in turn set up Ian McShane but his side footed attempt from the penalty spot was too close to `keeper Malin who saved with ease. Gavin Reilly was next to try his luck shooting from the edge of the box, but alas not testing `keeper Malin with his strike.

    A quick break from Brora saw Atkinson called into action once again, this time he parried Grieg`s shot away for a corner, and from the resulting set-piece,Maclean flicked a header wide of the target. During last weeks clash with Raith some of the football from Queens was a delight to watch, but unfortunately for the first hour of this game, Queens had found it tough going and a lot of that was down to some fine play from the visitors. Queens almost handed their opponents a way back into the game following a defensive error that on another day might have proved costly. Chris Higgins poor headed pass went straight to Sutherland and although the striker seemed favourite to score, Atkinson came to the rescue once again as he stood up well to block the striker`s effort.

    This was the away teams best spell of the game, and if they had forced an equaliser it would have been justified as at that point they were certainly the team in the ascendancy, and they went close again when Grieg`s shot was deflected wide of the target for another corner. The corner was well defended by Queens and as the ball was cleared into touch, they made their first change when Lewis Kidd replaced an out of sorts Danny Carmichael on the hour mark.

    Less than a minute after the substitution, Queens increased the lead. The first real moment of quality from the home side saw them cut through the Brora defence with a series of quick, accurate passes that involved  Kerr, McShane and Kidd and when the ball was played forward to Gavin Reilly, he held off the challenge of the last defender to slot the ball past the `keeper from 8-yards. Seemingly now in control of the game, Queens should really have killed off any fightback from the Highland League side, but in the space of 90 seconds they went from having the chance to seal the win, to allowing their visitors the chance to claw their way back into the tie.

 

Reilly celebrates his strike

 

    A move down the right involving Kerr, and Kidd, allowed the substitute the chance to pick out a cross, his delivery fell perfectly for Lyle right in front of goal, but the scorer of the first goal of the afternoon failed to connect properly and his mis-cued shot was cleared.Not only was the ball cleared but Brora were able to slip the ball through to Grieg on the left and after reaching the edge of the box, he cut inside and drove a tremendous effort past Atkinson much to the delight of the travelling Brora fans - game on. Strangely enough the goal seemed to boost Queens rather than Brora, and a combination of some clinical finishing, coupled with the fact that Brora`s energy levels did seem to begin to wane allowed the home side to end the game on top. Derek Lyle had another really good opportunity to score a third for Queens when he was on the end of a cross from Reilly, but with only the `keeper to beat, he shot straight at him. With 20 minutes left John Baird replaced Reilly, and once again after making a change, Queens scored. As the entire Brora defence stood and appealed for offside, play continued and with both Lyle, and Baird in support, Iain Russell decided to go it alone and from very close range, wrong footed Malin to side-foot home.

 

Russell slips it past Malin

 

    At long last Queens had finally got the better of their visitors, and a fine flowing move involving Kidd,Kerr, and Baird set up another chance for Lyle, this time though the striker was denied by a really good save from Malin, diving to his left to push Lyle`s header away. The game was well and truly up for Brora ten minutes from time. Quick thinking at a throw in by Russell, and Holt enabled the full-back to get to the bye-line and his perfectly placed pass was side footed home by substitute Lewis Kidd, who scored his first goal for the club. Queens third and final change saw youngster Jake Pickard make his Queens debut, coming on for the final few minutes to replace Derek Lyle.

 

Kidd picks his spot

 

    So Queens managed to avoid a cup upset and it is their name that goes into the draw for the 5th round. Credit though to the visitors from Brora who played some very good football throughout and gave Queens and their fans some worrying moments in what was an entertaining game played in the right spirit. Queens fans showed their appreciation for a spirited performance by the visitors at the end of the game, and also well done to the travelling `Cattachs` supporters who cheered their side on right to the very end.