Sat 9 Apr 2016
Ladbrokes Championship

Queens

1

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2

Raith Rovers

Hilson (53')
Benedictus (8')
Barr (63')

Raith Rovers secured their place in this years play-offs with a win at Palmerston but they were pushed all the way by a Queens performance that would have earned the home side at least a point had it not been for visiting keeper Cuthbert.

Queens made two changes to the side that drew with Falkirk last week, with Kidd and Russell starting ahead of Lyle and Harris, who both dropped to the bench. The changes also prompted a change of formation from the 4-4-2 favoured recently to a 4-3-3. Kidd replaced Murdoch at right back with the on-loan Rangers player moving into a central midfield three along side Hutton and Tapping. Those two in particular combined well and were involved in all the best moves the home side produced. Russell and Oliver flanked Hilson up front.

The game started fairly quietly and evenly until the 7th minute. Craigen showed great control on the edge of the box and somehow managed to fire a shot from a bouncing ball on the edge of the box that looked destined for the top corner, until Thomson tipped it round the post. The first corner deflected off a Queens defender at the near post but when the second was swung in Kyle Benedictus found himself unmarked six yards out and powered a header past Thomson to give Raith the lead.

Benedictus finds space in the box and heads it past Thomson.

 

It was a lead they looked content to hold for much of the rest of the half. Queens dominated possession but struggled to break down a comfortable looking defence. Raith looked dangerous on the break but neither keeper had any saves of note to make until the 40th minute when Brownlie glanced a header towards goal. There didnt look to be a lot of power on the header but the angle made it difficult for Cuthbert and it was a good save, unfortunately for Queens, the first of many.

Barr gets to grips with Russell in the box

 

Despite all the possession, some of it very slick at times, Queens were only really creating half chances, typified by the last chance of the half. A cross into the box looked to be going wide but Oliver took a running jump at the ball but couldnt make proper contact and could only glance the ball wide.

HALF TIME : QUEENS 0 - 1 RAITH

The second half continued in much the same vain, with Queens enjoying most of the possession. This time, though, they managed to turn that into a goal and what a goal it was! 

After some nice interchanges in midfield Hutton played a great ball over the top for the run of Hilson. With a defender beside him it looked unlikely a chance would come directly, but Hilson not only won the first header but managed to head it past the defender, turnung him inside out before unleashing an unstoppable shot from the edge of the box. As well as Cuthbert played today he had no chance of stopping that one!

Hilson beats all defenders and then  fires the ball into the back of the net to equalize

 

Queens continued to press forward but, not for the last time, Cuthbert kept Rovers in it by turning a Tapping shot wide.

Raith had their moments, though, and Panayiotou almost scored with his first touch after coming on in the 55th minute but he could only scuff his shot into the arms of Thomson. Back up the other end and Tapping, again, had a chance but could only lift his shot over the bar from the edge of the box.

The game had a more open feel to it and was becoming more `end to end` but it was Queens, again, who had the next chance. Kidds delivery from a wide free kick was into a dangerous area and Hutton arrived unmarked but saw his header clawed out by Cuthbert. A great save but a real chance to go ahead that Queens really should have taken.

 

Lyle was ready to celebrate but was cut short when Cuthbert made a quality save.

 

They were made to pay for that miss just 2 minutes later. A corner from the right was headed goalwards until Russell stuck out a boot on the line to keep it out. The ball deflected back to Connolly who delivered into the box again. Once more the ball was only half cleared and fell to Barr on the edge of the box. He hit a shot low and hard into the bottom left corner to give Raith the lead.

 It took just 5 minutes for Queens to create the first chance to equalise. Another corner was sent to the far post. Hilson challenged for the header back which, eventually, fell to Higigns but the skipper guided his shot wide and another good chance went begging.

The next 10 minutes were fairly even but uneventful apart from an injury to Hutton which forced the midfielder off. It was a blow to Queens as he had continued his recent good form in the middle of the park, linking up particularly well with Tapping.

Into the final 10 minutes and Queens created 3 decent chances to win the game. First Hislons header looked to everyone in the ground as if it was hitting the back of the net but Cuthbert somehow got a hand to it and kept it out. Next, Kidd hit a cross in from the right which ended up heading goalwards. For once Cuthbert was getting nowhere near it but the ball cannoned off the bar and out to safety.

It was Cuthbert next up though as he saved with his legs after Russell got in behind and got a shot away from close range.

Somehow Cuthbert saved this shot from Russell to keep Raith in the lead

 

The final action of the game saw a Queens corner cleared back to Millar who delivered a cross to the back post. Lyle lined up a shot (definitely `shot`!) but blazed it over the bar and almost over the terracing roof!

So Raith notch up another win in whats been a fantastic run and, deservedly, clinch at least 4th place. As Queens know its a tough ask in the play-offs to go all the way from 4th but no-one will fancy facing Raith in the form they are in.

For Queens, it could have been a very different score but for the Raith keeper.

FULL TIME : QUEENS 1 - 2 RAITH

 

  • 0
  • 0
    Kidd
  • 0
    Brownlie
  • 0
    Dowie
  • 0
    Higgins
  • 0
    Murdoch
  • 0
    Hutton
    (Sub3)
  • 0
    Tapping

    (Sub2)
  • 0
    Oliver
    (Sub1)
  • 0
    Hilson
    1
  • 0
    Russell

Subs

1
Atkinson
1
Harris
Sub2-68
1
Millar

Sub3-77
1
Lyle
Sub1-60
1
Conroy
1
Jacobs
1
Pickard
 
For Real Time Updates Go To Our Updates Page
14:21 Welcome from Palmerston for today`s game against Raith Rovers. Couple of changes for Queens, full teams to follow
14:22 Qos Team : 1.Thomson 2.Kidd 4.Dowie 5.Brownlie 6.Higgins 11.Russell 15.Tapping 16.Hutton 18.Murdoch 21.Hilson 28.Oliver
14:22 Qos Subs : 7.Harris 8.Millar 9.Lyle 10.Conroy 14.Jacobs 17.Pickard 20.Atkinson
14:23 Raith : 1. Cuthbert 2. Thomson 5. Toshney 6. Benedictus 16. Hardie 18. Connolly 21. Longridge 23. Mckeown 28. Craigen 30. Robertson 55. Barr
14:24 Raith subs :31. Law 7. Anderson 8. Mccord 11. Panayiotou 14. Davidson 15. Thomas 26. Court
14:25 Today`s referee is Kevin Clancy assisted by Gary Hilland and Alan MacFadyen. Kick off just half an hour away
14:27 Those two changes for Queens see Kidd and Russell return to the starting 11 with Lyle and Harris dropping to the bench
14:41 Just 15 minutes to kick off. Let`s hear your predictions for the gane
14:55 Teams are out. Nearly ready to go
0 min THE GAME KICKS OFF
7 min First real action wins Raith a corner after a good save by Thomson
8 min Goal Raith. Barr the scorer - QOS 0:1 Raith
8 min First corner is cleared but Barr has a free header from the second to put Rovers one up
14 min First corner for Queens but Brownlie stabs wide after a scramble in the box
31 min Two shouts for a Queens penalty. Russell went down and later a handball appeal but Clancy not interested. Hutton then fires over
36 min Nice move between Hutton and Tapping earns Queens a free kick 30 yards out after Tapping was fouled but Oliver blazes over
37 min Queens enjoying the bulk of possession but Raith defending comfortably and looking to hit on the break
40 min First save from cuthbert as Brownlie sends a header goal wards
41 min Queens are getting closer but only really creating half chances
Half Time HALF TIME - QOS 0:1 Raith
Half Time Another chance right on half time but Oliver fails to connect in the air
Half Time Correction to the Raith scorer, it was Benedictus not Barr
Half Time Totals attendance 1511. Thanks to you all
Half Time Queens are back out. No half time changes
45 min SECOND HALF UNDERWAY
52 min GOAL QUEENS. Hilson the scorer - QOS 1:1 Raith
53 min Super strike from Hilson gets Queens level. Fantastic ball over the top by Hutton and Dale turned inside the defender and bullets home
54 min Moments later Tapping almost makes it 2 but cuthbert palms his shot wide
55 min Substitution : Panayiotou on for Longridge
57 min The on loan Leicester striker almost scores with his first touch but scuffs his shot straight to Thomson
57 min Up the other end Tapping scoops a shot over. Game more open and end to end since the equaliser
59 min Substitution : Lyle on for Oliver
60 min So close! Cuthbert tips over a Hutton header
61 min Yellow Card : Tapping
62 min Goal Raith. Barr the scorer - QOS 1:2 Raith
63 min Another goal from a set piece. Russell clears a header off the line and when the ball falls to Barr on the edge of the box he fires home
67 min Substitution : Harris on for Tapping
68 min Another chance but Higgins shoots wide after a corner was knocked down
75 min Hutton went down during the last corner and his game is finished. Shame as he`d put in another fine display
76 min Substitution : Millar on for Hutton
77 min Substitution : Anderson on for craigen
84 min Another great save from cuthbert. Hilson thinks his header is in!
86 min Off the bar! Kidds cross come shot cannons off the bar
86 min Yellow Card : Millar
88 min Cuthbert again! Russell gets in behind but his shot is parried clear by Cuthberts leg
88 min Substitution : Thomas on for Hardie
90 min Possibly the last chance of the game falls to lyle but he blasts a shot well over from the back post
16:46 FULL TIME - QOS 1:2 Raith
16:48 Congratulations to Raith on clinching a play off place. They were second best for much of this game but clinched another win