The fixtures come thick and fast at the start of the season, as Queens travelled to Dumbarton for their third game in just seven days. Following on from Tuesday?s penalty shoot-out victory at home to Annan, if Queens were to have any hope of qualifying for the last-16, nothing short of a win was required.

There was one change from Tuesday?s side, out dropped Scott Mercer, who was replaced by Dan Pybus. Lewis Kidd shifted to right-back, with Pybus partnering Andy McCarthy in the centre of midfield. Allan Johnston opted for a 4-4-1-1 formation, with skipper Stephen Dobbie playing just off striker Gary Oliver.

 

Click here for the match photo gallery.

 

Queens had the games first real chance, with Dobbie striking an effort high into the side netting after just five minutes.

Following this, the somewhat unfancied home side took the lead. A dangerous Ryan Tierney cross was met by PJ Crossan at the back post, who calmly placed the ball underneath the rushing Robby McCrorie.

Their lead wasn?t to last much longer however, with Queens scoring a magnificent four goals in a 12 minute period.

Typically, ex-Dumbarton player Michael Paton scored the first. A cross from the left-hand side was met by Paton at the back-post, before he bundled his effort over Conor Brennan. It certainly wasn?t the prettiest of goals, but it drew Queens level.

Paton equalises

 

Three minutes later (13), Gary Oliver scored his first goal since returning to the Doonhamers. Connor Murray produced a perfect cross into the path of Oliver, who was able to tap in from just six-yards.

Oliver nets

Oliver celebrates

Two quickly became three on 17 minutes, as Stephen Dobbie scored his second of the campaign. Dobbie?s ?partner in crime? Oliver played him through, before Dobs struck a powerful left-footed effort past Brennan.

Dobbie shoots and scores

Dobbie celebrates

Five minutes later, arguably Queens? best player in the opening period, got in on the act. Murray, who picked up the ball on the edge of the area, dinked his shot over Brennan into the top corner. It was a goal the youngster deserved after giving the Dumbarton defence a torrid time in the first-half.

Murray picks his spot and makes it four

Murray celebrates his strike

That was to be the end of the goals in the opening period, however there was chances. Joe McKee, who signed for Dumbarton just this week, almost pulled one back. After finding himself with space in the area, his strike was well saved by McCrorie, who?d been quiet up until this point.

Bookings for Stuart Carswell and Dan Pybus were the only other significant moments in the opening 45.

HT: Dumbarton 1-4 QoS

Unfortunately for the strong Queens support the second-half didn?t live up to the excitement of the first period. 

Skipper Stephen Dobbie was withdrawn on 55 minutes, replaced by Jack Hamilton. The Livingston loanee, who played in his favoured striker role, almost made an instant impact, getting in-behind the Dumbarton defence, but his shot was fired into the side-netting from an exceptionally tight angle.

The angle is too tight for Hamilton

Darren Brownlie was the next man in referee Gavin Duncan?s book, his second booking of the cup campaign, meaning he?s suspended for next weeks game at Cappielow.

Andy McCarthy was the next man to be taken off after 61 minutes, with youngster Ross Irving making just his second appearance for the club. Michael Paton slotted into CM, with Irving playing on the right-wing.

After 65 minutes, Connor Murray almost got his second of the game. A perfect long-range pass from Dan Pybus, and an even better touch from Murray to cut inside, allowed the wingman to have a strike at Brennan?s goal. However, a top-class save from the Dumbarton shot-stopper prevented Queens? fifth.

Irving showed glimpses of what he?s about, dancing around Dumbarton left-back Rico Quitongo before being fouled in the middle of the park.

With 10 minutes left, Ewan Gourlay was brought on to make his debut at centre-back, at the expense of Darren Brownlie. The young defender was comfortable and composed on the ball, as was the rest of the team, as they seen out the game comfortably.

Gourlay made his debut today

FT: Dumbarton 1-4 QoS

A morale boosting win for Queens, who move onto five points in Group E. Goals were spread around the team, along with some impr club academy players getting valuable time on the pitch.

There?s no game midweek this week, with Queens next travelling to Cappielow, to take on Championship counterparts Greenock Morton, before the league campaign gets underway at Gayfield.