Queen of the South put in a professional display against Queens Park at Hampden as goals from Wullie Gibson, Aidan Fitzpatrick and Connor Shields capped off an impressive 10 days that?s saw three wins and eight goals for Queens.
The visitors unsurprisingly named an unchanged side from Saturday?s 3-2 win at home to Ayr, with Connor Shields hoping to continue his run of form which has seen him score four goals in three games leading the line. Niyah Joseph and Kieran McKechnie returned to the bench for the Doonhamers, while new signing Rhys Breen was also named amongst the subs.
Lee Kilday, Mikey Doyle and Bob McHugh, who were all once South players, started for the hosts, while Jai Quitongo, who netted in the Betfred Cup match between the sides, started on the bench.
The first-half was a quiet affair, with little goalmouth action taking place. Dan Pybus fired over from 18-yards, before Simon Murray found space in the box, but also shot over the bar.
It took 24 minutes before any half-chances came along, with Murray volleying powerfully over the bar after getting on the end of Louis Longridge?s corner.
Aidan Fitzpatrick was the first man to work either keeper, his tame effort was comfortably reached by Willie Muir down to his left.
There was little, if anything, to separate the sides in the opening period, although the visitors probably edged things with an extra man in the middle of the park.
When the fourth official had the board up signalling for a minutes added time at, you?d probably have been forgiven for nipping off for your half-time snacks, however, on the stroke of half-time, the Doonhamers took the lead.
A dangerous cross into the area was headed clear by Peter Grant into the path of Willie Gibson, the full-back took a touch, set himself, before unleashing a sublime low strike into the bottom corner of Muir?s goal.
Gibson strikes the ball perfectly to open the scoring
Gibson is congratulated on his fine strike
HT: QP 0-1 QoS
The Doonhamers were the slightly better side in the opening period with the scoreline a fair reflection on the balance of play. Gibson?s first goal for the club since re-signing in the summer was the only difference between the sides, leaving the game finely poised for the second-half.
The second-half began like the first-half did, a quiet affair. Neither side were willing to commit too many men forward, with much of the game being played in the middle of the pitch.
Jai Quitongo and David Galt replaced Longridge and Ross MacLean for the hosts in an attempt to level the game.
However, the next goal fell the way of the South after 65 minutes. A pinpoint cross from that man Shields was met at the back post by Aidan Fitzpatrick, who had the simplest of tap-ins to double Queens? lead.
Fitzpatrick beats Doyle and Muir to double the lead
Fitzpatrick celebrates his strike
It was a lead that was probably deserved over the course, and the Doonhamers continued to look the most likely with Fitzpatrick going close at Muir?s near post after a mazy run.
Quitongo was reasonably quiet such was the defending of Gibson and James Maxwell, but he struck the outside of the post with a venomous effort from 25-yards out.
It?s fine margins in this game though and just a minute later it was game over. As Dan Pybus won the ball in the air, Connor Shields beat Kilday to the second ball, before dribbling his way into the box and neatly slotting past the helpless Muir.
Shields leaves the home defence for dead as he nets number three.
Calvin McGrory and Tommy Goss came on in the closing stages for the South as they held out comfortably to progress to the third round.
FT QP 0-3 QoS
A thoroughly professional performance from Queen of the South, one which gave Queens three wins on the trot for the first time since mid-2018. Defensively the Doonhamers were untroubled, whilst going forwards they were ruthless.
The third-round draw takes place on Sunday morning at 11am.
Finlay Jack