A valiant performance from 10-man Queens side counted for nothing in the end as Hamilton just had too much for the South in Dumfries, in a game marred with controversy.

 

With Queens missing six first team players there was four changes from the last side that played two weeks ago at Palmerston. Josh Rae, Alex Cooper, Ally Roy and Ruben Soares Junior returned to the fold as Queens lined-up 4-2-3-1. Cooper started at RB with Wullie Gibson continuing with Euan East in the middle of the back four.

 

 

The game got off to a typically slow start with each side coming out the end of a Covid ?crisis?. The visitors saw more of the early territory with a couple of early corners that didn?t cause Queens many problems.

 

On 19 minutes though there was some real controversy at Palmerston after Ronan Hughes fell down in the box under a ?challenge? from Roberto Nditi. Hughes seemed to have left his foot in the air, Nditi didn?t alter his run nor initiate contact, yet referee Barry Cook awarded the penalty.

 

Penaty save from Rae

 

Needless to say, Queens were incensed. Skipper, Gibson, gave Cook some ?constructive criticism? and was booked for his protestations, before Cook brandished a straight red card seconds later.

 

The referee makes a statement whilst looking to the dugouts

 

The penalty was dubious at the very least, however it?s difficult to judge Gibson?s red given that nobody outwith the pitch could hear exactly what our skipper was saying.

 

Nonetheless, Josh Mullin dually stepped up and missed Accies? third penalty in two games with Rae making a wonderful save, only for David Moyo to tap in the rebound.

 

Nditi was forced to step back into CB with the absence of Gibson, whilst Cooper took the armband.

 

The South didn?t stop though and continued to show good energy and effort going forward with little result.

 

Matthew Shiels had the ball over the line for Accies later on in the opening period, only for his tap in from a Mullin cross to be ruled out for offside. Upon seeing replays, it looked incredibly tight with Shiels arguably level with Nditi, however Queens were afforded the benefit of the doubt.

 

 

A performance for the ages was required by Queens to salvage this game in the second period with it being all Hamilton?s to lose.

 

And with all due respect to the visitors, they put in a thoroughly professional performance.

 

Mullin struck the inside of the post with a looping effort from range after Lee Connelly had tested Joe Hilton with a long range effort.

 

Ben Liddle made his return to first team action, replacing Roy with half an hour remaining.

 

Rae was called into action on 66 minutes with an exceptional save to deny a close range Accies header.

 

Star man Rae makes another superb save

 

The returning goalie was thwarted on 70 minutes, however, as a quite wonderful backheel from Hughes found its way to Jamie Hamilton, who fired into the roof of the net form inside the area.

 

The lack of football, training, and numbers were beginning to hamper Queens who were tiring.

 

Josh Mullin capped off a wonderful Accies move on 77 minutes with the easiest of finishes in a move that saw five first-time passes splitting the Queens side open.

 

 

The visitors were good, take nothing away from them, but Queens do deserve some credit for fighting hard with 10 men, often chasing the ball, for well over an hour. Having had training numbers slashed due to Covid and little game time, on top of an already injured squad, the South do deserve credit for fighting until the end.

 

Nonetheless, it was still the worst start to 2022 possible, but there?s a chance to rectify that on Saturday as Kilmarnock visit Palmerston.