Queens comfortably progressed to the final of the Raydale Cup tomorrow following a 6-1 victory over Gretna 2008 this afternoon. Manager Gavin Skelton named a strong team for the opening fixture though he was unable to attend the game today himself due to a family issue. In his absence Jim Thomson and Eddie Warwick were in the dugout.

Queens were one up inside 10 minutes when Andy Dowie was all alone at the back post to turn home Jamie Hamill's corner from close range and the lead was doubled 10 minutes later when Aidan Smith finished good approach play from Anderson, Tapping and Hamill with a sweet finish low to the bottom left corner of the net from 15 yards. Any serious doubt about the result was removed when Dowie headed his second, from another Hamill corner, just after the half hour mark and, before the break, it was four when Dowser turned provider with a delicate chipped pass forward to Aidan Smith who looped a header over the keeper and in.

The second half was more low key until Gretna pulled a goal back with just over 10 minutes to go thanks to a lovely curling finish but Derek Lyle still found time to add two more headers, the first direct from another Hamill cross and the second on the end of some fine movement at another set piece.

Team:
1 L Robinson (J Atkinson 45), 2 J Hamill, 3 J Marshall, 4 A Dowie, 5 J Pickard (O Bell 86), 6 C Higgins, 7 D Brotherston (O Moxon 65), 8 C Tapping (M Millar 60), 9 A Smith (D Lyle 45), 10 S Rigg, 11 G Anderson (R Nelson 85)
Unused Sub - R Murray

It was nice to see a few familiar faces at Raydale Park this afternoon including Stuart Rome, Ian McCall, Neil Scally, John Henry and also former favourite Paddy Atkinson who took in the game with his family and met up with Jim Thomson afterwards.