It was comfortable win in the end in last nights friendly in Annan despite the home side taking the lead when one of the six trialitsts in their starting 11 volleyed home from the edge of the box after just 6 minutes.

The lead was to last until just before the half hour mark when we were awarded a free kick 20 yards from goa, wide to the left. Up stepped Stephen Dobbie to fire the ball over the wall and into the top corner, beating trialist, and former Queens keeper, Jim Atkinson at the near post.

If that strike was good, the next from Dobs was even better. Taking the ball on the turn in the centre of the pitch he advanced towards goal with, seemingly, all the time in the world to line up a shot which flew past Atkinson, high into the net.

The scoring wasnt finished for the first half and again that man Dobbie was involved. He played a lovely ball into the path of Marshall on the left wing and the young fullbacks drilled cross was turned into his own net by, Annan defender, Lucas.

There werent the usual wholesale changes at half time, Gary Naysmith making just three changes to the side that started. Jack Leighfield replaced Martin in goals, while Mercer, Rankin and trialist, James McFadden replaced Marshall, Tapping and Stirling in what, positionally, were straight swaps.

Annan might have been wishing Stephen Dobbie had gone off at half time as it took the star striker just 3 minutes to clinch his hat trick. Del Lyle played an absolutely perfect ball in behind the Annan defence from deep in midfield to release Dobbie and he made no mistake with one touch to perfectly control the ball and another to bullet it into the bottom corner, giving Atkinson no chance.

That ended the scoring, as both teams made several more changes which, as it often does, disrupted the flow of the game. Youngsters Bell, Murray and Akubuine all got around half an hour and aquitted themselves very well.

Up next is Fleetwood this Friday at 3pm at their Poolfoot Farm Training Complex, the last friendly before the competitve action begins on the 15th July when we travel to Stenhousemuir in the Betfred Cup

Queens Team : 1. Martin 2. Rooney 3. Marshall 4. Fordyce 5. Brownlie 6. Tapping 7. Stirling 9. Lyle 10. Dykes 11. Dobbie 14. Jacobs
Subs : 20. Leighfield 12. Mercer 8. Rankin 15. Trialist 16. Akubuine 17. Murray 19. Bell

CHECK OUT SOME PICTURES FROM THE GAME IN THE MATCH GALLERY