A young Queen of the South side grabbed their first win of the season, and their first of 2020, with goals from Euan East, Niyah Joseph and James Maxwell giving the visitors a vital win after going one down to an early Jai Quitongo header.

 

 

Despite the group stages being all but over, Allan Johnston opted to make just two changes to Saturday?s side. Nortei Nortey and Niyah Joseph came into the Queens side at the expense of the experienced duo of Wullie Gibson and Stephen Dobbie. Jack Leighfield retained his place in-goal following on from an inclusion in the SPFL?s Team of the Week after Saturday?s performance at Gayfield, with Queens again lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, albeit Connor Shields led the line today with Euan East playing on the left-wing. Vice-captain Gregor Buchanan led the South out in Stephen Dobbie?s absence.

 

The hosts included ex-Doonhamers Mikey Doyle, Lee Kilday and Darren Lyon in their starting XI, while Bob McHugh had to settle for a place on the bench.

 

Things couldn?t have started much worse for the South though as the home side went ahead with just over a minute on the clock. A looping ball from Lyon was met by Will Baynham, who nodded to Jai Quitongo to head into the goal from inches out.

 

Quitongo heads home

 

It was a nightmare start for the visitors, but the young Doonhamers kept probing, making good use of the ball on a huge Hampden pitch.

 

Niyah Joseph became the first man to have an effort on Willie Muir?s goal but his left-footed strike from 20-yards flew over the bar and into the stands.

 

The Spiders came dangerously close to doubling their lead after 20 minutes through their first corner of the game as a Craig Slater corner was met by the towering Carrice Carroll, who?s looping effort came back off the top of the bar.

 

This acted as a timely wake-up call for the Doonhamers, who equalised from a corner of their own just two minutes later. A perfect Joe McKee cross put the ball on a plate for Euan East to bag his first goal for the club with a powerful header from six-yards out.

 

East heads the equaliser

 

Queen of the South really should have taken the lead after half an hour too, as a perfect cut-back from Aidan Fitzpatrick to Joseph on the penalty area allowed Queens? number 17 to have a shot at goal, but he again scooped his effort over the bar.

 

Joseph was creating good space throughout the opening 45 minutes in the Queens Park half, creating chances for himself and the team with some neat touches. After missing two chances earlier on though he was finally able to bag his first goal for the club with a stunning finish. Good hold up play by East and Shields let the latter lay-off to Niyah Joseph to curl in to the net from an angle.

 

Joseph sends the ball into the top corner

 

The away side continued to remain on top as the second half drew to a close, almost doubling their lead on 34 minutes, however, Fitzpatrick rolled a shot from inside the area wide of Muir?s goals.

 

 

Despite finding themselves one-goal down after two minutes, the Doonhamers fought back well against lower league opposition to head into the break at Hampden leading 2-1.

 

In contrary to the opening 45, the second-half took a while to get going, with three subs for the hosts perhaps affecting the flow of the game.

 

Nonetheless the Doonhamers were still looking the more accomplished side, hitting Queens Park with a couple of dangerous counter-attacks as the Spiders looked to find a way back into the game.

 

The hosts made their final changes of the game with 17 minutes left on the clock, with the South continuing to push on and look for a third goal.

 

The Spiders began to commit men forward in search of an equaliser, leaving gaps at the back that the South were able to take advantage of, doubling their lead after 80 minutes.

 

Dan Pybus picked up the ball in the middle of the Queens Park half before playing a ball through to James Maxwell. The Rangers-loanee drove into the Queens Park box before firing a low effort past Muir at his back-post. It was a second goal in two games for Maxwell, who continues to improve in each game he plays for Queens.

 

Maxwell drives the ball home

 

 

The third goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of Queens Park who beforehand were beginning to get on top of proceedings.

 

Stand-in skipper Buchanan almost scored a fourth for the visitors, rising highest at the backpost from a McKee corner, although he header his effort narrowly wide.

 

 

A solid showing from Queen of the South who grabbed their first win of 2020 at the national stadium. A good defensive display coupled with some fine finishing allows the Doonhamers to head into a 10 day break on a positive note.

 

Queens ended their Betfred Cup campaign with 7 out of a possible 12 points, remaining unbeaten throughout, although it remains to be seen where we will end up in the group with the final round of fixtures taking place this weekend.