Queen of the South welcomed Airdrieonians to Palmerston for the final game of the Premier Sports Cup this season. And the South put on quite a show for the home support led by the irresistible Ally Roy, who bagged a hat-trick, as Queens won 4-1.

 

Calvin McGrory returned to the team in Queens? only change from last Saturday, replacing Niyah Joseph. Roy lined-up against his old side, along with Scott Dunn who was a former player in Airdrieonians? youth system.

 

There was no Rhys McCabe for the visitors, but Callum Fordyce was in and captaining the team at Palmerston, joined by fellow ex-Doonhamer Salim Kouider-Aissa in the starting eleven.

 

 

It was the visitors who started the game on top forcing Josh Rae into coming off his line quickly to grab two or three crosses, albeit he was never overly tested.

 

Queens grew into the game on about 10 minutes and from there on in it was really one-way traffic.

 

Despite both sides lining-up in a back three it was Queens who were really playing with more width. Ruari Paton was quiet, but effective, whilst Sam Wardrop must?ve thought he was jam because Willie Gibson had him on toast all afternoon.

 

Lee Connelly once again was doing his best to cover every blade of grass (or astroturf, in this case) whilst Ruben Junior continued to thrive leading the line.

 

But it was none of the aforementioned who gave Queens the lead. A flat Queens corner from Connelly was knocked on by Junior, with the ball falling at the feet of Ally Roy, who reacted first to tap home from close range.

 

Roy turns to celebrate his first strike

 

Queens really began to put their foot down now with McGrory showing his inner Lionel Messi after spinning past two players on the edge of the area magnificently. Sadly, his strike was less Messi and more and more Bendtner, flying high over the crossbar.

 

Queens wouldn?t have to wait much longer to double their advantage though, through that man again, Ally Roy.

 

Roy celebrates his second

 

A perfect cross from the evergreen Gibson was glanced goalward by Roy, beating Max Currie to net his fifth of the competition.

 

The Doonhamers kept probing with Gibson and Connelly at the heart of every move. Gibson eventually forced Wardrop into a foul as the right-wing back was booked, before being replaced at half-time such was Gibson?s dominance.

 

Callum Gallagher did have a chance on the stroke of half-time though after reaching the end of a Rico Quitongo cut-back, but his shot was straight at Rae.

 

 

A comfortable first-half, but Ian Murray did change things at the break, switching to a back four and bringing on Gabby McGill in place of Wardrop as the Diamonds went more attacking.

 

The move didn?t work though, and just 11 minutes into the second period Queens bagged a third, through Ruben Soares Junior. The Englishman picked up the ball from Connelly on a counter and opted against passing to Paton. Instead, he waltzed his way past Quitongo, and the Currie, before firing through Josh Kerr, who was helpless on the line.

 

Junior celebrates his strike with Paton

 

Three quickly became four for Queens as Ally Roy bagged himself a free football after finding his third of the afternoon.

 

Connelly chips onto the bar

Roy slams in the rebound

Roy celebrates his hat-trick

 

Queens? fourth really encapsulated everything the Doonhamers love about Connelly. The diminutive number 10 harassed Scott Agnew into giving him the ball, before attempting a spectacular chip from 30-yards. It ricocheted off the crossbar though, leaving Roy with the simplest of tap ins.

 

Roy was replaced by Joseph after 63 minutes, before Paul McKay made his Queens debut, replacing Roberto Nditi who, yet again, put in a flawless performance at right centre-back.

 

Paton, who kept pushing and pressing until the last minute, should have made it five after missing a glorious one-on-one chance with Currie, the away ?keeper holding his effort well.

 

Joseph passed up another chance soon after, nodding a Gibson cross wide of the goal from close range.

 

Allan Johnston made a trio of changes on 78 minutes, handing more gametime to Dom McMahon, as well as giving debuts to Ryan Muir and Connor Potts. Connelly, Josh Todd and Junior were the three men to give way.

 

Kouder-Aissa had a couple of shots in anger from range, both flying narrowly by the post.

 

Rae, who was in search of his first clean sheet for Queens, was left distraught on 91 minutes though after Gabby McGill slotted home from 12-yards for the visitors. Nothing but a consolation, but enough to take a clean sheet away from Rae and his defence.

 

 

Queens were at their brilliant best this afternoon, showing a glimpse of what they can do going forward as well as looking more than capable in defence. Roy will rightly take the headlines, but special mentions must go to Gibson and Connelly, who were virtually unplayable.

 

Next up for Queens it?s cinch Scottish Championship football as we travel to Firhill to take on Partick Thistle in the opening game of the season.