Another game, another Lee Connelly masterclass.

 

For the fifth time in six games the maestro found the back of the net, whilst Ally Roy nabbed a late goal in his first appearance in over a month. Sol Brynn was also sensational, denying two clear cut opportunities for Thistle as the Doonhamers safely made it through to the quarter-finals of the SPFL Trust Trophy.

 

 

Allan Johnston promised changes last week and delivered, with starts for Ruari Paton, Aidan Fitzpatrick and Ben Liddle. Harry Cochrane and Ruben Soares Junior were forced to make do with a place on the bench whilst Innes Cameron was cup-tied.

 

Kevin Holt started for the visitors at centre-back, with the Jags naming a full-strength side that included Brian Graham and Zak Rudden.

 

The opening 45 got off to a blistering start with Fitzpatrick almost marking his first start back at Queens with a goal after 30 seconds.

 

Alex Cooper flicked on to Fitzpatrick, but his low strike was well saved by Jamie Sneddon in the Thistle goal.

 

Fitzpatrick gets away an early effort

 

Minutes later the away team really should have went one ahead.

 

Scott Tiffoney got in behind the Queens backline, one-on-one with Brynn, but the Middlesbrough loanee was rapid to react, made himself big, and denied what looked like a certain goal for the Jags.

 

Apart from that the first-half was a bit of a non-event, in truth.

 

Queens were sitting too deep and allowing their opponents to play, although the South defended admirably throughout ? Thistle never mustered another clear cut chance in the first half despite seeing most of the ball.

 

Paton, who lacked much service up front, saw a tame header saved by Sneddon before Alan Newlands blew for half-time.

 

 

A half to forget for the 1043 fans at the game, and the hundreds that streamed it.

 

But whatever was said at the break, especially in the Queens dressing rooms, worked an absolute treat.

 

The Doonhamers came out reinvigorated, pressing higher and creating more chances.

 

Connelly delivered a looping cross to Paton at the backpost, but the Irishman was only able to send his header whiskers wide of the post from an exceptionally tight angle.

 

On 56 minutes, Holt almost grabbed his first goal for Queen of the South in two years, miscuing a clearance, forcing Sneddon into a quite remarkable save at his near post.

 

But on 69 minutes, something utterly magical happened courtesy of that man Lee Connelly.

 

Roberto Nditi, who?d been shifted into midfield as Queens went to a 4-3-3 formation, played the simplest of passes to the feet of Connelly. Queens? number 10 turned, and unleashed a picture-perfect strike from all of 30 yards straight into the top corner.

 

Connelly strikes

Goal celebrations

 

On any normal season, that strike wins goal of the season, comfortably. But his strike at Inverness just might top it, or even Wullie Gibson?s strike at Firhill ? we?ve saw some screamers this season and it?s only October!

 

Both sides made a handful of changes next, the main news being Ally Roy returning to action for the first time since August, replacing Fitzpatrick on 75 minutes.

 

The game slowed slightly with a total of eight subs being made between both sides, but it was Thistle who were to challenge next.

 

Josh Debayo misread the bounce of a ball, allowing Ross MacIver in, but the former-Motherwell man was absolutely no match for Brynn, who made another sensational save from close range to keep Queens ahead.

 

As the game entered injury time there was slightly more space for the Queens attackers to infiltrate and it was Ally Roy who reaped the rewards of the extra space through his own determination.

 

Pressing Stephen Hendrie with 91 minutes on the clock, Roy forced the debutant into a loose backpass, chasing down the ball, rounding Sneddon, and tucking home for his eighth goal of the season.

Roy rounds the keeper

Goal celebrations

 

 

Two goals, a clean sheet, into the quarters. What a start to the weekend for the South.

 

Next up in the SPFL Trust Trophy is another home tie, this time against the winner of Montrose and Greenock Morton, who meet tomorrow at 1PM.