Our league cup games continued in Group G, with our third game in the space of a week.
For the visit of East Fife, the manager made four changes to the side that started against Elgin City at the weekend. There were two enforced following the suspension of Kyle McLelland and Harry Cochrane, while Murray Johnston and Craig McGuffie dropped to the bench. Gordon Botterill took over in goal, while there was a debut at the back for Efe Ambrose who signed at lunchtime and starts for Harvey Walker and Lee Connelly.
It was Walker who made a couple of great runs from kick off. In his first charge forward, his pace was taking him past the defender on the wing and the only way he could deal with it was to barge him off the park, his second run was just short for Gavin Reilly to get on the end of.
The former Aldershot man was making an impact and as he broke to the by-line he was challenged as he crossed.
Queens had made a positive start and as Reegan Mimnaugh played the ball back in, Kieran McKechnies shot was blocked.
The visitors had almost everyone back behind the ball, but they did make a break and Liam Newton fired over from close range.
As both sides started to cancel each other out, chances dried up for a spell until just over half an hour gone when a cross field ball was collected by Walker and as he cut inside his shot was deflected for a corner. Connelly then found McKechnie with a good pass, but it was quickly shut down as Queens found it hard to break down a solid unit.
Eight minutes before the break, Mimnaugh and Connelly combined well to set up a chance for Reilly, but Sean Docherty got there first to clear.
It was still Queens who were pushing but they never really looked like scoring, Cammy Logan did well down the left as he harassed to win the ball back but as he cut it back for Mimnaugh, he couldve and probably shouldve hit it first time.
In the closing minutes of the first half, Liam Newton was lucky to get away with a poor challenge on Walker.
HALF TIME: QUEENS 0 EAST FIFE 0
In the opening five minutes of the second half, Josh Todd won a free-kick which Mimnaugh took, his set-piece was deflected for a corner and as the lively midfielder played it in Ryan Schiavone cleared as Reilly attacked.
The best chance of the game came just before the hour mark, when McKechnie floated in a free kick and Reillys header had Allan Fleming diving to safe.
Minutes later, Logan cut the ball back into the path of Connelly but as he looked for an opening, he lifted the ball over the bar.
Botterill had little to do but did have to react to deny Scott Shepherd after the officials waved play on despite McKechnie being wiped out. The visitors were starting to nibble at Queens goal, but Botterill looked comfortable as he collected anything that came into the box.
Midway through the second half, Queens had a shout for a penalty when the ball appeared to come off a hand inside the box as Logan fired towards the target. And then as Logan hit a long ball into the box, Fleming punched clear.
For the second game in a row, Queens had to play out the latter stages of the game with ten men. Craig McGuffie who had come off the bench made a challenge at the edge of the box and referee Graham Grainger flashed a straight red card for what he saw as a goal-scoring opportunity prevented. Mimnaugh blocked the free kick.
As the visitors looked to make the extra man count, Gregor Nicol drilled the ball across goal but was well wide of the upright. The same player then hit a free kick well over.
Queens still looked for the win and as Mimnaugh somehow managed to find space, he got the ball in, but Reilly couldnt connect.
Goal-less at the end of ninety minutes, both sides had to settle for a point and face a penalty shoot-out for a bonus win.
Connor McManus was first up and scored for East Fife before Fleming saved Queens first kick, denying Reilly. Scott Shepherd made it 2-0 before Mimnaugh converted a retaken penalty. Paul McKay and Todd also scored for Queens but with Stewart Murdoch, Brogan Walls, and Newton all on target the extra point went to East Fife.
FULL TIME: Queens 0 East Fife 0 (East Fife win 5-3 on penalties)