It was an injury ravaged squad that made the trip to K Park for our latest Premier Sport Cup match. With Kai Kennedy, Kyle Doherty, Leighton McIntosh, Harry McLinden and Benji Luissint all added to the casualty list, Manager Peter Murphy made five changes to the side that faced Dumbarton a week ago. Ross Stewart took over in goals with Ben Johnstone, Euan Ross, Oscar MacIntyre, and Josh Walker all coming in to the starting eleven. The lack of numbers meant we only had three players on the bench for this one.
In the opening stages, Kieran McKechnie fired the ball well over after good work by Reece Lyon. However, it was the home side who then saw more of the ball, and as it came in from the right-hand side Jack Leitch tried to hook it goalwards but couldnt find the target. Minutes later the same player this time delivered from the left, but the ball was headed clear.
Mike Kennedys side were enjoying possession but werent causing too many problems, Leitch was again involved in their next attempt on goal when he tried to find the top corner to Stewarts left but couldnt get enough curl on it and the ball flew wide.
Midway through the half, Harry Cochrane pounced on a mistake by David Wilson but as his shot was blocked, as it fell to Lyon he was fouled right on the 18-yard line. Andy MacDonald picked up a booking for the challenge before Walker hit the free kick over the bar.
At the other end Tiwi Daramola had a chance for Kilby but Brennan Dickenson cleared.
The hosts were decent at getting forward but lacked the quality required at the final hurdle and John Robertson dragged a low right foot shot wide. They did take the lead just after the half hour mark when Robertson played a free kick into the box and Sean Fagen side footed the ball past Stewart from close range.
As Queens looked to take a grip of the game, Lyon won a free kick at the corner flag, Cochrane floated the ball into the six-yard box but with Matty Douglas and Dickenson attacking the same ball the chance was cleared.
The game then turned on its head in the space of a minute, Lyon used his strength to burst through before picking out Walker to his left and the forward curled the ball into the roof of the net to pull Queens level. From the restart Lyon again used his power to get into the 18-yard box, he wasnt for passing this time and finished the move by beating Wilson to score his first goal for the club and gave the visitors a lead.
And in added on time at the end of the first half they made it three. This time Cochrane delivered a corner to the back post and Dickenson rose above the rest to head into the net.
HALF TIME: East Kilbride 1 Queens 3
As the second half got underway, Daramola was clearly offside but was allowed to run on with the ball, he failed to hit the target before the assistant raised his flag.
With little goalmouth action at either end it was midway through the second half before there was much more to get excited about. Zander Craik who had replaced Lyon did well to keep the ball at the byline and as he crossed Cochrane tried to place the ball into the top corner, but tried just too hard and the ball rattled the junction of the bar and post.
The lowland league side werent giving up and as Daramola played a dangerous cross into the area, Douglas cleared for a corner. Fellow defender Dickenson headed away the resulting set piece.
Craik then burst through the middle, but the ball was cleared, it fell nicely to McKechnie, but his shot lacked power.
Fourteen minutes from time, McDonald protested too much at a decision and his verbal attack earned him a second yellow and an early bath.
Despite being down to ten men, East Kilbride continued to fight, and Joao Balde held off Ross to send a right foot cross into the box, Robert Thomson got on the end of it, but his header was weak, and it was an easy collect for Stewart.
Former Queens winger, Andy Stirling was introduced to the play by the home side and as he played the ball across, Stewart again collected.
It was a strong end to the game by EK, but Queens were defending stronger and heading away the danger, although, Stirling was unlucky not to find the net in injury time with a powerful effort that crashed off the crossbar.
FULL TIME: East Kilbride 1 Queens 3