Airdrie were the opposition for our final Group A match in the Premier Sports Cup. With the games coming thick and fast and still a few injuries within the squad, Manager Peter Murphy went with the same outfield players that started the game against East Kilbride in midweek. The one change made came in goals, with Jay Hogarth replacing Ross Stewart. Jack Brydon and Kai Kennedy had recovered enough to make the bench.
The first opportunity of the game came in five minutes when Euan Ross made a clearance, his long ball was chased down by Kieran McKechnie but Keiran Wright was quick off his line to get their first.
A minute later Mason Hancock played the ball down the line for Ben Wilson but Harry Cochrane made a great challenge to halt him getting into the box.
The hosts had been free scoring in their games so far so it was no surprise that they played the ball around well. Adam Frizzell played a sublime cross field pass to find Handcock but Ross stood up to him and he couldnt get the ball into the box.
Queens were giving as good as they got and as Matty Douglas won the ball at the back, Reece Lyon once again used his strength to break forward. He played it to his left for Josh Walker but his low left footed effort was just wide of the post.
With quarter of an hour gone, Walker was brought down and as Cochrane played the free-kick into the box Brennan Dickenson got his head on the end of it but couldnt direct it towards the target.
Both sides cancelled each other out but with just over half an hour gone, Queens passed up the best chance of the game. Oscar MacIntyre raced down the left to cross into the box where McKechnie was in space, he took a touch too many and Wright reacted to pull off a great point blank save. As the ball came back in McKechnie was in the same position but this time turned it wide.
Within the space of three minutes at the end of the first half, Queens were dealt a double blow as Lyon and Cochrane both had to leave the field after picking up hamstring injuries. As they looked to settle again, MacIntyre laid the ball back to Ben Johnstone but he fired over.
The visitors were doing well and limited Airdrie to very little in front of goal but they came unstuck a minute before the interval when Hancock crossed into the box from the left and Wilson was on hand to knock the ball past Hogarth.
In the final move of the opening forty-five, Dickenson who had moved into a more central role charged through the middle but as he tried to pick out Walker he couldnt get there.
HALF TIME: Airdrie 1 Queens 0
As they looked to wrap up the game, Airdrie made a stronger start to the second half and Hogarth got down low to deny Frizzell.
Queens were getting penned back in the early stages and Mickey Hewitt and Douglas made a couple of good clearances.
Just before the hour mark, Hogarth was called into action when he saved a thunderous low drive from Dean McMaster.
Queens did try to hit on the counter through Dickenson but it was the hosts who found the net again. With 63 minutes on the clock, the defence wad broken and Terrell Agyemang kept the ball down to sweep it into the net.
The scorer was involved again when he lifted the ball high over the defenders for Chris Mochrie but he was offside.
Two down Queens didnt give up and Walkers free kick was headed on by Brydon. Hewitt was stretching for it but managed to hook it back across only for it to be cleared. Dickenson was trying to create but couldnt find a way through.
Zander Craik took off down the channel but instead of cutting back and waiting for support he looked to get it into the area early when there was no one on hand to take advantage.
In the final minutes, Walker hit a free kick into the arms of Wright and at the other end Hogarth pulled off a fine one handed save from Lewis McGrattan as his shot headed for the top corner.
The defeat brought an end to Queens league cup campaign for another year but the performances within the four games have given hope for the league season.
FULL TIME: Airdrie 2 Queens 0