Sat 15 Mar 2025
William Hill League One

Queens

3

|

2

Alloa Athletic

O`Donnell (10')
Smith (24')
Kennedy (50')
Luke Rankin (38')
Luke Rankin (70')

After a long trip north last weekend it was back to Palmerston and the visit of Alloa Athletic. Manager, Peter Murphy made three changes to the starting eleven that faced Cove Rangers. With Jack Brydon and Brennan Dickenson both picking up injuries in the game against Paul Hartley?s side, they missed out along with Kyle Doherty who dropped to the bench. Kai Kennedy, Lewis O?Donnell and Jordan Allan all started instead.

With Alloa sitting fourth in the table, this was a massive game in terms of play-off hopes and it was Queens who hit the ground running. Eight minutes in, Adam Brooks collected the ball on the left and played it in to Allan, the striker skipped into the box and continued to open up space but as he hit a right foot shot it flew the wrong side of the post.

It was a great chance missed but they did take the lead two minutes later when Liam Smith outpaced Stefan Scougall to send the ball across the face of goal, as the ball came back out it fell to O?Donnell who didn?t hit the cleanest strike but it was enough to beat PJ Morrison at the near post.

Queens were dominant and not giving the visitors a minutes peace and with quarter of an hour played, Brooks was fouled outside the box but as the game played on, Benji Luissint was unlucky with a shot that was again just the wrong side of the upright.

The home side maintained the pressure and Smith and Brooks played a great one-two with the former getting inside the box only for the keeper to come out to take the ball away from his feet.

Within sixty seconds Allan had a couple of chances, goal-scorer, O?Donnell set up the first, only for the keeper to block and with the rebound the frontman couldn?t get enough spin on the ball and it flew straight across the target.

It was game where you hoped Queens wouldn?t pay the price for missed opportunities but midway through the half, they did double the advantage when Jack Hannah made a terrific run before Smith kept the ball low and fired the ball across the keeper into the bottom corner.

Two minutes later, Oscar MacIntyre had a claim for a penalty when he was nudged just inside the box but referee Stewart Luke wasn?t having it and played on.

The visitors hadn?t been in the game but on the half hour mark, Ross Stewart was called into action and pulled off a strong one handed save to deny Morgan Neill. As Queens hit on the counter, a cross in was cleared by Dave McKay just as Allan was about to connect.

Despite controlling the game, Queens suffered a blow seven minutes before the break when The Wasps pulled one back. Josh Gentles played the ball in from the left and as Stewart committed himself Luke Rankin was on hand to finish.

In the closing stages of the first half, MacIntyre made a great run down the wing and cut the ball back for Brooks who had showed his support but Scougall cleared the danger. And with the final chance of the opening forty-five, Kennedy hit a free-kick just wide of the post.

 

HALF TIME ? Queens 2 Alloa Athletic 1

 

Three minutes after the restart, Scougall looked to get his side level when he turned at the edge of the 18-yard line but his shot was just over the bar.

And two minutes later, it was Queens who extended their lead with a well worked goal. As the ball was played from their own half, Smith was on his own on the right and as he cut inside, he played it out to Kennedy who used the outside of his right boot to beat Morrison for a sweet finish.

The visitors tried to get back into the game and Gentles did well to win the ball but his shot was wild and well over. And within a minute they were back on the attack when Kurtis Roberts had a chance from inside the box after Queens were trying to pass the ball out, but he shot straight at Stewart.

It was a good wee spell for Andy Graham?s men and as Gentles got on the end of it, his effort was turned out for a corner.

But it didn?t take Queens long to regain the upper hand and MacIntyre showed some brilliant play to beat three defenders to get the ball into the box but his final shot was blocked.

With twenty minutes remaining, Alloa did pull one back in controversial style. As Brooks was taken out at the edge of the box, the foul wasn?t given, allowing the visitors the chance to play on. Gentles shot was well saved by Stewart but the ball spun to Rankin who forced the ball over the line for his and Alloa?s second of the game.

It was a nervy end to the game as, on the ninety, Luissint made a challenge to stop Cammy O?Donnell getting his cross into the box and deep in added on time, the ball was played into the box, Queens had a couple of chances to clear but didn?t properly until Reece Lyon booted it away.

Overall, it was a great performance from Queens to move them back to within two points of the play off places with seven games to go.

 

FULL TIME ? Queens 3 Alloa Athletic 2
 

  • 1
    Stewart
  • 22
    MacIntyre
  • 4
    Lyon
  • 16
    Hannah
  • 18
    Charters
    (Sub2)
  • 7
    Smith
    1
  • 17
    O`Donnell
    1
  • 8
    Luissint
  • 10
    Kennedy
    1
    (Sub1)
  • 12
    Brooks
    (Sub3)
  • 29
    Allan

Subs

20
Johnson
19
Bryden
23
Walker
Sub1-71
25
Doherty
32
Thomson

Sub2-74
34
Harkness
6
Cochrane
Sub3-80
 
For Real Time Updates Go To Our Updates Page
Pre-match Queens: 1.Stewart 4.Lyon 7.Smith 8.Luissint 10.Kennedy 12.Brooks 16.Hannah 17.O`Donnell 18.Charters 22.MacIntyre 29.Allan
Pre-match Queens Subs: 20.Johnson (GK) 6.Cochrane 19.Bryden 23.Walker 25.Doherty 32.Thomson 34.Harkness 36.Murphy (trialist)
Pre-match Alloa: 31.Morrison 2.Taggart 3.Waters 6.Neill 8.Roberts 9.Donnelly 12.Scougall 15.McKay 20.O`Donnell 24.Rankin 25.Gentles
Pre-match Alloa Subs: 1.Okayi 7.Cawley 10.Honeyman 17.Thomson 18.Sammon 19.Buchanan 22.Mullen 23.Devine 27.MacKenzie
First half begins |0-0
1%27 Alloa get the game underway at Palmerston! |0-0
Pre-match Queens with the early chance from a corner, but Donnelly clears any danger as both teams find a way into the game.
Pre-match Jordan Allan with a big chance, driving in on the right, has a go but it`s just wide of the post.
15%27 GOAL QUEENS! O`Donnell the scorer |1-0
32%27 GOAL QUEENS! Smith the scorer |2-0
33%27 Great defending from Queens to clear any Alloa danger while limiting their opportunities. |2-0
39%27 Goal Alloa. Rankin the scorer |2-1
45%27 Cross in from Kai Kennedy is straight into the hands of PJ Morrison as we approach half time. |2-1
49%27 Kai Kennedy with the last chance of the half as he whips in a free kick in a dangerous position after Brooks was brought down but it`s inches over the bar. |2-1
First half ends |2-1
Second half begins |2-1
46%27 Back underway at Palmerston! |2-1
46%27 SUBSTITUTION Alloa: Neill OFF REPLACED BY Devine |2-1
46%27 SUBSTITUTION Alloa: Donnelly OFF REPLACED BY Buchanan |2-1
1%27 Scougall curls a shot on goal but it is just over the bar. So close from the Alloa man. |2-1
50%27 GOAL QUEENS! Kennedy the scorer |3-1
53%27 Luissint wins the ball back in midfield and drives forward on goal before finding Kennedy out on the right, for him to fire past Morrison in goal and put Queens 3-1 in front!! |3-1
60%27 Stewart (QOS) is booked |3-1
61%27 Oscar MacIntyre drives in from the right after some good play by Luissint and Smith, he looks to take the shot on himself, but great defending from Alloa to get it clear. |3-1
72%27 Goal Alloa. Rankin the scorer |3-2
72%27 SUBSTITUTION QOS: Kennedy OFF REPLACED BY Walker |3-2
74%27 SUBSTITUTION QOS: Charters OFF REPLACED BY Thomson |3-2
75%27 Scougall (Alloa) is booked |3-2
79%27 SUBSTITUTION QOS: Brooks OFF REPLACED BY Cochrane |3-2
81%27 SUBSTITUTION Alloa: Waters OFF REPLACED BY Sammon |3-2
81%27 SUBSTITUTION Alloa: Roberts OFF REPLACED BY MacKenzie |3-2
86%27 O`Donnell (Alloa) is booked |3-2
87%27 Into the final 5, as both teams continue to pile on the pressure |3-2
87%27 David McKay cannot direct his header on target as it`s well wide. |3-2
The game ends |3-2