After the weather put paid to our game last weekend, it was back on the road and this time a trip to Arbroath in the 3rd round of the Scottish Cup. Manager Peter Murphy gave starts to Lewis ODonnell, Adam Brooks and Leighton McIntosh as Kieran McKechnie, Josh Walker and Kyle Doherty dropped to the bench from the side that faced Dumbarton in our last outing.
Four minutes into the game, Ross Stewart was called into action as he punched the ball clear from a corner. The home side quickly forced a second as Jack Brydon blocked, but that too came to nothing.
A minute later it was Queens on the attack, a good ball down the right channel was taken down well by Brooks but his final delivery into the box needed to be better.
With nothing much between the sides Craig Slater tried to curl a free kick into the top corner but curled the ball wide of the front post.
Queens were getting the ball forward but were just falling short in the final third. Returning to his former club, McIntosh kept the ball low as he hit a shot form 20 yards but it lacked power and it was an easy take for Aidan McAdams.
Midway through the half, Jack Wilkie fired over with the outside of his left foot and just past the half hour mark, Stewart got down to his right hand side to turn the ball away after Slater had set up a chance for Calum Gallagher who aimed for the bottom corner.
With nine minutes of the first half remaining, Oscar MacIntyre started a good Queens move and as they moved the ball around the park, it came out wide to Mikey Hewitt who whipped the ball into the box for McIntosh to make the challenge. It looked like he had won a corner but referee, Peter Stuart gave a goal kick instead.
Two minutes later, Harry Cochrane did well as he chased down and won the ball on the right hand side. He held off several tackles but was eventually stopped at the edge of the box.
With the last chance before the interval, Scott Stewart hit a wild shot that flew over the bar when it looked easier to score.
HALF TME Arbroath 0 Queens 0
Doherty replaced ODonnell in a half time change but it was the home side who had the first attempt on goal after the break when Stewart took the ball down on his chest but his shot was blocked. Queens then broke through McIntosh and the move ended with Hewitt stinging the palms of McAdams with his effort.
As the game moved back to the other end, Stewart collected well as Gallagher headed towards goal.
Just before the hour mark, it was Jack Hannah who this time made a charge forward, he picked out MacIntyre to his left and as he played the ball into the danger area, it was headed clear. It wasnt cleared properly and Queens continued to put the home defence under a bit of pressure but they eventually got the ball out to safety.
With both teams looking for a breakthrough, the game opened up in the final twenty minutes and Cochranes free kick was turned out for a corner, while at the other end Stewart tried to get the ball into the six yard box but Matty Douglas cleared.
With nine minutes to go the deadlock was broken, on the counter attack, Doherty sent Brooks on the run and instead of taking the shot himself, he played it back to the provider whos first attempt was blocked but he made no mistake with the rebound as he smashed it into the net to give Queens the lead.
From then it was about managing the game for Queens and in the final minutes of the cup tie, Ryan Dow fired over before McIntyre blocked well to stop Stewart at the by-line. McIntyre then headed clear after Stewart had theatrically thrown himself down inside the box with the defender behind him in the hope of winning an injury time penalty.
In the end, one goal was enough to settle the game and get Queens into Monday nights draw.
FULL TIME Arbroath 0 Queens 1