Ramsdens Cup: Queens quality the difference as holders progress

Posted on Saturday, July 27th, 2013

Three early first half goals helped Championship 1 side Queen of the South on their way to a 4-0 Ramsdens Cup win v Spartans at Palmerston Park.

Spartans made their second trip in as many weeks to Dumfriesshire and they were giving a fantastic send-off at the Academy by the kids of the Spartans 2006 team who took time out of their training to wish their heroes well.

However, it was goals by McKenna (x2) and Lyle, who both netted for the hosts in midweek, during an 11 minute first-half spell that put paid to any giant-killing plans that had travelled down on the bus from Edinburgh.

The first came from a corner kick that Mitchell delivered into a packed box and McKenna rose above Blaikie and bulleted his header past Bennett.  Six minutes later and the Ramsdens Cup holders doubled their lead.  Another cross, this time a free kick from out on the right, evaded the Spartans defence, allowing Lyle to poke it home from close range.

This quick one-two knocked the wind out of the sails and whilst on the ropes, McKenna delivered another header into the net from a corner kick out right.

A stunned Spartans started to look at ways to get back into the game and Beacher had a speculative shot at goal however it went wide of ex-Hibs keeper Calum Antel’s right hand post.

Queens looked useful at every break and only McKenna will know how he managed to hit the ball so high and handsome from two yards both over the bar and over two streets before it got salvaged and returned by a dog walking passer-by.

Half-Time: Queen of the South 3-0 Spartans

With no changes at the break, it was back to business for the twenty-two players that started in the rain that had now shifted to bright sunshine.

Despite no personnel movement at half-time for Spartans, it was a changed side from a mental and physical perspective that started the second forty-five minutes.

Motion looked lively and had a half-chance to put the side on the scoreboard as he hit a shot that saw Ansell spring into action.

Danny Main continued to show why he’ll be an important addition to the side as the big defender marshalled the backline and produced several key challenges to keep the Queens attack at bay.

At the other end, Beacher latched on to a poorly weighted Higgins pass-back. Instead of opting to take on the keeper at his near post, he unselfishly squared the ball across the box however there were no takers to finish off the job.

Bennett, who had a quieter spell thus far than he had in the first half, was brought into action with a top drawer save from the head of Holt.

With the potential of a consolation goal, at the very least, looking favourable for the Spartans, it was the home side who scored a fourth and decisive goal that saw them go into the second round draw this coming Wednesday.

Lyle made it to the bye-line and his telling cross to the back post saw him leap and direct his header home. 4-0.

Despite this, it was Spartans who finished the game on a high, with Beacher hitting the side-netting before being thwarted by Antell who spread himself star-fish style to get his shoelaces to what, on another day, may have resulted in a more favourable outcome.

Full Time: Queen of the South 4-0 Spartans.

Post-game, Spartans Manager Dougie Samuel reflected on a tough game in what is still traditional pre-season territory, “I think in the first 10 minutes we hadn’t looked in any real danger and we were coping quite well in open play, however we lost three goals to as many set pieces in a short period of time and at that point, three down in 21 minutes, we perhaps feared the worse.

“The second half we relaxed a little bit, we retained the ball better, passed it better and actually created five or six opportunities to score a goal, which, had we scored, I don’t think anyone would have begrudged us.

“I thought the players showed great character and resolve today to dig in get to half time without conceding any more and I think in terms of challenges we’ll face this season, there won’t be any others that were as mentally and physically or tactically bigger than we’ve had today.”

With a break from games this midweek, it will allow Beacher (achillies) and Sivewright (calf) a chance to recover ahead of next Saturday’s friendly away to Craigroyston at St Mark’s Park.

Spartans: Bennett, Cenerrazzo, Blaikie, Sivewright, Main, Motion, Brown, Whatley, Ross, Beacher & Beesley. Subs: Anderson, Henretty, O’Donnell, Trialist, Jackson.


Next Fixture

                     
Date: 09/11/24
Opponent: Forfar Athletic
Venue:Station Park
Competition: SPFL 2
Kick off: 3.00pm

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