Queen of the South 2-2 Saints (Queen of the South win 4-2 on penalties)

The League One side started brightly and they took a deserved lead on 12 minutes when Lee Connelly headed home a Ciaran McKenna cross, with the aid of a deflection.

Saints fought back in the second half and substitute Jamie Murphy levelled the match up on 49 minutes thanks to a fine solo run into the box.

However, Queens regained the lead on 64 minutes as Ruari Paton guided the ball home from close range.

Saints though were level again with 6 minutes remaining as Murphy got his and Saints second of the afternoon.

The match then went to a penalty shootout to see who would get the bonus point. Both Murray Davidson and Max Kucheriavyi saw their penalties saved by Queens keeper Max Currie and McGrory then secured the bonus point for The Doonhamers as he despatched his penalty beyond Elliott Parish.

Today’s result coupled with a 4-0 win for Annan Athletic against Elgin City means that Saints are in fourth place in Group F with 2 points whilst The Galabankies are top of the group with 8 points.

Saints next Premier Sports Group F match is on Tuesday evening as they make the trip to Elgin City, kick off 7:45pm.

MATCH REPORT

Saints were back in Premier Sports Cup action this afternoon as they travelled to Dumfries to take on League One side Queen of the South at Palmerston Park. Nine-man Saints lost 5-4 on penalties to Annan Athletic on Tuesday evening after the sides played out a goalless draw at McDiarmid Park and there were three changes to the Saints starting eleven this afternoon. Callum Davidson brought in James Brown, Graham Carey and Stevie May to replace Max Kucheriavyi and Theo Bair who both dropped to the bench whilst Dan Cleary missed out due to suspension following his red card on Tuesday evening. Queen of the South defeated Ayr United 3-0 on Tuesday evening and player-manager Wullie Gibson decided to go with the same team which started at Somerset Park in midweek.

Murray Davidson got the match underway for Saints but it would be the hosts who created the first chance of the match after 4 minutes as they hit Saints on the counter attack. Lee Connelly played the ball into the path of Ruari Paton and the Irish forward broke into the Saints box before unleashing a shot which hit the side netting.

Saints got a sight of goal 2 minutes later as Ali Crawford’s corner from the left fell to an unmarked Melker Hallberg on the edge of the box however, his effort was blocked by a Queens defender. The loose ball then broke to Andy Considine but he also saw his shot blocked by the hosts defence as The Doonhamers cleared their lines.

Saints were forced into a change on 10 minutes as Ali Crawford had picked up a hamstring injury and had to be replaced by Jamie Murphy.

PHOTO: Ali Crawford gets treatment for his hamstring injury

Then 2 minutes later Queen of the South took the lead. A good passing move by The Doonhamers saw Calvin McGrory switch the ball out wide to Ciaran McKenna on the right and the defender had time to take a touch before sending an inviting ball into the Saints box which Lee Connelly got on the end of it to head it into the far corner of the net, with the aid of a deflection.

On 21 minutes a Hallberg corner from the left broke to Stevie May in the box but his shot on the turn came back off the post as the hosts cleared their lines. Then shortly after Graham Carey played the ball out wide to Adam Montgomery and the on-loan Celtic man then cut the ball back to Murphy but his strike was saved by Max Currie in the home goal.

PHOTO: Stevie May’s shot hits the post  

Saints continued to push for the equaliser however, with 2 minutes of the first half remaining Queens hit Saints on the counter attack as Connelly played the ball into Paton however, his strike was straight at Elliott Parish who comfortably gathered the ball. Connelly then created another chance in the first minute of injury time at the end of the half as he unleashed a strike but Parish was alert to the danger as he gathered the ball.

Saints made a change before the second half could get underway as Michael O’Halloran came on to replace Charlie Gilmour.

Saints were back on level terms 4 minutes into the second half as Murphy went on a fine solo run across the box before sending a left footed strike into the far corner of the net.

The goal gave Saints a boost and on 52 minutes Hallberg’s corner from the left was met by Considine but his header at the back post went narrowly wide the target.

PHOTO: Jamie Murphy scores to make it 1-1

Just before the hour mark Queens created a good opportunity to take the lead again as McGrory broke down the left before picking out Connelly in the centre of the box but the forward couldn’t direct his header on target.

However, The Doonhamers did regain the lead on 64 minutes. McGrory sent a corner in from the right and McKenna flicked the ball on to Paton who did well to lose his man and slot the ball beyond Parish to put the hosts 2-1 up.

Wullie Gibson’s side came very close to a third 2 minutes later as Paton slipped the ball into the path of Josh Todd but the midfielder’s shot was straight at Parish.

Saints then made a double change on 67 minutes as Max Kucheriavyi and Theo Bair came on to replace Graham Carey and Stevie May.

PHOTO: Murray Davidson is tackled by Paul McKay

Connelly was having a brilliant game up top for the hosts and with 12 minutes remaining he came close to get his second and Queens third of the afternoon. Paton slipped the ball into the path of the former Sunderland player but his curling effort went narrowly wide.

The forward then got another chance to seal the points for The Doonhamers on 82 minutes. Paton again turned provider as he sent Connelly free as they hit Saints on the break and with only Parish to beat his shot came back off the outside of the post.

That was a big let off for Saints and they were soon back in the game as Murphy got his second of the match with 6 minutes remaining to bring Saints level. Bair fed the ball to Murphy on the edge of the box and his curling effort went in off the post to ensure that the match went to penalties to see who would get the bonus point.

Murphy and Hallberg scored for Saints whilst Iain Wilson and Paul McKay scored for the hosts. Murray Davidson was up next for Saints but his effort was saved by Currie who got down well to his left and then Todd scored for Queens to give The Doonhamers the advantage. Kucheriavyi was up next for Saints but his penalty was also saved by Currie as the former Airdrieonians keeper again guessed the correct way. That then gave McGrory the chance to seal the bonus point for the cinch League One side and he coolly despatched the ball beyond Parish into the top left corner of the net to wrap up the point for the hosts.

PHOTO: Murray Davidson makes his way back to his team mates after missing his penalty

Queen of the South: Currie, McKay, Quitongo, McKay, Cochrane (Wilson 61), Paton, Todd, Connelly (McKechnie 85), Murray (Muir 81), McKenna, McGrory

Unused Substitutes: Cowie (GK), McMahon, L. Gibson, Johnstone, W. Gibson

Booked: None

Scorers: Connelly (12), Paton (64)

Saints: Parish, Brown, Mahon, Considine, Gilmour (O’Halloran 45), Montgomery, Davidson, Hallberg, Carey (Kucheriavyi 67), May (Bair 67), Crawford (Murphy 10)

Unused Substitutes: Sinclair (GK), Ballantyne, Ferguson, Steven

Booked: Hallberg

Scorers: Murphy (49, 84)

Referee: Graham Grainger

Attendance: 1,027

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Andy Considine battles with Rico Quitongo