The penultimate friendly, before the real stuff kicks off on Saturday, also saw the end of Queens north-east tour with a game against Blythe Spartans. It was a two hour drive, but well worth it.
Queens fielded a strong side, but missing George Rowe (?), Stevie Mallen (work commitments) and Derek Townsley (injured [see NEWS, AC]). James McLeod moved into the back three to make way for Ross Milligan at right wing back. It looks like Ross has signed for Queens [see NEWS again, AC] and another new face Craig Potts was on the bench, along with Nesovic, for who Lee Bailey was preferred in the slot behind the front two.
The Unibond league opposition looked like a useful outfit, with some very skilful players who looked like they had plenty of experience, possibly at a higher level. However, when Queens got the ball down and got their passing game going they looked a far better side. The problem was the passing game was seen all to infrequently for the Doonhamers to exert any kind of dominance and the game could have gone either way.
Neither side seemed able to find any kind of consistency and their was no real pattern to the game when Queens took the lead with a smart shot from Lee Bailey just after the half hour. The lead did not last long, however, with Blythe equalising soon after. Queens again took the lead through Bailey before half time. Eadie was put through by a lovely pass and he unselfishly squared the ball to Bailey, who beat two colleagues to side foot the ball into the empty net. Again the lead was short lived with Blythe, who always looked dangerous going forward, especially in wide areas, equalising quickly after the re-start.
The second half went much the same as the first, neither side really being able to string enough passes together to dictate the game, although when Queens got going they showed the sort of form I was raving about in the Falkirk and Stranraer games. As in the first half, it was Queens who again took the lead. Nesovic, who had come on for Eadie found himself in acres of space on the right as he headed for goal. It looked like Nas was on for a shot but he chose to cross instead, towards Bailey in the centre. The cross was too high for him, but Craig Potts, who had replaced Boyle on the left side, was coming in and his first time shot flew into the back of the net.
Queens took the opportunity to make some changes, Weir coming on in the centre, with Leslie moving up front and Nas dropping deeper and McAllister coming on, on the left, and Potts moving infield. It was Steven Leslie in a fairly unusual position up front, who won the penalty when he was clearly pushed by the Spartans defender, who to be fair was twice the height of Stevie, just on the six yard line. Stevie himself took the penalty and fired it low into the corner, giving the keeper no chance.
It looked at this stage as if Queens would run out comfortable winners, but sloppy defending on the edge of the box gave Blythe a goal near the end which made things a little nervous for the last few minutes.
At the end, Queens deserved the win, but only just. The passing game never really got going, although things did improve after Nas came on as he was always available to receive the ball, which had been a problem first half. The defence looked shaky on crosses and set pieces played into the box and there is a definite problem in the wide defensive areas. The wing backs are getting caught too far forward leaving acres of space in behind which clever forwards are running into to receive the ball, putting the back three under pressure. This has been happening all through pre-season and lets hope Rowan and Mark can sort it out before the season starts proper. Again some good individual performances stood out, Milligan, Bailey, Leslie, Boyle and Adams impressing most but Queens need to get it together as a team if we're to have any success this season.
AC
| Subs. 12. Potts (Trialist) 14. Nesovic 15. Weir 16. McAllister |
Fixtures