Comeback in the rain wraps up group stages for Queens

QUEEN of the South wrapped up their Challenge Cup group campaign with a victory over Motherwell B. Yes, Queens progressed to the latter stages (where we believe they will take on either Dunfermline or Arbroath) and some of the younger local talent in the squad have managed to get some senior experience. But the additional matches have stretched the threadbare squad and the inclusion of B teams has seen a large chunk of the Palmerston faithful boycott matches involving them. And this was the case on Tuesday night as a measly crowd of 300 watched the Doonhamers beat Motherwell B – one of the lowest in the club’s first team history. Maybe a few were put off by the awful weather conditions but across the country it has been the same story with lower league fans rejecting the idea of Premiership young guns involvement in the competition designed to give small clubs a shot at glory. Queens knew they were all-but through to the last 32 before the match. Kick off for this one was delayed 15 minutes due to the visitors’ team bus being held up after an accident on the motorway. Queens had an early chance when Jack Stott whipped in a corner to the back post. Kurtis Guthrie leaped the highest but his header sailed wide. Saturday’s goalscorers Stott and Liam Smith came close but it was the visitors who edged ahead in the early stages of the second period. Blane Watson fired low into the bottom corner giving the hardy Queens fans in attendance some horror flashbacks to the embarrassing September home defeat to Hearts B. But there would be no repeat of that dismal night as Queens levelled on the hour thanks to a close range shot from Smith. The Well defenders were adamant it wasn’t over the line. Lyon made it two seven minutes later when he directed a Freddie O’Donoghue header into the net. And it was a memorable night for young Euan Ross – just returned from injury – who netted Queens’ third. O’Donoghue broke forward and slipped in Lyon who saw his shot parried out by the keeper, but only into the path of Ross who smashed home. The impressive Billy Gray nearly made it four at the death when he powered past his marker into the box and his low shot was saved by the legs of the keeper. QoS: Green, Rogerson, Hannah, Douglas, Mackenzie (Morton 83), Smith, Lyon (Hunter 83), Johnstone, Stott, Leslie (Gray 45), Guthrie (O’Donoghue 31). Subs not used: Stewart, Kennedy, Hall. Motherwell B: McQuarrie, Williamson, Thomson, Gillies, Arnott, Forrest, McLean, McAllister, Lawson, Clark, Buchanan. Subs: Tearney, McConnell, Watson, Wells, Hunter, Wieczorek. Ref: Peter Stuart. Crowd: 300.