Crosbie’s at the double

QUEEN of the South Ladies were on fire at a scorching Palmerston Park on Sunday as the team made it back-to-back victories to start the season in style. A double from forward Haylie Crosbie was too much for league newbies Elgin City to come back from. This ensured the Doonhamers backed up their opening day 5-4 whopping win against Edinburgh Caledonia. A delighted Queens skipper Charlotte Smith said: “We’re delighted to start the season off with two wins. There was lots of positives to take from the performance so hopefully we can take those into next week’s game. “We have a really strong squad this season and the drive is there, we want to compete for the league and believe we can. We know it’ll be a tough season but we’re looking forward to the challenge.” Before the Elgin match, both teams held a minute’s silence in memory of beloved Queens coach Alastair Barron who passed away in May. Queens edged the early exchanges of the contest with a really nice passage of play, Jordyn Gallagher was found at the edge of the box and hit a good effort towards the keeper’s top left corner but it was comfortably saved by the Elgin stopper. Eve Crombie also had a couple of chances using her pace on the left and Holly Ovens fired over the bar after coming in off the right flank. Queens eventually broke the deadlock on 39 minutes when they won a corner on the right hand side and from a fabulous Gallagher delivery, Crosbie rose highest to power an unstoppable header into the corner of the net. The lead was short-lived though as the visitors drew level just two minutes later. The goal had lifted Elgin’s spirits and started the second period strongly, creating several good chances - the best of which came as an excellent ball from the left in behind the Queens defence was fired over the advancing Ellie Wright in goals and just over the bar. With the extremely high temperatures you could forgive both teams for tiring. But it was Queens who then looked the strongest and just after the hour mark they regained the lead. Another terrific Gallagher corner from the right was headed home by Crosbie. This time Queens were in no mood to give up the lead and the goal seemed to give them renewed energy. They were able to see the game out with reasonable comfort to earn a very hard fought victory to make it two wins from two games.