Sunday 22nd November 2009
Queen's 13s welcomed a strong St Johnstone team to Lesser Hampden today and the pitch as usual was in mint condition. The coaches had been working on defending better as a team and asked the boys to take coaching points into the match.
The lads started at the usual high tempo and were passing the ball with purpose and there was a good shape in the opening period. Ryan Smith not for the first time this season was pulling the strings in the engine room beside Jaimie Gallagher who picked up a strain early on in the game. Dom Boland and Chris Scott were creating width and the 2 strikers Ben and James Beattie were creating space in behind St Johnstone defence.
Our defence were rarely troubled in the opening 30 minutes. Ryan Smith scored another goal from the edge of the box when supporting the strikers and lifted the ball over the keeper for a well deserved goal.
Queen's never started the second period well and this is something that has developed in their play which we all need to work harder at as the 13s seem to drop off the pace of the game letting the opposition play.
St Johnstone were in control for long spells in the second period but again similar to ourselves the quality was missing in the final third of the pitch with the final pass or decision making.
Stephen Caw snatched a well taken goal against the run of play but took his chance inside the six yard box. Scott Whyte pulled off 2 terrific saves in the second period today.
Queen's made some changes rotating the players and this sparked some life into the boys and they gained control of the midfield and this enabled them to play the game further up the park.
James Beattie then scored a lovely goal from inside left position cutting inside past 2 defenders and chipping a shot over the keeper into the top corner of the net.
The 13s conceded a goal when not clearing their lines in possession and St Johnstone exploited slack marking in the box to score.
James Beattie rounded off a good days work by going through on goal side stepping the goalie to pass the ball into the net for a cool finish.
Coach Andy Gilmartin said "We played in spells today and the second period drop in standards needs to improve but we will work harder in training to try and improve on this. We carried a goal threat throughout the game against a good St Johnstone team who to their credit passed the ball well today. Well done to both teams for an entertaining game".
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