Wednesday 10th February 2010
Queen's Park 15s travelled to Kilmarnock for a midweek friendly against Kilmarnock F.C. 15s. Queen’s players were in confidant mood after their competent performance against a good Rangers side on the previous Sunday. Queens had to reshape as Craig Marshall pulled up in the warm up and was replaced by David Murray.
From the kick off both teams struggled to settle with neither able to maintain any periods of possession, passing was hurried ...no fluency.
It was however Queen's Park that broke the deadlock with a ball placed over the Kille backline for Craig Johnston to continue his impressive scoring rate by striking by the diving Kille Keeper.
This lead did not last long as Kilmarnock equalised immediately with an in swinging free kick, whilst Queen's Park players stood and watched, three unmarked Kilmarnock players were lining up to glance a header into the goal. Bad goal to lose.
Both teams were beginning to move the ball as the tempo of the game picked up and it was from a set piece that Queen's regained the lead.
Connor McGuiness placed a free kick into the near post area for Alex Grier to show good movement as he ran onto to it and guided the ball into the net with the outside of his right foot. Good goal.
Unfortunately Alex also had a hand in the Killie’s equaliser as ball over the top Alex’s pass back was very short and the Kille forward showed good instinct to run on and slot home.
Queen's went onto to gift Kille another goal as Ryan Ritchie and Johnny Brown put themselves under pressure with some slack passes that was intercepted and finished by the Kilmarnock forward.
Queen's Park were beginning to have the bulk of possession as they pressed for the equaliser and it came with a well placed long ball down the wing by Michael Stewart that Aiden Connelly ran onto to cross in for Craig Johnston to strike home.
As play continued Queen's were the more likely to score but there was little time as the whistle blew.
Coaches Gerry O’Kane and John Jackson commented after the match "This was another good test as we progress to our first league game this Sunday. We lost three bad goals tonight as Kilmarnock didn’t really have to work for their goals but we will learn from it. We came back to earn a creditable score line away to Kilmarnock and that is pleasing. Well done to Craig Johnston who again put in a creditable performance and took his two goals very well".
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