Sunday 1st November 2009
Queen’s Park 15’s played Dumbarton on a rearranged venue on a very wet Sunday morning. Queen's had a depleted squad due to long-term injuries and a couple of players having the flu.
The early start and heavy rain did not dampen both sets of players’ enthusiasm. It was Queen's who had all the early chances and it finally paid of when recent signing David Murray scored his first goal for the club. It was a well-taken goal after some good play by Queen's up the right hand side of the park.
Not long after Dumbarton were back in the game when they were awarded a penalty kick, it was a well-taken spot kick and the game was level again. It remained this way to the end of the period.
The second period began in much the same manner as the first with Queen's playing some good football and controlling the play. So it was a shock when Dumbarton scored from a corner.
Queen's started to dominate even more after this setback and were unlucky not to get a goal back on two occasions. The first hitting the bar then having the ball kicked off the line.
Queen's finally got there just rewards when from a corner that was missed by everyone in the centre was met by the head of Kieran Tolland, who statically placed at the back of the box by the coaches, drew the game level. It remained this way to the end of the period.
Queen's, who were playing some great flowing football, once again dominated the third period. They then added to the score line when Lawrence Shanklin received the ball on the edge of the 18 yard box turned his marker and fired the ball low past the keeper.
Dumbarton did not give up and were trying to catch out Queen's defence by playing the early ball up from the keeper. This is where Queen's got their final goal from in the final minutes. From a keepers kick out the ball was head by Gavin Mitchell to Kieran Tolland who then held it up for an overlapping Aiden Connelly. Aiden then held off a defender and got to the by-line. He cut the ball back where it eventually fell to the feet of Kyle Rafferty who had time to compose himself and knock the ball into the net.
All in all it was another fine display from the 15s. Coaches John & Andy’s comments were "The boys played very well and although at some points in the game they were getting frustrated when the goals were not coming. We pointed out during the intervals that all the good play would pay off eventually it just a matter of keeping it going, which it did. Our boys also showed how much their hard work in training is paying off. Both sets off players & parents have to be complemented on there enthusiasm in such poor conditions".
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