Queen's Park 17s Squad

Sunday 9th August 2009

Queen's Park 1 - 2 St Mirren

On Sunday the 17s entertained St Mirren at Lesser Hampden. This match was going to be a test against some full time players and a competitive Paisley side.

As you can see from the above picture Summer football in Scotland is a bit of a lottery.

The boys took a while to get into any sort of stride and struggled to keep the ball at times although the coaches felt the longer the game went on the 17s would find their feet.

This proved to be the case and Queen's started to make small opening forcing the St Mirren keeper into some fine stop with the Queen's defence keeping St Mirren out at distance.

The opening goal however went to the Paisley team with a counter attack catching Queen's out on the left. A long ball over into this area found St Mirren striker given an opportunity to lob the ball over Paul Cankaya in the Queens Goal - 1-0 Saints and another test to see how our boys would react.

They have shown great ''bounce back ability'' and within a couple of minutes got level. Good work on the right with a superb cross into box. Kieran Blackwood made a decent challenge against the giant centre back. The ball fell to Tam Denholm who sent a 20 yard screamer into top corner. Another superb goal and another sign the boys have the believe.

Queen's then forced the play from now on but with no further goals to show for their efforts.

Queen's made a few changes at the break and the second half started with Queen's failing to start as well as they had finished the first and they found themselves camped outside their 18yard box for a good 15min. This was a dangerous game to play and it was hit home when a poor pass from our goalkeeper allowed the St Mirren player to intercept and slot home from 18 yards.

It's a strange game as soon as St Mirren scored Queen's decided to play again and took the rest of the game to St Mirren playing in their half almost for all that time. Queen's created and created but just couldn't get the equalizing goal, with the St Mirren defence standing strong and the goalkeeper in particular keeping them ahead.

Again we have to give the boys great credit as they stayed disciplined against strong challenges and showed some outstanding ideas in their play in the effort to get something from this game.

Coach Paul Ronald commented 'Another good pre season workout which we hope stands them in good stead when season kicks off in a fortnight. Next Sunday we entertain Rangers 17s. I'm sure they will still be hurting from our last display against them at Murray Park and Rangers will giving their all to play as well as they can against the Queen's boys.

Let's hope our kids are able show the Queen's Park style to compete again'.

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