Tuesday 8th December 2009
Queen's 19s took to the road on Tuesday night to play Dundee United in the 4th Round of the SFA Youth Cup. Queen's had beaten Montrose 1-0 in the 3rd round and were keen to test themselves against top SPL opposition. Tannadice Park looked magnificent with an equally impressive playing surface.
Queen's captain Atif Afzal was declared unfit during the warm up and young Fraser Barbour took his place in midfield.
Despite this blow Queen's looked good in the early stage of the game. They were showing a quiet determination and played measured passes against a very well organised and sharp Dundee team.
Dundee United also played the ball about the park using the full width of the pitch. Both team were competing for midfield domination.
Both team had chance during the first half. Queen's best was when good play between O'Hara and Mackenzie gave Nadeem a shot on the Dundee goal. Dundee United's came when they attacked down the left side and a shot from their forward hit the Queen's crossbar.
10 minutes from half time Scott Morton had to come off after a clash of heads with a Dundee United defender. After that Dundee United took a firm grasp of the game and put the Queen's defence under a lot of pressure. A combination of good defending and goalkeeping kept the scoreline blank at the interval.
The half time team talk was very positive. The young Queen's players had matched up to the full-time SPL side and were playing confidently and moving well. The coaches asked the boys to use the wings to get behind the Dundee defence.
The second half started with both teams trying to establish control of the game. Dundee United started the half stronger but Queen's held firm and gradually got the upper hand.
Queen's were now forcing the game and created a number of chances. A cross from the right side of play by Murney was headed on by Hangula to the in rushing Nadeem. Unfortunately the shot was smothered by the Dundee goalkeeper.
Another chance was created by interchanges by O'Hara and Mackenzie which resulted in Mackenzie firing in a low cross but no takers from the Queen's forwards.
Queen's were forcing corner after corner and the Dundee side were rattled. Another cross by Murney was met by Baillie. Unfortunately the Queen's defender was off balance and shot high over the bar.
Dundee United has their chances also. An attack down the right was switched left and the resulting shot was well saved by Gordon McPherson in the Queen's goal.
In the last minutes of the game, just when it looked like extra-time Dundee United took the lead. A goalkick was headed on into space. The ball landed at the feet of a Dundee midfielder who moved the ball beyond the Queen's back three. A Dundee striker passed the ball across the box to an incoming forward who knocked the ball into the net. A cruel blow to the Queen's side.
Queen's did not give up and continued to press the Dundee side looking for the equaliser. Unfortunately it did not come and Dundee United finished the winners.
Coach Billy Ogilvie commented after the game "Without doubt Queen's best performance of the season so far. You could not tell the SPL side out there. The entire squad played magnificently and although we did not go through we can take a lot from this game. This must be our benchmark for the rest of the season.
Can I thank Dundee United for the sportsmanship and cooperation they showed us in arranging the fixture. Good luck in the next round".
The Queen's team was: McPherson, Baillie, Gallacher, Green, Murney, Cook, Barbour, O’Hara, Mackenzie, Nadeem & Morton
The subs were: Hangula for Morton(31mins), Blockley for Cook(59mins) & Sinclair for Barbour(78mins).
Subs not used: McPherson & Hay.
Below are some pictures from today's game
Back to 19s Home Page