News Every Day | 07 May 2024, 09:42

Queen’s Park 3 Kilmarnock 2

A dramatic 90th-minute winner from Monica Harty secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory for Queen’s Park against Kilmarnock, extending their unbeaten run to 11 games, with 7 consecutive wins.

The Spiders returned to New Tinto Park to face second place Kilmarnock for the final time this season. The teams have been evenly matched all through the season as both sides have one win each, and a draw in their most recent meeting.

Craig Joyce made four changes to the line-up that faced St Johnstone at McDermid Park on Wednesday night. Lauren McGregor, Taylor Davis, Olivia King, and Megan Quigley replaced Lucy Inman, Hannah Cunningham, Robin Gallagher, and Abby Callaghan, respectively. Today’s line up also marked Rachael O’Neill’s 30th appearance for the club.

The game got off to a perfect start for The Spiders as Megan Quigley fired her side into a 1-0 lead inside the first minute. Some nice play between Quigley, Ami Robertson and Ellie Kane allowed The Spiders to progress up the pitch as Quigley found herself with space on the edge of the box to thunder the ball past Ellie Currie in-goal for Kilmarnock.

Fired up, Queen’s Park tried to extend their early lead as Nicole Cairney and Taylor Davis both had efforts from distance, but neither caused Currie any trouble.

However, before Queen’s Park were able to go further in-front, Kilmarnock were back on level terms. A Kilmarnock corner kick was delivered dangerously into the penalty area. Emma Craig was able to get to the ball, but unfortunately for her and her side, the ball was diverted into the back of her own net.

The goal seemed to flatten The Spiders and give the visitors a lift as the period after the goal saw Kilmarnock gain control of the ball. While they weren’t able to carve out any clear cut chances, their possession did create a handful of entries into dangerous areas, gaining a succession of corners too.

Kilmarnock then almost did have the lead on the 35th minute. Abby Robinson started the attack as she picked up the ball inside her own half. The ball then made it’s way to Lucie Burns who showed neat footwork to carve an opening on goal to fire a shot. Lauren McGregor was more than a match for the youngsters effort as she made a fantastic save to tip the ball onto the bar and keep the score tied.

On the stroke of half-time, Kilmarnock managed to get themselves in front. Lucie Burns drove down the left-hand side of the pitch and drilled the ball across the box. The dangerous cross evaded everyone, making it’s way to Louise Cowan on the opposite side. Cowan returned the ball back into the danger zone. As The Spiders failed to clear the ball, it fell to substitute Mhairi Crooks who was able to fire the ball into the net.

Half-Time: Queen’s Park 1-2 Kilmarnock

It wasn’t quite as quick as the first-half, but it didn’t take Queen’s Park long to get going in the second-half. On the 49th minute, Ami Robertson controlled the ball beautifully on the wing before embarking on a great solo run. As she neared the edge of the box, Robertson played a quick return pass with Nicole Cairney on the edge, before bending the ball perfectly into the corner of the box for her second goal of the week, and tenth of the season.

The second-half then transitioned into a similar vein as the first. This time it would be Queen’s Park who enjoyed most of the play. Chances came for Monica Harty, Ellie Kane and Ami Robertson but none of these were able to get the third goal The Spiders were looking for. Despite seeing less of the ball, Kilmarnock did too have chances through Abby Robinson and Lucie Burns.

Just as the game was heading for a draw, Ellie Kane delivered a corner into the box. Kilmarnock’s Ellie Currie initially done well to deal with the danger, but the ball only travelled as far as Monica Harty who was lurking at the edge of the box. Harty was able to expertly lift the ball over everyone in her road and into the net to give Queen’s Park all 3 points.

Full-Time: Queen’s Park 3-2 Kilmarnock

Queen’s Park: Lauren McGregor, Taylor Davis (Hannah Cunningham, 46’) Ciara Bonner, Rachael O’Neill, Darcy Molley, Emma Craig, Nicole Cairney (Robin Gallagher, 90’), Megan Quigley (Chloe Docherty, 90’), Olivia King (Monica Harty, 46’), Ellie Kane, Ami Robertson (Abby Callaghan, 88’).
Subs not used: Lucy Inman, Rachel Ross, Rachael McConnachie, Elise Macara.

Kilmarnock: Ellie Currie, Reese McCulloch, Kerri Halpin, Arwen O’Brien (Kelsy Crainie, 53’), Laurym Reside, Georgia Rafferty, Georgia Crooks, Lucie Burns (Gemma Rae, 88’), Abby Robinson, Dionne Brown (Mhairi Crooks, 25’), Louise Cowan.
Subs not used: Holly Kerrigan, Megan Samson, Eve Watt.