Queen’s park 1 Raith Rovers 1 – Second shoot-out defeat

DEFEAT in a penalty shoot-out for the second week in a row saw Queen’s Park exit the KDM Evolution Trophy to Raith Rovers.

The sides shared a 1-1 draw in 90 minutes at The city Stadium infront of the Premier Sports TV cameras with Paul Nsio and Josh Fowler – netting his 19th of the season – on the scoresheet. 

After being on the wrong end of Saturday’s 4-1 scoreline to the same opponents at the weekend, Queen’s Park came up against the Fife side for the second time in four days, and though it was an improved performance from the Spiders there’s still a slight feeling of disappointment after Joshua Rae saved three Spiders’ penalties to seal progress. 

The match had started lively, with the home side working the ball into the box a few times, as well dominating most of the possession. The first proper chance of the game came from top scorer Fowler making a brilliant run down the touchline and neatly taking it past the Raith defender. He slid the ball to McDonnell who saw his shot towards goal saved. 

As the game approached the 15-minute mark, Raith had their first shot of the game, but Callum Ferrie saved it comfortably. He’d have more brilliant saves later, touching two drives onto the goalframe,  but after this shot, Rovers slowly began to come into the game, but Queen’s defended well.

Ferrie was called upon for a brilliant save and barely a minute later Fowler had another chance up the other end. He found the ball at his feet and did his best to turn towards goal, but his shot took a deflection and went out for a corner. 

After half an hour Rangers loanee Paul Nsio opened the scoring for Raith. His shot from inside the box hit the post and found its way into the back of the net. Once the deadlock was broken, the game became more open and Fowler was awarded a free kick in a dangerous position just outside the box. Seb Drozd’s strike looked like it was headed for goal, but Rae managed to tip it over the bar for a corner. 

The Spiders pushed for the leveller shortly before Sean Murdoch’s half-time whistle, and really should have found it two minutes into the second half.

A brilliant couple of chances came in a matter of seconds for The Spiders. Somehow the ball didn’t end up in the net after a save from Rae denied Grant Savoury and a block off the line from a Raith defender stopped Drozd in a bright start to the second 45 for Queen’s. 

Raith had a couple of chances of their own as the game went on, both of which were met with solid saves from Ferrie, pushing a high drive onto the crossbar with a vital fingertip touch.

Under 20 minutes to go and Queen’s finally found their equaliser. Drozd brilliantly burst his way through the box, twisting and turning then passing the ball along to Fowler, who took a smooth turn of his own. He smashed the ball into the back of the net and levelled the scoring, making it his 19th goal this season.

With little time left after the equaliser both teams began to push even more for a winner.  Fowler had the best chance of the lot, as he watched his shot go agonisingly wide in the dying moments of the game. 

After 90 minutes plus three added on, neither team could find the winner and meant a second penalty shootout in the matter of a week for The Spiders. 

Savoury stepped up for the first pen of the night and tucked it away comfortably into the bottom corner, advantage Queen’s – especially when Calum Ferrie blocked Scott Brown’s opening spot-kick for Raith

Things were levelled when Drozd’s shot agonisingly hit the post and Josh Mullin converted.

Aidan Connolly – the only Queen’s Park player to take a penalty in both cup ties couldn’t follow his Stranraer success and saw his penalty saved by Rae. Ferrie then got a hand to McMullan’s shot but he still scored.

Roddy MacGregor saw his pen saved and Doherty sent the Fife side through with the decisive kick of the quarter final.

QUEEN’S PARK: Ferrie, Fieldson (Murray 58’), Savoury, Pignatiello, Fowler, Waugh (MacGregor 84’), McDonnell (McLean 58’), Bradley (Connolly 84’), Shiels, Drozd, Lamie.
Subs: Sliwinski, Longridge, Sowa, McLeish, Burke.