Queen’s Park 0 Hearts 4 – Hampden Heartbreak for Wee Spiders

CHARLEY KING’S Wee Spiders fell short of Scottish Cup glory after making it to the final for the first time in history.

The young team had made the short walk from the club base at The city Stadium, along Letherby Drive to the National Stadium for their own day in the spotlight.

They had toured the ground a week earlier, when Hearts turned up at the same time too – and this time the teams met again for real.

But such a memorable occasion ended as a night to forget for Queen’s – coming off the wrong end of a 4-0 defeat to the Jambos, but, with a CAS Cup Final for the under-19s to come next week, they must keep their heads up and go again.

Against a physically powerful and noticeably stronger Hearts side, King’s side defended well in the opening stages of the game, with the first big moment being a crucial save from Archie Aitchison after Tommy North hit a shot straight at him.

The Wee Spiders began to come into the game more after 15 minutes, they created some good build up play and despite having a few shots on goal, they were unable to capitalise.

Hearts kept hold of the ball as the game went on, but Queen’s were stubborn and solid with their defending. That was until Euan Banks caught the follow up from another brilliant save from Aitchison and put the Jam Tarts 1-0 up shortly before half-time.

That changed complexion of coach Charley King’s half-time team-talk, but after just three minutes, the referee pointed to the spot after North was brought down in the box in a tangle with Lewis Smith. The Hearts forward stepped up and tucked it away, doubling his side’s lead.

Not long after, Queen’s had a chance of their own. A free kick on the by-line, Sam Maclachlan crossed the ball  into a dangerous area. Cole Burke managed to get his head on it, but it went just wide of goal.

A long throw in from Hearts and the scramble for the ball saw it fall into the feet of Connor Dow who made no mistake slotting the ball in from close range.

At 3-0 down the Spiders continued to try to play positively when they could – Caiden Wright smashed the ball towards goal from just outside the box forcing Jack Lyon into a diving save to tip it over the bar. They continued to try find a way back into the game as the clock ticked away, no one was clinical enough and the game was relatively quiet for both sides after Hearts’ two quick goals.

However, in the dying minutes of the game, Jayden Mathie found himself on the end of a cross and even though he slipped, the ball still found its way into the net to round off a big win for Hearts – and a disappointing end to a historic night for Queen’s Park.

Queen’s Park: Aitchison, Rodger, Afzal (Quail 81’), Burke (Browne 68’), Smith, Wright, Kerr (Edzii 60’), Maclachlan, Duffy (Moore 60’), Goldie, Adams (Lafferty 81).

by Leah Johnston, Glasgow Clyde College