Queen of the South 2-4 Saints AET

Saturday 18th August

Saints progressed to the quarter-finals of the Betfred Cup this afternoon thanks to a 4-2 extra time win against Queen of the South.

Tommy Wright’s men took the lead on 27 minutes when Tony Watt latched onto a Murray Davidson shot that looked like was going wide to knock it past Alan Martin in the home goal.

However, the Championship side levelled the match right on half time when Lyndon Dykes sent a half-volley past Zander Clark from 20 yards.

Despite the woodwork being hit by both sides during the second half there was no more scoring as the match went to extra time. Saints took the lead on 94 minutes when Drey Wright converted a Tony Watt cutback. It had looked like that Saints had sealed the win on 104 minutes when Tony Watt got his second of the afternoon.

However, with 4 minutes remaining Queens pulled a goal back as Stephen Dobbie converted from the penalty spot after the former Saints striker had been fouled by substitute Ali McCann.

Callum Hendry though sealed the win with the last kick of the game as he capitalised on a mistake by Michael Doyle to slot the ball into the net for his first senior goal for Saints.

The quarter-final draw takes place tomorrow with the games scheduled to take place midweek on 26/27th September.

MATCH REPORT

Saints made the long trip to Dumfries today for a Betfred Cup Second Round tie against Championship side Queen of the South. Tommy Wright made one change to the side that started the 1-1 draw with Hibs last Sunday as Joe Shaughnessy came in for Steven Anderson. There was also a place in the starting eleven for Murray Davidson who was making his 300th appearance for the club this afternoon. Queen of the South manager Gary Naysmith made four changes to the side that won 3-0 in the Irn-Bru Cup at Stenhousemuir on Tuesday evening as Jack Leighfield, Owen Bell, Connor Murray and Declan Tremble all dropped to the bench. They were replaced by Alan Martin, Callum Fordyce, Stephen Dobbie and Gary Harkins.

Queen of the South got the match underway and they created the first chance of the match after 4 minutes as good play out the on the left by Andrew Stirling setup Stephen Dobbie who slipped past a couple of Saints players before having a shot which was palmed away by Zander Clark.

Then a minute later the hosts were forced to make a change as Owen Bell came on for the injured Callum Fordyce.

Saints first chance of the game came on 10 minutes as Murray Davidson’s shot from just outside the box had beaten Alan Martin however, the effort went inches wide.

Saints thought they had taken the lead on 19 minutes when a Liam Craig free kick was headed home by Jason Kerr, however, the goal was ruled out due to Kerr being in an offside position.

Despite that let off for The Doonhamers Tony Watt put Saints in the lead on 27 minutes. Blair Alston had sent a great ball out wide to Richard Foster and the right-back advanced down the right with the ball before seeing his cross into the box blocked. The loose ball then fell to Murray Davidson whose shot looked like going wide however, Watt was in the perfect position to knock the ball past Martin in the home goal.

On 32 minutes Queens had a great chance to level the match as Gary Harkins slipped past Scott Tanser and was in on goal however, the midfielder chose to cut the ball back as he tried to pick out Dobbie but Foster got back to clear the danger. Then a minute later a Harkins corner picked out Callum Semple whose shot looked net bound but Clark got down well to deny the on-loan Sheffield United defender.

With 9 minutes of the first half remaining Saints had a great chance to double their advantage as Matty Kennedy cut in from the left and sent a good ball across the face of the Queens goal picking out Davidson however, the Saints midfielder couldn’t make a proper connection with the ball as Martin saved the tame effort.

Then as the game entered 1 minute of additional time at the end of the first half Queen of the South levelled the match. A long ball forward by Martin picked out Lyndon Dykes and the Australian striker unleashed a great half-volley from 25 yards that left Clark rooted to the spot as the ball nestled in the corner of the net.

Queens started the second half the brighter of the two sides creating the better of the chances. On 51 minutes Dykes slipped the ball to Dobbie however, the shot from the former Saints striker from the edge of the box went well over.

Saints though came back into it and on 64 minutes Matty Kennedy saw his effort from just outside the box saved by Martin. Then 5 minutes later Jason Kerr advanced with the ball before passing to Drey Wright. The Saints midfielder broke forward before unleashing a shot from about 20 yards that crashed off the post with Martin beaten.

On 77 minutes the woodwork came into play again as Queens came very close to taking the lead. Stirling went on a great 40-yard run before unleashing a curling shot from just outside the box only to see it smash off the bar.

Then a minute later Saints made their first change of the game as David McMillan came on to replace Blair Alston.

4 minutes in extra time Saints took the lead as Watt cut the ball back at the byline to Wright and he smashed a great ball past Martin much to the delight of the 393 travelling Saints fans.

Saints were now on the front foot and they almost got a third on 99 minutes as McMillan saw his effort well saved by Martin. Then a minute later McMillan was involved in the action again, this time making a connection with a deep Foster cross however, he couldn’t get his header on target.

It had looked like that the match was then over as a contest on 104 minutes as Liam Craig picked up a slack ball in midfield and advanced forward before slipping it to Watt. The Saints striker then cut inside before firing a great shot that went in off the post for his second and Saints third of the afternoon.

The hosts tried to rally as Dobbie saw his shot on 108 minutes well saved by Clark. The Doonhamers though were given a lifeline with 4 minutes remaining as they were awarded a penalty after Dobbie had been fouled in the box by Ali McCann. Dobbie took the penalty himself and he coolly sent Clark the wrong way as he slotted the ball into the right-hand corner of the net.

That goal had given the home side belief that they could get a third and take it to penalties as they pushed hard for the equaliser in the closing stages. Saints though made sure of the result as the match entered one minute of additional time. Callum Hendry capitalised on a short pass back by Michael Doyle and he nipped in and took the ball around Martin, slotting it into the empty net for his first goal for the club.

Queen of the South: Martin, Mercer, Marshall, Fordyce (Bell 5) (Murray 97), Doyle, Stirling, Jacobs, Dobbie, Semple, Harkins, Dykes

Unused Substitutes: Leighfield (GK), Exley, Watson, Tremble, Gourlay

Booked: Mercer, Marshall

Scorers: Dykes (45), Dobbie (116 pen)

Saints: Clark, Tanser, Alston (McMillan 78), Shaughnessy, Wright (Scougall 115), Davidson, Kerr, Foster, Craig, Watt (Hendry 115), Kennedy (McCann 112)

Unused Substitutes: Mitchell (GK), McClean, Gordon

Booked: None

Scorers: Watt (27, 104), Wright (94), Hendry (120)

Referee: Don Robertson

Attendance: 1,652 (393 Saints fans)

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Callum Hendry celebrates scoring his first senior goal for Saints