Match Report

QUEEN OF THE SOUTH 3 ANNAN ATHLETIC 3
Queen of the South and Annan Athletic produced a six goal thriller in this early season Betfred Cup encounter with the result in doubt until queens won the deciding penalty shoot out 5 -4 to claim the additional point with Annan’s Ayrton Sonkur missing the only penalty.
Queens looked to be coasting going in at half time with a 3-1 lead but in the second half Annan started to impose themselves more on the game and goals from Lewis McLear in the 54th minute and Jordan Holt in the 81st minute leveled the scores to make it an exciting last 10 minutes for the fans.
Annan started the match promisingly and for the opening 10 minutes it was the visitors who looked the more lively with Matty Douglas producing the first effort on goal with his 8th minute header going wide of the target. Queens however gradually took command forcing Annnn to defend and then in the space of 3 minutes Queens found themselves 2 goals up.
The opening goal was created in the 23rd minute by the impressive Stephen Dobbie who squared the ball into the path of Connor Murray who picked his spot and made no mistake with a low 12 yard shot into the corner of the net. The second goal 3 minutes later was a goal Annan keeper Aaron Taylor will want to forget after Dobbie’s effort was only half saved by the Annan keeper and Scott Mercer had the simple job of slotting the ball into the net from close range.
Annan responded in the 34th minute following a corner when Matty Douglas got his head to Scott McLeans corner kick. The goal brought Annan back into the game but their joy was soon short lived as six minutes later Queens went back into a two goal lead through, yes you guessed it Stepehn Dobbie ,who finished off a good move down the right ending with Gary Oliver crossing the ball into the packed Annan penalty area and Dobie was at hand to finish the move off. Queens were well on top at this point and Dobbie’s header on half time went narrowly over the bar.
Annan started the second half well and inside 7 minutes they got the perfect response pulling a goal back after some good work down the right by Kyle Wilkie who ended up slipping the ball into the path of Lewis Mclear who slipped the ball past Robby McCrorie from close range.
Annan introduced on loan Nijah Joseph in the 60th minute and the young Hamilton player soon started to pose a threat down the left flank as Annan pressed for the eqauliser, Christain Nade replaced Lewis McLear shortly after.
Tommy Muir’s header in the 75th minute was tipped over the bar and as the game flowed from end to end. At the other end Queens won a corner ending with Connor Murray’s effort being well saved by Taylor.
Nade had a big hand in the equalising goal with a strong run to the bye line before picking out Jordan Holt who somehow managed to get the final touch in the packed 6 yard area to square the game at 3-3.

Queens won the penalty kick shoot out and the additional point which keeps the doonhamers well positioned in the section. Annan will do well to avoid the wooden spoon with up and coming matches against Morton at Galabank on Tuesday 23rd July position and Motherwell away on Saturday 26th July. Queens travel to play Dumbarton this Saturday.
Annan- Aaran Taylor, Matty Douglas, Jamie Ballantyne, Kyle Bradley, Ayrton Sonkur, Steven Swinglehurst, Scott McLean, Jordan Holt, Tommy Muir, Lewis McLear (Christain Nade 70 min), Kyle Wilkie (Niyah Joseph 60 min) Subs not used Lyle Avci, Russell Currie, Euan Griffiths, Harry Emmerson.
Queen of the South – Robbie McCrorie,Scott Mercer (Daniel Pybus 52 mins), Kevin Holt, Lee Kilday, Darren Brownlie, Michael Paton (Jack Hamilton 72 min), Connor Murray, Lewis Kidd, Gary Oliver, Stephen Dobbie, Andy McCarthy. Subs not used Craig Burns, Ross Irving, Ewan Gourlay, Mikey Williamson.
Referee Alan Muir. Assistants – Sean Carr and Ross Macleod
Crowd 1110