Match Report

Sunday, 17th March, 2024

www.qosfc.com

Queen of the South 1 Falkirk 4

There was one change to the line-up for the visit of the league leaders, Lewis Gibson started this one with Gavin Reilly dropping to the bench.

With the title in their sights, the visitors started strongly and Callum Morrison forced an early save from Harry Stone, before the keeper punched away Gary Oliver's corner.

The former Queens player again played in a corner but this time his delivery was missed by Liam Henderson.

As the hosts broke, Joel Mumbongo made a charge down the left but as he was tripped referee Gavin Duncan awarded the free-kick against the big forward.

The game was being played at a frantic pace and midway through the half Sam Long got himself in a bit of a tangle but managed to recover to clear before playing the long ball forward. Morrison looked offside but the flagged stayed down and as he homed in on goal, his shot was straight into the arms of Stone.

As play moved to the other end, Alex Ferguson played a great pass to Lee Connelly who showed great footwork to make his way into the box only for his effort to be deflected out for a corner.

Queens were now really going at the Bairns and with ten minutes of the first half remaining, Connelly and Ferguson did well in the build-up to Gibson's shot being headed away by Henderson. As the ball fell to Josh Todd his attempt was blocked by Dylan Tait.

Three minutes later Stone made a terrific one handed save to deny Oliver and as the ball dropped down Ross McIver headed over.

It was a good game of football and within a minute Queens really should have taken the lead but Mumbongo couldn't connect at the near post as the ball was played across the face of goal.

Queens were on top in the final minutes before the interval, and Todd picked out Connelly with a sublime pass but his cross into the box was just out of reach of Mumbongo. But the move wasn't finished, Gibson's shot was headed out and Ferguson's attempt was blocked at the edge of the box with the home side claiming for hand ball but it wasn't given.

HALF TIME: Queens 0 Falkirk 0

Queens started the second half as they'd finished the first and Gibson worked his way along the 18 yard line before laying it back to Todd, but his shot was over.

A minute later, Connelly collected the ball outside the box and as he moved closer to the target tried to curl the ball around the keeper but couldn't get enough on it and Long got down to save.

As Mumbongo was fouled the referee played the advantage and both Connelly and Gibson were in around the penalty box with the latter having the shot but it was a poor effort in the end.

Queens really had Falkirk on strings and Gibson's cross was again too far for Mumbongo before they eventually made the pressure count. Ten minutes after the restart, as the ball fell to Todd 20-yards from goal, he couldn't have hit it sweeter and his right foot effort found the top corner.

Todd was having a great game and three minutes after the opener he made a good run and controlled the ball well before aiming for the bottom corner but this time Long stopped his shot.

Just before the hour mark, the champions elect equalised in controversial style. Morrison who likes to play off the shoulder of players, did exactly that but was ahead of Max Kilsby in an offside position when the ball was played. The flag stayed down and he was allowed to run through to slot the ball past Stone.

Heads could've gone down but great play by Connelly who was giving the visitors a hard time, resulted in Long making a one handed save. Unfortunately, Gibson wasn't ready to pounce on the loose ball.

The Bairns made a triple substitution, including Ethan Ross who came on for Calvin Miller and within minutes of his introduction he floated a cross to the far post to Henderson who slipped his marker to knock the ball into the net from close range.

As Queens tried to get back on level terms, Connelly played the ball across the face of goal but the keeper got down ahead of Ferguson to collect.

The game was over as a contest thirteen minutes from time when Morrison made his way into the box and went down as Kieran McKechnie made the challenge. There looked to be very little if any contact but the penalty was awarded and the winger got up to take the spot kick himself. He kept it low to Stone's left, sending the keeper the wrong way.

Connelly thought along with everyone else that he had pulled one back four minutes later with a free-kick, but despite it looking like it had beaten the keeper, it was the wrong side of the net.

And in the final minute sub, Aidan Nesbitt made it look a comfortable score-line for Falkirk when he found the top corner to make it four.

FULL TIME: Queens 1 Falkirk 4