Queen of the South Ladies returned to league action on Sunday as they made the journey to face Kilwinning. Having had several fierce battles with the Ayrshire team in previous years, Queens knew this would be a competitive game, but what an enthralling match it turned out to be! The first few minutes were manic with both teams fired up and attempting to gain control of the game.
After only 5 minutes, Queens took the lead when Charlotte Bryden got a head to Freya Brown’s corner and in the melee that followed, Sonya Carruthers was fastest to react, hammering the ball into the net. However this lead was short lived. Kilwinning responded after 7 minutes when a lofted ball over Queens’ defence left the Kilwinning winger in the clear on the right. She found herself one on one with Lois Kerr in goals and evened the score line. The game was now well and truly alive. The battling continued from both sides but it was Queens who grabbed the next goal after 15 minutes when Jordyn Gallagher played Holly Ovens through and she rounded the keeper and finished into the right hand corner. Again Kilwinning came back and on the 25 minute mark they struck back with a Kilwinning player dribbling past 2 Queens defenders. Despite outstretched feet getting touches on the ball, the score line was again evened up, but only briefly as a minute later Alexandra Connon’s great individual effort saw her quick feet bamboozle the Kilwinning defence and she placed the ball past the keeper and in at the left hand corner.
The second half started in the same competitive fashion as the first half with Queens’ back four of Kirsty McDonald, Siobhan Hodgson, Charlotte Bryden and Maisie Copland battling to keep Kilwinning away from goal. It was perhaps no surprise when Kilwinning equalised for the third time in the match on 60 minutes when they scored from a corner. It was clear the next goal was going to be crucial, and to Queens’ delight it arrived only two minutes after Kilwinning’s equaliser when another Freya Brown cross into the box led to a scramble, and goal machine Charlotte Bryden on scoring form yet again found the back of the net. With fresh legs needed, Queens made some substitutions, bringing on Megan Murray and new signings Miren Basabe-Kerr and Jade Samping. For the final 30 minutes Queens gave everything they had to hang on to the lead with Kilwinning desperately trying to find another goal. It was an agonising wait for spectators as Kilwinning managed to break through the back line on several occasions but heroic last ditch tackles from Maisie Copland and Charlotte Bryden ensured the game finished with no further scoring.
Full time Kilwinning Ladies 3 Queen of the South Ladies 4.
Queens Ladies now sit 4th in the league on 15 points with current league leaders St Mirren on 18. The Ladies now have a free weekend but all attention turns to the following Sunday, 27th October, when they welcome league leaders St Mirren to Palmerston. Save the date.
Thanks to Queens Captain Charlotte Smith and to midfielder Megan Hodgson, both currently recovering from injuries, for providing a report of the game.
