Queen of the South Ladies sit in 4th place in the Barclays SWFL League One table after a convincing win against Edinburgh Caledonia Ladies at Palmerston on Sunday.
Queens took control of the game from kick off and with the central defence of Charlotte Smith and Shiv Hodgson putting up the shutters in front of Eve Jackson in goal, the team from the capital didn’t have many chances over the 90 minutes.
Queens on the other hand were on the offensive with wide players Freya Brown and Holly Ovens outpacing their opponents. However the Edinburgh side’s defenders fought bravely to keep Queens out, and despite Queens trying to get a decisive strike as the ball bobbled around in the goal area the ball just wouldn’t go in the net. The Caledonia keeper was kept busy but handled the ball well, and with half time approaching it looked as if the game was going to remain goalless. However in the 40th minute,
Queens striker Megan Hodgson was put through on goal and beat the keeper to the ball, only to be rugby tackled to the ground. Midfielder Charlotte Bryden, who is rapidly becoming something of a goal machine to rival Scott McTominay, hammered the penalty kick in to the net just inside the left hand post. With the deadlock broken, Queens kept pressing until with the referee about to raise his whistle to his lips, Megan Hodgson herself added a second goal from the edge of the area with a powerful shot that the keeper managed to reach but failed to grasp, the ball crossing the line near the post. Half time Queens 2 Caledonia 0.
Into the second half and Queens continued to play some excellent football with Eck Connon, Jo Gallagher and Charlotte Bryden dominating the midfield and feeding the wide players. Connon picked the ball up in left midfield and threaded a well weighted pass that set Holly Ovens free on the left, and with no opponents near her Ovens ran in an arc into the penalty area before finishing across the keeper from close range. With Queens now well on top and piling pressure on Caledonia, the scoring was completed in the 65th minute when the keeper came for a lofted ball but only succeeded in parrying the ball out to Eck Connon who left footed it into the net.
Queens brought on a number of subs to see the game out, with Leona Smith coming on in defence, Megan Murray & Abbie Gray taking over on the flanks, and Lois Kerr & Demi Torrance also coming on. Queens continued to press right up until the final whistle, but it ended 4-0 to Queens. Player of the Match award went to Alexandra Connon.
This Sunday, Queens take on Giffnock Ladies at Eastwood Park.
Queens have been drawn at home to Dundee West Ladies in the first round of the Scottish Cup.
