Queen’s hit for five as Well run riot at Hampden
Queen’s Park .......... 1 Motherwell ............. 5
Michael Temlett at Hampden Queen’s Park boss Gus MacPherson believes the Premiership test of Motherwell was the perfect way to prepare his side for the new season.
The Spiders manager had looked to register the first win over Motherwell at Hampden in 60 years but believes individual errors played a massive part in their downfall.
Adam Cummins had cancelled out Chris Cadden’s opener to level things at half-time but a second-half blitz from the visitors saw them run out easy winners thanks to goals from Craig Tanner, Louis Moult and a Ryan Bowman double.
MacPherson hopes his side will learn from their top-flight opponents as they look to go one step further in the league this season.
He said: “For the best part of an hour we’ve competed very well against a Premiership team.
“People will talk about fitness and sharpness but it’s maybe just decision making when you’re defending a bit deeper and you can’t get out.
“It’s a fantastic test for them because some of the boys who have came from Junior football will see what it’s like.
“When you make mistakes you’ll get punished but it’s a good learning experience for them.
“We lost a soft goal but we kept our shape and kept plugging away and we looked comfortable.
“But the final half hour you can see the heads go down slightly and the tongues are starting to hang out a little bit further.
“There are plenty of positives and everything is geared towards the league campaign and we have to learn from it.”
It took only nine minutes for the first goal when Fisher beautifully chested the ball into Cadden’s path and he slotted past William Muir.
But the Spiders pegged Well back after 23 minutes when Cummins bundled the ball over the line for Queen’s Park’s first goal against the Steelmen in 38 years.
David Galt’s free-kick was sent towards Cummins whose header was parried by Trevor Carson only for Cummins to react quickest to the rebound and equalise.
But the rest of the first half fizzled out without either side creating any clear-cut chances and Queen’s were certainly frustrating Stephen Robinson’s Motherwell.
But the travelling Well fans had reason to cheer eight minutes into the second period as Tanner restored their lead.
The summer signing won the ball on the edge of the box, played a neat one-two with Gael Bigirimana and calmly netted to make it 2-1.
With just over 15 minutes to go, the match was over when substitute Bowman beat the offside trap and connected with a Carl McHugh ball and rounded the keeper to make it 3-1.
Bowman added a second with an exquisite chip over Spiders’ stopper Muir from the edge of the box before Moult got in on the action despite being on the park for less than ten minutes with a brilliant free-kick.
Well boss Stephen Robinson said: “Those games are always difficult and it was never going to be easy.
“We corrected a few things at halftime and you could see a massive difference and it’s a pleasing start to the season.”
Queen’s Park were due to play Greenock Morton last night, Tuesday, after the Reformer went to print.
The club also announced their new signings throughout the week including former Rutherglen Glencairn player Ryan Docherty.
After spending two seasons with Dundee United as a teenager, Docherty moved to Junior side Lanark United before joining the Glens for two years.
Dominic Docherty has put pen to paper with Queen’s after a successful loan spell from Partick Thistle last season.
Thomas Orr, an ex-Morton striker, and Michael Bailey have also agreed to join MacPherson’s side.
After moving to the USA to play his football in Iowa, Bailey returned to Scotland and signed with Yoker where he has spent the past three seasons.