QUEEN’S PARK provided the perfect antidote to opening day angst with a convincing attacking display against Brechin City.
Both Spiders’ scorers from pre-season – Tyrece McDonnell and Josh Fowler – were on target with doubles each as ex-boss Ray McKinnon’s Highland League hopefuls were beaten at The city Stadium.
They’d gone down 7-0 to Falkirk on Saturday as the Spiders lost it late in a 2-1 defeat to The Spartans in north Edinburgh.
But boss Sean Crighton got a response from his players back on home turf with substitute Michael Ruth adding a fifth for his first since his return to the club.
It was a bright start for the Spiders and Timam Scott switched the afterburners on immediately and blazed beyond Brechin left-back and captain Euan Spark as he would do throughout the first 45.
He was one of four changes made to the starting XI from Saturday.
But it was another change introduced by Sean Crighton, Tyrece McDonnell making his first competitive start, who had the key say in the first half.
Scott threatened again after eight minutes, laying off Seb Drozd inside. A nimble croqueta around an outstretched leg made space but Brechin scrambled clear for a corner.
The pressure maintained and Roddy MacGregor had a low drive parried out by Ross Matthews in the Brechin goal and the attacking intent eventually paid off with a 13th minute opener.
A ball from the right found McDonnell with a neat touch and his first strike at goal was blocked on the line – possibly by his team-mate Josh Fowler.
Brechin claimed for offside against Fowler in the centre of the goal but a man on the by-line played him on, and McDonnell’s second drive from the rebound spun into the net.
There was no let-up from the Spiders after they let Saturday’s lead slip and Roddy macGregor had a low drive beaten away five minutes later.
McDonnell then picked out Fowler with a brilliant long-ball that the striker took into the box but was surrounded by three defenders and blocked before the goalkeeper gathered.
This was attacking football to enjoy and the wingers were finding plenty of joy – but the Spiders couldn’t add to their tally.
Brechin went fairly close with seven minutes of the first half to play when a Cillian Sheridan flick-on reached Paul Watson, but Charlie Foc booted clear, leading to visiting shouts for a penalty.
That jolted the Spiders back into attack mode after a lull and a wicked Matty Shiels cross whipped just over Scott and Fowler.
On the stroke of half-time the east stand winced at the sound of Seb Drozd floored by a challenge from behind by Alan Hutchinson.
The frontman required treatment and the defender was booked, and so too was Spiders captain Euan Murray and old-boy Sheridan for their heated debate over the incident.
Louis Longridge fizzed a half-volley just over at the Letherby Drive end with the final touch of the first half but with one of the first of the second half the Spiders were two up, and again it was through a rebound falling kindly infront of Matthews’ goal.
This time Seb Drozd was the grateful recipient as the keeper pushed out a low effort from Shiels and Drozd’s shot on the follow-up was clipped in at close-range by Josh Fowler.
He did it again ten minutes later from the same spot, converting Scott’s low cut-back.
It was Fowler’s seventh strike since joining the Spiders from Dubai City in the summer following four in pre-season.
The only other scorer in the friendlies had been McDonnell, and he followed his first goal on his first start with a second strike that squirmed past Matthews on the hour-mark.
Attempts for another Spiders star to register on the score went close – MacGregor again denied by the goalkeeper and sub Aidan Connolly taken out by a strong tackle as he followed the rebound – but fellow sub Michael Ruth managed it, steering a low cross from MacGregor over the line for the fifth in the 70th minute.
Calum Ferrie had a save to make with ten minutes to go, denying Brechin sub Mitchell Findlay but at the other end the Spiders’ sixth was only stopped by Sheridan charging down a sweet Aidan Connolly volley from the edge of the box and then Matthews’ double save denying the same player with two minutes to go.
In the end a convincing and enjoyable win for Sean Crighton’s team a week ahead of the trip to Falkirk.
QUEEN’S PARK: Ferrie, Murray (Burke 72) , Fox, Longridge (Waugh 72), MacGregor, Pignatiello, Fowler (Ruth 61), McDonnell, Scott (Connolly 61), Shiels, Drozd (McGinlay 66).
Subs: Wills, Fieldson, Carrick, Bradley.
BRECHIN CITY: Matthews, Sweeney, Hutchinson (Farquar 65), Spark, Ferguson (Tosh 65), Taylor (Milne 84), Watson, Sheridan, Moreland, Trialist (Findlay 77), McKay.
Subs: McKelvie, Milne.