Queen’s Park scored four goals without reply to defeat Raith Rovers at Starks Park to move back into 5th place in the William Hill Championship table.
Head Coach Callum Davidson made a couple of changes to the starting line up from those who earned a draw at Dunfermline last week – Zach Mauchin and Seb Drodz started, with Louis Longridge and Kyle Hurst taking a seat on the bench. The starting formation was changed too, with what looked like a 3-5-2 approach with Mauchin, Tizzard and Ujdur lining up at the back with loan signings Montgomery and Devine pushed more to wing back roles. Rudden and Drodz led the line up front.
It was a fairly low key opening to the match as both sides settled into the game. Queen’s new formation gave an early period of possession, without over working the Raith defence.
17 minutes in and not only were the local trains rushing towards the Queen’s goal as Finlay Pollock broke clear and was met by the on rushing Queen’s shot stopper Cal Ferrie who mistimed his tackle outside the box and received a yellow card for his troubles. Thankfully for Queen’s, the resulting free kick sailed over the bar.
Just before the half hour, Queen’s took the lead. Paul Hanlon found himself under pressure in his own box from Seb Drodz who dispossessed the veteran Raith defender before passing to Zak Rudden who confidently found the net from close range.
Raith responded to the encouragement from the home support and thought they had equalized on 39 minutes. A shot across the Queen’s six-yard line was fired goal wards at the back post by Josh Mullen, however Cal Ferrie made a fantastic save to deny the home side a leveller.
Half Time: Raith Rovers 0 – Queen’s Park 1
Rovers started the second period in determined fashion and earned a free kick with just a minute played when Jack Turner was shown a yellow card for a foul 25 yards from the Queen’s goal. Jamie Gullan struck what looked like a perfect shot into the top left corner, however Cal Ferrie made a miraculous save, tipping the bar onto the bar and over.
A minute later Queen’s were two up. Drodz robbed a Raith defender and fed the ball through to Adam Devine who raced forward down the right side. The young Queen’s full back/wing back turned inside and fired a shot which beat Josh Rae low down to the keeper’s left side.
Two minutes later Queen’s scored again! A through ball found Rudden one on one with the keeper who made a good save, however Queen’s fought hard to regain possession, and Adam Montgomery took control on the left side of the box, turned inside his marker before firing a shot high into the roof of the net.
With an hour played, a Raith corner was comfortably held unchallenged by Ferrie, much to the dismay of the home fans.
With 20 minutes to play, a foul on Sean Welsh gave Queen’s a free kick wide on the right side. A perfectly driven cross from Ryan Duncan was met with a bullet header from Nikola Ujdur – four nil to the Spiders!
Late on Friday afternoon, Queen’s secured the services on loan from Rangers of Leon King, who came on as one of the Queen’s second half substitutes after 75 minutes. In truth, the stuffing had been knocked out of the home side and Queen’s held on comfortably to record their biggest league win of the season so far.
Full time: Raith Rovers 0 – Queen’s Park 4
Raith Rovers: Joshua Rae, Liam Dick, Paul Hanlon, Ross Matthews (Shaun Byrne 69mins), Josh Mullin, Finlay Pollock (Lewis Vaughan 69mins), Scott Brown (C), Jordan Doherty, Dylan Easton, Lewis Stevenson (Lewis Gibson 65mins), Jamie Gullan (Aiden Levi Marsh 69mins).
Unused Substitutes: Kevin Dabrowski, Callum Fordyce, Euan Murray, Aidan Connolly, Kai Montagu.
Queen’s Park: Calum Ferrie (C), Zach Mauchin, Sean Welsh (Jadan Raymond 84mins), Nikola Ujdur, Will Tizzard, Zak Rudden (Reece Evans 84mins), Jack Turner (Louis Longridge 75mins), Ryan Duncan (Leon King 75mins), Adam Devine, Seb Drozd (Kyle Hurst 70mins), Adam Montgomery.
Unused Substitutes: Jack Wills, B. Jackson, Josh Hinds, Rocco Hickey-Fugaccia.
Referee: Dan McFarlane