Queens excellent pre-season form continued with a hugely creditable draw against cross border neighbours Carlisle. In fact if the Doonhamers had been a bit sharper in front of goal they could quite easily have finished with a deserved win against a Cumbrian side who simply looked very ordinary indeed.
The teams took the field on a glorious sunny afternoon in front of a rather disappointing crowd of 1378 and the Cumbrian fans numbering 720 easily outnumbered the locals which was very disappointing indeed.
Queens manager Chisolm rested a few players but it was still a strong team that took the game to the Cumbrians straight from the kick-off with the Doonhamers latest sensation Gilmour showing some great form on the left. The casual Carlisle defence were also having problems containing O'Connor and Bingham. Despite some near things the away defence held out when suddenly against the run of play and to the surprise of everyone including the big away,support the Cumbrians were awarded a penalty for an offence against Aitken. Carlisle's Aranalde placed his spot-kick too near Grindlay who pulled off a fine save. Queens responded with a fine passage of play which ended with Gilmour just failing to find the net with the Cumbrian defence all over the place.
Half-Time: 0-0
Carlisle fielded almost an entire new team for the second-half but Queens continued to play the better football and were awarded a penalty after Bingham was fouled by Wordsworth. The normally reliable O'Neill booted his spot-kick into Terregles Street much to the bemusement of the sparse home support.
The rest of the match became a boring training kickabout with Queens having a great chance to win the match in the final minute but substitute Whorlow blasted past an open goal.
On paper Queens were without seven of their regular players and put up a reasonable show against quality opposition but as always the case we should not read too much into friendlies. However this Queens side looks in very good order for the start of the season next week against St Johnstone. I have to remind you all that we will be without Thomson,Laughlan,Tosh,Adams and O'Neill due to suspensions and injuries.
Queens starting eleven: Grindlay,Paton,McQuilken,Scall,Atkin,
Aitken,Burns,Robertson,O'Connor,Bingham,Gilmour.
Carlisle starting eleven: Bradley,Arnison,Aranalde,Livesey,Kirkup,
Lumsden,McDermott,Smith,Gall,Carlton,Hackney.
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