Queen of the South ease through into the second round of the Challenge Cup

Aug 6 2008 By Our Correspondant

QUEENs of the South eased into the second round of the Challenge Cup with an emphatic win at Shielfield Park.

If anything, the scoreline flattered the home side who could not live with the attacking power of Gordon Chisholm’s team.

After leaking over 100 goals in the league last season, the early signs are not encouraging for new manager Alan McGonigal.

But it was all good for Queens. It took them just 12 minutes to edge in front when Sean O’Connor showed his alertness to slip the ball home after Ryan McGurk had beaten out a shot from Stephen Dobbie.

Kean and Dobbie both had opportunities to extend Queens’ lead but McGurk was well positioned to save on both occasions.

Dobbie, who Berwick struggled to keep quiet, then laid on the second as he crossed for Stewart Kean to head firmly home after home defender Andy McLean had been guilty of loitering.

Kean looks to be a shrewd signing by Chisholm as he has already shown he has an eye for goal.

The first division side sought to press home their advantage even more before half-time. Dobbie shot over when he perhaps should have done better and then Jim Thomson headed against the crossbar before Neil MacFarlane hammered the rebound over the top.

There was some encouragement for Berwick with Ian Little, who had come on as a half-time substitute, pulled a goal back two minutes into the second half with a shot from the edge of the area but Queens were quick to respond.

O’Connor got his head to a Kean cross to net home his second after 58 minutes but the big striker was denied his hat-trick shortly afterwards when he raced in on goal but McGurk was out quickly to make a good save at his feet.

Ken nabbed his second goal with a simple tap-in after good work from Jamie McQuilken and McGurk. By then it was just a question of how many as Berwick wilted in the sun.

Steve Tosh hit the side-netting as Queens pressed for the fifth and McGurk saved from Dobbie.

It was left to Craig Barr to complete the win with a header over McGurk from a McQuilken free-kick with 12 minutes left.

Teams

Berwick Rangers: McGurk; Guy, Kiczynski (McMahon 62), Ewart, McLean, Bonar, Chris Anderson (Little 45), Callaghan, Lister, McLaren, Howat (Gribben 78);

Subs Not Used: Grant, Lunn.

Queen of the South: Halliwell; Barr, McQuilken, MacFarlane, Thomson, Reid, Kean, Tosh (Robertson 79), O'Connor (Arbuckle 68), Dobbie (McGowan 78), Burns; Subs Not Used: Bell, Aitken.

Referee: J McKendrick.

Attendance: 655.