Queen of the South 4 - 1 Stirling Albion: Queens dig out victory over seemingly doomed Stirling

Published on Friday 25 March 2011 14:59

Queen of the South 4 McLaren 23 pen, 36, McMenamin 54, 76 Stirling Albion 1 Smith 32 pen

INJURY-ravaged Queens dug deep into their resources to carve out a victory and at the same time it plunged Stirling closer to the relegation trap door. Delighted Queens boss Kenny Brannigan said: "It wasn't just the result I was delighted with but the performance, and particularly the young boys who have come in and were outstanding."

Queens, after early dominance, finally went in front in 23 minutes from the penalty spot after Daniel Orsi knocked the ball back to Willie McLaren, who was sent tumbling in the box by on-loan Rangers midfielder Stephen Stirling. McLaren got up to bury the ball into the bottom right hand corner past goalkeeper Scott Christie.

Albion levelled in 32 minutes, also from the spot, after Queens captain David Lilley crudely pushed Scott Buist, Gordon Smith coolly converting the resultant penalty.

The lead lasted just four minutes before McLaren ran on to a superb return pass from David Weatherston to drill a low 12-yard shot past Christie.

Queens wrapped up the points in 54 minutes when Colin McMenamin ran on to a Weatherston header to fire the ball low past Christie on the angle from 15 yards

The Doonhamers then added a fourth in 76 minutes when McMenamin headed home a McLaren cross from the right.

The victory saw Queens extend their unbeaten league record against Stirling to 12 games, stretching back just over 11 years to January 2000.

It also ended the Doonhamer's atrocious run of home form of late, which saw them achieve just one victory in their previous seven at Palmerston since mid-November

Albion boss Jocky Scott said: "Our defending at some of the goals was dreadful and we got what we deserved out of the game."