A depleted Under 17 squad headed to Dunfermline Athletic looking to improve on last weeks home defeat to Livingston. A tough test lay ahead, not only in the form of their opposition but also in terms of the weather conditions; a very windy and wet night in Rosyth!

It was an even start to the game, both sides creating chances but to no avail. The home side eventually broke the deadlock after their centre forward was upended in the penalty box. From there, Dunfermline took a grip of the game for a spell and managed to double their advantage with a fine through ball from midfield and clinical finish from their number 9. This seemed to spur Queens into action and two goals in a ten minute spell before half-time brought them well and truly back into the game. The first came from Hodgson pressing well down the right before cutting it back to White who calmly finish from 6-yards. This was followed up by Copland who side footed home as Morton played in an excellent free kick.

Half Time: Dunfermline 2 Queens 2

Queens started the second half well playing into a strong wind. However, it was the hosts who took the lead again; another fine finish from their number 9. Queens showed great resilience again and found their way back into it with Jones crossing for White, who headed home his second of the game. Queens went on to control a large part of the second half and their play was rewarded when Craig fired a low drive into the corner of the net to give Queens the lead for the first time in the match. The hosts, determined to claw back an equaliser, were awarded a second penalty with 10 minutes to go following their forward colliding with two QoS defenders. In the closing stages, both side looked for another, Jones came closest for Queens but his shot took a deflection off the defender and narrowly slipping wide of the far post.

FULL TIME: Dunfermline 4 Queens 4

Coach Ross Newlands said “Overall, we’re proud of the players for the reaction they showed to last week’s defeat. Even going two down, it shows how much resilience they now have to work their way back into the game, this maybe wasn’t the case earlier in the season. In spells in both halves we played some good stuff in testing conditions and were unlucky to not snatch a last minute winner.”

Next up for the under 17s is an away trip next week to Montrose at Links Park.