Queen's Park came from behind to beat Queen of the South 3-1 after extra time in the Premier Sports Cup Group A on Saturday, with Mark Ruth, Tony McDonnell and Michael Shiels finding the net at Lesser Hampden.
What happened at Lesser Hampden?
Queen's Park started brightly and took the lead through Mark Ruth’s ninth-minute penalty after a foul on Tony McDonnell. The Spiders doubled their advantage before half-time when McDonnell pounced on a defensive error to slot home in the 33rd minute.
Queen of the South pulled a goal back early in the second half through Billy Johnstone, and the game went into extra time level at 1-1. But Queen's Park showed their composure under pressure, with Michael Shiels scoring in the 89th minute to send the home side through to the next round.
The attendance was 685, a modest but passionate crowd for a midweek cup tie that delivered drama and late goals.
Why it matters for Queen's Park
This victory keeps Queen's Park’s Premier Sports Cup campaign alive and boosts morale ahead of the new Championship season. The Spiders sit sixth in the final 2025 Championship table with 41 points from 36 games, nine wins, 14 draws and 13 losses, and a goal difference of minus 13 off 35 scored and 48 conceded.
Their recent form has been patchy, with no wins in the last five matches and just two draws in that span, but this performance underlined their resilience in tight games.
League standing (final 2025 table -- new season not yet under way): 6th in Championship, 41 pts, 9W-14D-13L from 36 games, recent form DLDLW.
What comes next for Queen’s Park?
Queen’s Park will now focus on their Championship campaign, which begins after the summer break. Their last league outing ended in a 1-1 draw at Partick Thistle on May 1, and they sit 36 points behind league leaders St Johnstone in the title race.
With the squad showing fight in cup competitions, manager John McGlynn will hope his players carry that intensity into the league, where consistency will be key to climbing the table.
The Spiders have already shown they can grind out results in tight games, and Saturday’s comeback is a reminder of their potential when they stay composed under pressure.
