Montrose fielded a strong line-up with only Gardyne missing from the usual squad. Callum Sandilands was in the starting line-up whilst Owen Stirton started on the bench in view of his late signing the previous day. Referee Dan McFarlane got it started on a cool but dry day with little wind.

Montrose were first to attack and Lyons won a free kick as he was fouled 25 yards out on the left. The cross was hit long but with nobody there to see it through. Lyons was next to attack but ruled offside. That started a Queen’s Park period of pressure which lasted mostly until half-time.

Bertie was yellow carded for a collision in the area and the referee gave a penalty but it was a harsh decision and Gill saved the day by pushing the kick for a corner which came to nothing. So it stayed at no score and apart from Lyons darting down the left it was mostly QP pressure at the other end. 

Several corners were dealt with then Webster hit a shot from distance which went wide. Then is first half stoppage time QP had another corner and after a scramble at the near post Liam McLeish poked the ball home from close range. 

No changes for either side for the second half but Montrose needed more attacking options now they were a goal down. 

Machado was having a great game in midfield and a shot from him went just wide. Lyons won another free kick out left then Sandilands picked Lyons out with a perfect through ball and the scores were level at 1-1 as Blair Lyons danced around three defenders before placing a shot carefully in the far corner from 20 yards out in the 56^th minute.

QP made the first change on 57 minutes as Drozd replaced Hickey-Fugaccia. Montrose were indeed attacking more now and it paid off with a second goal on 60 minutes as Machado found Blair Lyons with a perfect pass and the ball hit the net with force to make it 2-1.

QP were stunned in those few minutes and came back with more pressure but that left gaps at the back. QP saw yellow as Drozd fouled Dillon then another change by QP saw Mauchin replaced by centre-forward Zak Rudden and that proved to be a good change for them.

Montrose made a double change on 72 minutes as Brown and Stirton replaced Masson and Hester. More changes on 77 minutes as QP were desperate for an equaliser. Hinds and Thomson replaced McLeish and Duncan then for Montrose Shrive replaced Machado who was having a great game in midfield and supporting the front two.

Into the last 10 minutes of normal time and Stirton hit a shot wide then Lyons almost got onto the end of a long clearance but QP keeper Ferrie came well outside his area and got to it first and hoofed it away. 

Another yellow card for Webster on 83 minutes as he tangled with his marker. More Mo changes on 85 minutes to settle play down as Watson and Maciver-Redwood replaced Lyons and Sandilands.

The 90 minutes were up but just into stoppage time Montrose failed to get the ball away and it fell to Zak Rudden who smashed it away to make it 2-2 with the referee blowing for the end of normal time moments later.

And so into extra time with Montrose having used their substitutions but Owen Stirton was looking good up front so it was not all QP pressure. It was however QP who had most possession with two more corners and they made it count on 98 minutes as Josh Scott got through the defence and hit his shot past Gill to make it 3-2.

Montrose could make another change as it was in extra time so Kerr Waddell came on for Bertie and Quinn moved forward to try and salvage the game. Thomson was yellow carded for kicking the ball away in the second half of extra time and the final few minutes were all Montrose in an effort to salvage the game. A corner on the left was scrambled away by QP but it was a close call near the goal line.

It was not to be however and it stayed at 3- 2 for Queen’s Park.

Report by Steve Doyle

Post match reaction https://youtu.be/t50uLiVAH6I?si=PZPJIWTdd-G9wVsX