Queen’s Park 0 Livingston 5

QUEEN‘S PARK’S commendable campaign in the cup competitions came to an end with disappointment in the SPFL Trust Trophy Final.

It had been a day 125 years in waiting – but two moments in the first half set the tone.

Robbie Muirhead’s goal on the turn and Stevie May’s strike just before half-time put the West Lothian side in the driving seat, and they added further to the scoreline against a patched up Spiders’ side that saw out the second half.

Steven MacLean was forced into two defensive substitutions before the break as first Will Tizzard and then his replacement Darryl Carrick both needed treatment and were unable to complete the game.

In the end it was a painful scoreline with Tete Yengi, Andrew Shinnie and Jamie Brandon adding further strikes in the second half.

The Spiders boss had already been forced into changes to his starting eleven with Leon King and Adam Devine cup-tied. Jack Turner and Ryan Duncan also dropped to the bench meaning Seb Drozd, Ben Jackson and Kyle Hurst came in, as well as Zach Mauchin at right-back.

Captain Callum Ferrie also took his place in goals for his first appearance in the competition – however the early action was at the other end and Zak Rudden had the first chance after just eight minutes when the bounce of the Adam Montgomery’s free-kick fooled Ryan McGowan. The striker nipped in behind, but clipped straight at Jerome Prior for a corner.

It was the clearest opening of a cautious start from both teams. Rudden was also close to a cut-back from Seb Drozd as the Spiders sought an opener and Livingston’s backline invited their forwards high up the park.

An even better chance was again saved by Prior when Kyle Hurst, then Ben Jackson, had shots from a Louis Longridge free-kick into the box, but after surviving those scares Livingston pressed forward and went ahead 25 minutes in.

Robbie Muirhead scored with an impressive finish on the spin as he received the pass from the right, flicked the ball away from Jackson and volleyed past Ferrie on the turn.

Not only were the Spiders a goal down, they were soon a substitution down too when Will Tizzard required treatment shortly afterwards.

He was replaced by Darryl Carrick but the sub himself wouldn’t make half-time and was duly replaced with Ryan Duncan seconds before the interval.

By then the score was 2-0 despite some promising headway made by Adam Montgomery on the left. The on-loan Celtic wing-back ran at will against the retreating Brandon at will and found plenty of space, but one brilliant ball flashed into the box needed just a tap in from Drozd or Rudden. Neither made it as Prior bravely dived at the pair’s feet to palm clear before either could connect.

Then after Louis Longridge was booked for a foul, the feet were effectively swept from under the Spiders.

Stevie May fired in with a minute to go before the break – finding plenty of space on Livingston’s left wing to receive Yengi’s flick-on and then play a one-two with the striker and stroking in the second.

It was a blow and in a repeat of the opener’s situation, Queen’s Park lost another centre-half when Carrick went down and had to be replaced by Ryan Duncan.

It had been a first half decided by two moments infront of goal, but otherwise fairly even.

Within five minutes though it was three and hopes of seeing silverware on the southside drifted.

Again, Muirhead was involved and he hung a teasing ball to the edge of the box for Yengi to run onto and round Ferrie for number three.

After Longridge went down and prompted a triple substitution for the Spiders – their last changes of the game – Livi again went close with Yengi prodding a close-range effort narrowly wide.

Queen’s refused to throw the towel in and a drive from Duncan was pushed out by Prior after he parried a powerful Jack Turner effort.

Ferrie made a good late stop to deny ex-Spider Danny Wilson but he could do nothing to stop the Lions completing the scoring with a deflected effort from Andrew Shinnie on 80 minutes and then an injury-time rocket, thumped into the top corner from 25 yards by Livingston captain Jamie Brandon.

Queen’s Park players watched Livingston lift the trophy – and will meet the Lions again on league duty next weekend. Before then is a crucial Championship clash with Airdrie, at Hampden, on Wednesday night.

Queen’s Park: Ferrie, Mauchin, Welsh, Longridge (Turner 55), Hurst (Hickey-Fugaccia 55), Jackson, Macgregor, Tizzard (Carrick 30, Duncan 45), Rudden, Drozd (Evans 55), Montgomery.
Subs not used: Wills, Raymond, Scott, McGinlay.

Livingston: Prior, McGowan, Pittman, Yengi, Kelly, Brandon, May (Shinnie 75), Muirhead (L.Smith 75), Tait (McAlear 63), Montano (Clarke 63), Wilson.
Subs: Hamilton, Sole, Finlayson, Nottingham, Lawal.