Queen’s Park 0 Celtic B 1

The visitors kicked off and enjoyed an early bout of possession that ended when Callum Haspell stepped in to clear at the expense of a throw in.

Queen’s first foray up the park came on four minutes when Lewis Reid stepped in and won the ball before releasing Lucas McCormick on the left with the attacker progressing deep into Celtic territory before being crowded out.

Celtic’s Rocco Vata turned and fired for goal from 16 yards on six minutes with his effort taking a deflection as it flashed just past Sam Kane’s goal.

Queen’s won a foul 20 yards from the Celtic box when the marauding Cameron Bruce was fouled however a training ground move broke down and Celtic broke away with Vata charging forward however he slipped on the greasy surface and the danger ended.

Vata did threaten again on 12 minutes when Daniel Kelly picked him out with a back post cross with Kane reacting well to block the striker’s header.

Five minutes later Queen’s enjoyed their best move of the match as Alex Fairlie found Rocco Hickey-Fugaccia on the right with a clever pass and he exchanged passes with Zach Mauchin before hitting the by-line.

The winger’s cross was only partially cleared and the hosts kept on pushing Connolly had an 18-yard shot pushed away by Josh Clarke.

Celic hit back and Reid had to remain cool to dribble away from Vata and Andrew Kyle and keep the visitors at bay however Queen’s Park fell behind midway through the opening when Colby Donovan was allowed to progress to the 18-yard line and send in a fierce shot that found the net via Kane’s fingertips and the post.

The Spiders came close to levelling on 32 minutes when Hickey-Fugaccia wriggled clear on the right and chipped to the back post where Lucas McCormick sent in a header that was deflected just wide.

Six minutes from the break Kane had to stretch high to turn over a Vata effort that looked to have started off as a cross and turned into a shot.

Half time – Queen’s Park 0 Celtic B 1

A minute into the second half Reid had to stretch to turn round a dangerous looking Bruno Davidson cross with the home defence standing strong at the resultant corner.

Skipper Ricky Waugh was next to halt a dangerous attack as he volleyed a cross clear for another flag-kick and when Queen’s responded with a fast raid a shot from Lennon Connolly was charged down.

Waugh looked to drag his side level on 57 minutes as he charged into the Celtic box however the danger was cleared and Cammy Bruce had to move sharply to usher a ball back to Kane.

Liam McLeish made his return from injury with just over an hour gone as he replaced Max Fiddes with Waugh picking up a booking shortly afterwards for a sliding challenge on Bruno Davidson.

With 68 minutes played Kane used his legs to make a fine stop from Davidson at close range with Queen’s almost making the most of that reprieve four minutes later when Reid, Bruce and McCormick combined to send a cross flashing towards substitute Kane Thomson who could just not get enough power in his shot.

Another chance for the hosts came within 2 minutes as Mauchin drilled for goal with Josh Clarke equal to his low effort.

Bruce showed his defensive and attacking abilities in the same piece of action as he blocked a Lenny Agbaire header and then charged forward 50 yards with the loose ball before being squeezed off the pitch.

A surging run from Mauchin helped tee up McCormick with the striker unable to get his volley on target with eight minutes left.

A lobbed Thomson effort after pressure from McLeish looked to have drawn the hosts level but as the fans peered through the sun the ball dropped just wide.

With Queen’s creating chances Celtic looked to secure the win with substitute Francis Turley side-footing a chance wide to keep home hopes alive.

With 90 seconds left QP carved out one final chance when a glorious cross-field pass from Mauchin was carefully controlled by Tyreece McDonnell.

The substitute hared off towards the Celtic goal with the wide-man cutting in from the left wing and past Justin Osagie before curling a shot wide of Clarke’s far post.

Queen’s Park B – Sam Kane, Zach Mauchin, Cameron Bruce, Callum Haspell (Joseph Smith 83), Lewis Reid, Ricky Waugh, Rocco Hickey-Fugaccia (Kane Thomson 67), Lennon Connolly (Ross McLean 67), Max Fiddes (Liam McLeish 61), Alex Fairlie, Lucas McCormick (Tyreece McDonnell 83).
Unused substitutes – Liam Russell (G/k), Ben Ferguson.

Celtic B – Josh Clarke, Colby Donovan (Justin Osagie 67), Magnus Mackenzie, Lenny Agbaire, Mitchell Robertson, Kyle Ure, Bruno Davidson, Daniel Kelly (Francis Turley 67), Rocco Vata (Ben Quinn 67), Andrew Kyle (Sean McArdle 78), Lewis Dobbie (Daniel Cummings 78).
Unused substitutes – Joe Morrison (G/k), Liam Bonetig.

Referee – Ryan Kennedy.