Lyle Treble Sinks Brave Annan

A SUPERB HATRICK BY EVERGEEN DEREK LYLE DUMP A BRAVE ANNAN SIDE OUT OF THE LEAGUE CUP

A disjointed Queens team minus Young and Carmichael struggled for long periods to break down a stubborn Annan team who only threatened at set pieces where ex-Queens favourite Weatherson almost breached the home defence in the first half on two occassions meanwhile McGuffie mistimed a free header for Queens at the other end.

The turning point game in the 58th minute when Annan's Watson almost decapitated Russell and the referee had no choice to send the defender off.

Immediately Lyle had the ball in the net from a header and Annan caved in. He added a second a couple of minutes later after the Annan keeper spilled a fierce shot from Mitchell. The game was over when Lyle superbly headed in number three.

Queens struggled at times against a well organised Annan side and they will have to up their game against the real stuff next week against Dundee.

Queens new manager McIntyre fielded a rather strange formation and obviously was hampered by the presumable injuries to Young and Carmichael. The exclusion of defender Durnan was also a surprise and the choice of McGuffie in midfield was not a success.

The fitness levels of hatrick man Lyle are quite remarkable and it has been reported he kept fit during the close season by doing boxing training.

Queen of the South

• 01 Antell
• 02 Mitchell
• 03 Holt
• 05 Dowie
• 06 Higgins
• 04 McGuffie Booked
• 07 McKenna Booked (McShane - 81' )
• 08 Burns
• 09 Lyle (Reilly - 72' )
• 10 Paton
• 11 Russell (Orsi - 78' )

Substitutes

• 12 Atkinson
• 16 Durnan
• 15 McShane
• 17 Orsi
• 14 Reilly