Queen’s Park boss Callum Davidson has told his side to win silverware after reaching their first final in 125 years in the SPFL Trust Trophy.
The Spiders last night beat Lowland League leaders East Kilbride 6-2 in extra-time after being held 2-2 in 90 minutes, and will face either Dunfermline or Livingston in the final, who play their semi-final at East End Park on Wednesday.
It’s the first time the Championship club have reached this stage of the competition.
Zak Rudden had Queen’s Park ahead 45 seconds into the Hampden clash, and Ryan Duncan doubled that lead in 22 minutes.
Jack Leitch pulled a goal back for Kilby in 31 minutes, with David Ferguson levelling just before half-time.
John Robertson could have won it for East Kilbride in the last minute, but his shot hit the inside of the post and bounced to safety.
Reece Evans settled Queen’s Park’s nerves with a strike two minutes into extra-time, and an own-goal from on-loan Motherwell keeper Matty Connelly five minutes later had the hosts 4-2 up.
Rudden netted his second just moments later, and Evans bagged his double in 109 minutes, ending Kilby’s six-game winning run.
Davidson reckons his side have worked hard to get to the final, having also ousted Rangers ‘B’, Annan and Edinburgh City along the way, and wants silverware for the club.
He said: “I’m delighted to be in the final. That’s what the aim was at the start of the night.
“For the club it’s fantastic to be in a final, a chance to win some silverware, and this is probably the most realistic cup competition for us.
“The players are buzzing. We told them the significance before the game, that it was the first final in 125 years.
“We’ve managed to do that, we’ve managed to beat the teams in front of us, and we’ve had some really hard games.
“As a club, I think it’s great that they’re being represented in a final, and for us, it’s our chance to do it.
“When you get to a final, make sure you go and win it.”
Davidson admits his side had to fight for their place, but was pleased that they did so.
He said: “In the first half we got two really good goals, and then we switched off a wee bit, allowed them back in the game, which is a wee thing we’ve done in the last couple of games, so I’m not particularly pleased with that.
“That gave them something to hold onto.
“We can do better, we can move the ball better.
“I thought when they started to tire, our changes were really good, it gave us loads of energy and freshness in the team.
“It was great to get the goal [so early in extra-time] and it did settle us. You could see after that it was one-way.
“Cup games are all about winning. I’ve got to say I was really pleased with the group, they dug in, you could see the spirit, and they’re delighted to get through.
“The East Kilbride lads put a lot into the game, they were pretty tired, you saw the effort and energy they put into the first 60 or 70 minutes.
“In the second half we started to get a bit more control into the game, so when they tired it was up to us to exploit that, and I think the lads did that.”
Queen’s Park turn their attention to Saturday’s visit to Airdrie, a side that have won their last two games, but are still rock bottom of the Championship.
The Spiders are fifth, and Davidson wants a win to put pressure on fourth-placed Partick Thistle.
He said: “We’ve been pretty positive for the last eight or nine games, so that win doesn’t change my mind-set.
“It’s all positive and I think it has to be. We’re in a good position in the league but we have to turn those performances into wins and hopefully we can do that, starting on Saturday.”