The Hibernian Development Squad were beaten 4-2 by Queen’s Park in their final SPFL Reserve Cup group fixture.
Guillaume Beuzelin’s youngsters came into the game knowing they needed a positive result to automatically progress in the competition, and got off to an excellent start.
Just 15 minutes into the game young midfielder Adam Buckley put the Hibees ahead. Dean Cleland clipped a free-kick into the box, it was half cleared by a Queen’s Park defender, but Buckley took it under control and fired a half-volley into the back of the net.
That lead didn’t last long though, as the hosts scored a scrappy equaliser just eight minutes later. A shot inside the box was blocked and fell into the path of Timam Smith. The young attacker’s first effort was saved well by Freddie Owens, but Smith managed to put in the rebound.
Shortly after, Smith put Queen’s Park ahead. The wee Hibees struggled to clear their lines after a short corner and the ball fell fortunately at the feet of Smith who smashed the ball past Owens in the Hibs net, despite his best efforts.
Queen’s Park continued the second half where they left off and put Hibs on the back-foot going on to score their third in the 53rd minute. Josh Hinds showed a real moment of quality to get into the box and past two defenders before placing the ball past the ‘keeper.
Beuzelin’s youngsters kept fighting, though, and pulled one back through Dean Cleland. It was great football from the Hibs Dev Squad which culminated in Cleland beating the offside trap, going past a defender and making no mistake from around six yards out.
After Cleland’s goal the game opened up, with our youngsters pushing to find an equaliser. However, it was Queen’s Park that had the final strike, scoring from the spot with just eight minutes left. Owen Calder brought down the tricky Spiders wide man before Timam Scott completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot.
The defeat means it’s unlikely the Hibs Development Squad would progress in the SPFL Reserve Cup.
