Irn-Bru Cup Round Two

The New Saints 2

Queen's Park 2 (after 90 minutes)

Queen's Park win 4-2 on penalties

Scott Ruscoe's 10-man The New Saints will not be repeating their Irn-Bru Cup exploits after they were knocked out on penalties by Queen's Park. 

Jon Routledge opened the scoring in the first half before he was shown a straight red card for foul play while Smart Osadolor and Lewis Hawke scored late on to put Park in the driving seat.

But Joash Nembhard''s late leveller forced a penalty shoot-out only for the Scottish side to triumph and head into the third round. 

Saints made the early running as Simon Spender proved to be the main outlet own the TNS right, forcing two corners in the opening minutes.

Greg Draper came closest to opening the scoring when he latched onto Routledge's speculative ball on 19 minutes, but dragged his effort wide from eight yards.

Park slowly found their feet and came closest to breaking the deadlock when William Mortimer found himself behind the TNS line on 28 minutes but could only fire wide.

Routledge gave Saints the lead on the half hour, enjoying a huge slice of fortune when his 20-yard effort rebounded off the post and into the net via keeper Jordan Hart's back. 

Chris Marriott proved to be the hero at the other end on 51 minutes when he threw his body is body in front of Osadolor's effort, blocking it for a corner.

The second half became a battle with Queen's Park choosing to up their physical game, causing more than one flashpoint.

Saints had the chance to kill the game on 71 minutes; first Draper saw his shot blocked from Jamie Mullan's square ball before Danny Redmond's effort was deflected wide.

Park still posed a threat while the score remained 1-0 and sub Josh Peters only narrowly curled an effort over the bar on 78 minutes.

Saints' cause was made harder as Routledge, who had gone off the boil in the last 20 minutes, was sent off for a heavy challenge on Scott McLean.

Referee Bernard Connelly showed no hesitation in brandishing a red card as TNS were reduced to 10 men.

The extra man made the difference in the 89th minute as Osadalor was able to turn the ball home from three yards out after Paul Harrison fumbled.

And Saints' hearts looked like they were broken in stoppage time as substitute Hawke smashed the ball into the roof of the net from three yards following a scramble. 

But Nembhard proved to be the rescuer for TNS as he smashed home a superb half-volley from nine yards moments from time, much to Saints' relief, to force penalties.

McLean was up first to score while Mullan missed for Saints, but he was rescued by Harrison who saved from Scott Gibbons.

Ryan Brobbel then stepped up with his first touch of the game after being a late sub and he missed.

Cameron Foy restored Park's lead with a blaster down the middle while Dean Ebbe slotted home to make it 2-1.

Kurtis Roberts scored to make it 3-1 but Marriott kept TNS alive with a fine penalty.

But it was down to Peters to send Harrison the wrong way and TNS out of the competition at their frist hurdle. 

Marriott, Routledge, Edwards, Redmond (Brobbel 90), Mullan, Byrne (Holland 66), Draper (Ebbe 78)

Not used: Roberts, Brobbel, Hmami, Clark, Lewis