Sixteen-year-old goalkeeper Charlie Cowie had woken up on Tuesday morning still on loan at Dalbeattie Star from Queens. But after usual Queens’ starter Rohan Ferguson reported in sick, an application was made to the SPFL to recall schoolboy Cowie on a seven-day emergency loan so he could sit on the bench for the Doonhamers’ Championship clash at Starks Park later that night.
However, just ten minutes before kick-off, goalkeeper Jack Leighfield hurt himself in the warm-up and the St Joseph’s College fifth year pupil was drafted in.
Cowie — who joined Queens at the age of 11 after playing development football with Greystone Rovers – kept a clean sheet, pulled off a string of fine saves and helped the Dumfries outfit to their second league victory.
An elated Cowie – who became the club’s youngest debutant since Chris Doig in 1996 – said: “It’s an absolutely unreal feeling. After being here since I was 11 and being a season ticket holder before joining the club, it’s brilliant.
“At first when I saw Jack had hurt himself, there were nerves to start with but that quickly turned into excitement.
“During the game I couldn’t really stop to react to the saves I made but looking back it gave me a wee buzz. I wouldn’t have been able to keep a clean sheet without the rest of the lads performing as well as they did.
“It’s a massive win to finish the year off and we obviously need to carry that performance from tonight into the New Year and keep climbing the league table.
“I would love to play on Saturday, as does every lad in the team. It would mean a lot to play but whatever the gaffer thinks is best for the team is what matters the most.”
Another superb moment for Dumfries football was local striker Tommy Goss scoring Allan Johnston’s side’s second goal. This was the 22-year-old’s first senior goal and he admitted afterwards he was “absolutely buzzing” to get on the scoresheet.
Goss said: “This is the proudest moment of my career so far. I’ve been working hard, just waiting for my time to come and so I’m glad I got off the mark.
“What a feeling to finally get my first professional goal for my hometown club, I can’t put into words how happy I am. Not only about scoring, but for the team to get that much needed win that we’ve been needing.”
The striker – who signed from South of Scotland side Abbey Vale – believes Tuesday’s victory will build confidence within the squad and he hopes to start Queens’ next match against Ayr United on Saturday.
He added: “It’s a massive win, we’ve been needing this. Results haven’t been going our way recently but the way everyone reacted tonight was different class. Hopefully we now kick on and take that into Saturday.
“Hopefully I can start. All I can do is keep working hard and taking my chances when they come and if the manager gives me the nod I will do my best to try to stay in the team, but I know there’s good competition for places.”
The victory means Queens climb above Alloa Athletic and Arbroath into eighth spot and hope to start 2021 with a win against Mark Kerr’s Ayr United at Palmerston Park.
Meanwhile, Queens face another away trip to Hampden Park after they were drawn to face Queen’s Park in the second round of the Scottish Cup. The tie will take place on the weekend of January 9/10.
