TNS 2 Queens Park 2
(Queen’s Park win 4-2 on penalties)
TEN man TNS suffered shoot out heartache as Queens Park ended Scott Ruscoe’s IRN-BRU Cup dream.
Jon Routledge went from hero to villain after opening the scoring midway through the first-half only to see red following a reckless challenge on Scott McLean which set up a stampede finish at Park Hall.
Routledge’s curling shot from the edge of the area came back off the post and deflected off the back of goalkeeper Jordan Hart to give TNS a 30th minute lead.
The Saints took the lead into the second-half and continued to dictate proceedings until Routledge earned his marching orders and the Scottish side pressed their numerical advantage.
Goalkeeper Paul Harrison fumbled in a packed goalmouth for Smart Osadolor to hammer home as Park hit back to level with 10 minutes remaining.
Queens Park looked to have snatched victory at the death when Lewis Hawke capitalised on another goalmouth scramble to send the travelling Glaswegians into frenzy.
However the tie took another dramatic turn when Joash Nembhard volleyed home from 10 yards after the Saints staged one last bombardment of the Scottish goalmouth.
The match went to penalties with McLean netting for the visitors before Jamie Mullan was denied by Hart.
Harrison denied Scott Gibbons to keep his side in contention only for Ryan Brobbel to be denied by Hart with Cameron Foy hammering home to restore the Spiders lead.
Dean Ebbe and Chris Marriott both converted but with Kurtis Roberts also successful it was left to Josh Peters to slot home the decisive penalty and send TNS crashing out of the cup.
TNS: Harrison, Spender, Marriott, Hudson, Nembhard, Routledge, Edwards, Redmons, Byrne, Mullan, Draper. Subs: Roberts, Clark, Lewis, Hmami, Ebbe, Holland, Brobbel
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