Queen of the South star sets survival target after silverware dejection

Ally Roy believes Queen of the South’s 3-1 SPFL Trust Trophy final defeat to Raith Rovers summed up their season as his hometown return was spoiled.

The striker scored for the Championship’s bottom side before half-time but a Matej Poplatnik double and Ethan Ross goal handed the trophy to the Kirkcaldy side.

Proceedings took place in Airdrie after the Excelsior Stadium was selected as the host venue for this year’s final. Roy, who hails from the town, was left gutted.

With a fight to remain in Scotland’s second tier in its final stages, the 24-year-old knows it’s not how their season will be defined, but it would have been a nice lift with five Championship games to go.

They are three points off Dunfermline, who occupy the relegation play-off spot, but Ayr and safety sit eight points away.

He said: “3-1 looks very harsh, especially after the first half showing. Anybody watching the game would have said we could have been ahead at half-time.

“We hit the bar, we hit the post, it wasn’t for falling for us. I was fortunate to get the goal after a stramash in the box and we got that at a perfect time.

“Their second goal deflates us as it came against the run of play. It was harsh and the better team doesn’t always win. It’s about who takes the chances.

“It’s been happening all season and that’s frustration. We are all pulling in the same direction to try and get out of where we are in the league.

“We need to repay the fans by keeping Queen of the South in the Championship.”

Roy had plenty of family members in attendance as he scored the only Queen’s goal on Sunday. But despite scoring in cup final in his own backyard, it has provided little solace for coming short.

The striker added: “I am from Airdrie myself so I had a lot