Fighting Queens just failed to force a replay after a tremendous second half display in which they had their Premier League opponents virtually out on their knees. Three goals down at the interval the Doonhamers came storming back but in the end they were made to pay for missed chances and a woeful first half display. The atmosphere before kick=off was tremendous as well over 3,000 Queens fans packed in to the Fir Park South Stand. The Drummer Boy somehow managed to gain entry much to the delight of the Palmy choir and the somewhat surprised Motherwell support. Queens looked nervous from the start and the nightmare scenario followed with Aitken hauling down Clarkson in the 3rd minute to give away a needless penalty which Adams converted in front of the bemused Palmy masses. Queens just could not get going and the young Motherwell team looked in total command as they threatened the Queens goal at every opportunity. Reid and Aitken were struggling to cope and we were being murdered in midfield where Bowey looked compeletely out of touch. The huge Queens support were giving the team every encouragement but the Well looked the most likely team and it was no surprise when Burns put them 2-0 up with a free header on 10 minutes from a corner. Queens looked shell shocked and tried desperately to get into the game and at long last started to make in roads into the Motherwell defence who so far had not been really tested. O'Connor had a couple of chances but in general we didn't threaten that much and on 45 minutes Burns virtually buried Queens with a rather soft goal, sliding the ball in from a tight angle past an unfortunate Dodds who had previously pulled off a tremendous save. As the frozen Queens fans headed off for the pie stalls the general feeling was that the game was virtually over abd we just did not compete in the first half.
Half-Time Motherwell 3 Queens 0What a transformation in the second half as the Queens gradually powered their way back into the game with Bowey driving them on. Motherwell seemed to take their pedal off the gas and Queens really had a go at them. O'Connor brought Queens back into the game with a tremedous header on 65 minutes as the away South Stand erupted in a sea of blue. The Motherwell defence were under tremendous pressure now with O'Connor and Jacoinelli causing havoc and it was no surprise when the former picked up a loose ball inside the penalty area and beat Marshall on 69 minutes to send the Palmy support into raptures. It was now game on as Queens battered away at the Well defence. How Queens didn't score in the final 20 minutes is beyond me as O'Connor,Bowey ,Jaconelli and Burns alll wnet close. In the end perhaps they were given far too much to do and I think the penalty kick was the killer for Queens. The first half display by Queens was woeful as they just could not string a pass together and in the end contributed to their own downfall as Motherwell were really gifted three very soft goals. Bowey had a tremendous second half as he virtually took on the Motherwell defence on his own and he also got great support from O'Connor and Jaconelli.
This game gave us an opportunity to compare ourselves with Premier League oppostion and it probably showed us up defensively. Mc Alpine and Paton both had poor games wtith Aitken and Reid very hesitant. Reid eventually came on to a game but by that time the damage was done. It was however a wonderful cup-tie and the pre-match festivities were something else with the cabaret acts in the Jack Daniels pub priceless. Queens fans will no doubt be disappointed at what might have been but if you have supported Queens for over fifty years you learn to live with your defeats and enjoy the triumphs when they come along. Let's recharge our batteries and enjoy our trip to Angus next week when we take on Brechin.
FAREWELL TO ALY MC LEOD
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