When Jim Thomson rose above the Rangers defence to bullet the ball into the net around 8 minutes into the second half , Queens had one hand on the Scottish Cup and the biggest Hampden Final upset in history was very much on the cards. However it was not to be and Boyd snatched the cup for Rangers with a winner on 72 minutes leaving a galliant Queens team wondering what might have been.
Chisolm's Heroes Go Down Fighting
When Jim Thomson rose above the Rangers defence to bullet the ball into the net around 8 minutes into the second half , Queens had one hand on the Scottish Cup and the biggest Hampden Final upset in history was very much on the cards. However it was not to be and Boyd snatched the cup for Rangers with a winner on 72 minutes leaving a galliant Queens team wondering what might have been.
The atmosphere before kick-off was electric as over 15,000 noisy Queens fans crammed into the traditional Celtic end of Hampden as the rather subdued and bemused Rangers support sat in silence. Unfortunately the Queens side simply were not at the races in the first half as the Premier League side dominated proceedings. Queens lack of match practice was showing and they just could not get going with their midfield struggling to cope with the pace and the power of the Ibrox side. O'Connor and Dobbie also could make little impression on a resolute Rangers defence.
Beasley and Boyd both missed chances before the latter put Rangers ahead on 33 minutes from a free kick for a soft award when Darcheville seemed to stumble after a challenge. Queens were obviously stunned and tried hard to get back into the game with Tosh being thwarted by Alexander in the Rangers goal. It looked as if Queens would survive to the interval when they lost a soft goal on 43 minutes. Both Thomson and McCann missed a difficult cross which landed nicely for Beasley who squeezed the ball home between McDonald's legs. Queens were shell shocked as they left the field at half-time and they knew a supreme effort was needed in the second half.
Queens came out fighting in the second half and surprisingly started to put the Ibrox side under a lot of pressure. The Rangers goalkeeper was the busier of the two and the Queen's end erupted on 50 minutes when O'Connor skinned the Ibrox defence on the right to cross for Tosh to bundle the ball home. Queens sensed another and Jim Thomson rose like a bird to nod home a Harris free kick on 53 minutes amid scenes of sheer bedlam amongst the Queen's support. Roared on by a sea of blue in the East Stand Queens really had a go at Rangers at this stage and Dobbie had a chance of immortality but only a last ditch tackle by Cuellar saved the day for Rangers. A goal at this stage may have brought the Cup to Palmerston but it was not to be as the Rangers rearguard held firm and dug thenselves out of a hole. Rangers to their credit gardually seized the initiative and Boyd eventually gave them the lead again on 72 minutes with a header.
Queens tried hard , fought to the end and only desperate defending by the Ibrox rearguard kept them out. Perhaps Rangers just about deserved to edge it but Queens came mighty close. The killer for me was Rangers second goal which was a result of a tragic error by Thomson and McCann but it would be unfair to single them out for blame. Queen's MacDonald stated afterwards that Beasley scuffed his shot which completely confused the young goalie. Defining moments such as those decide who takes home the cup.
It was trully a magnificent day for all the Queens fans who did their club proud and it was a privelage to see my beloved Queens appear in a Scottish Cup Final at the National Stadium and we may not have the chance to see such a spectacle again for a very long time. So we come to the end of what has been Queen's greatest ever season and many thanks to the Queens management and players - we thank you all!
Queen's Man of the Match - Jim Thomson - Despite his error for the second Rangers goal this was the JT's finest hour and his magnificent goal will stick in my memory for ever.
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