IT'S HEARTBREAK AGAIN FOR SAD QUEENS

Yet another afternoon of under acheivement by struggling Queens as St Mirren recorded their second consecutive win inside a fortnight. There was very little in it for most of the first half with Queens at least putting in a lot of effort but creating very little although O'Neill did go close on a couple of occassions. Saints went ahead on 21 minutes when Lappen forced the ball home from a goalmouth scramble in front of a subdued Palmy support. Queens tried hard to get back into the game and Lyle had atrocious luck as his header hit the base of the post with the keeper beaten. Lyle also had similar luck when he tried to lob the Paisley keeper but the ball drifted wide to groans from the Main Stand. St Mirren however held out confidently and were in the driving seat as the half ended.

Queens 0 St Mirren 1

Queens found it difficult to break down a determined St Mirren defence in the second half and eventually McNiven came on to add support.The same player looked to have been felled in the box but the referee who was well up with the play waved play on. Gibson had a couple of impressive runs but his final ball was mopped up easily by the St Mirren defence. The unfortunate Lyle became a victim of the hard tackling Paisley defence and had to be carried off with a bad ankle injury. Queens final chance came in the closing minutes when a Jim Thomson header drifted wide. Queens put a lot of effort into the game but as said before created very little. Burns and Gibson although showing some neat touches failed to get behind a confident Saints defence and O'Neill hardly got into the game. Our only plus marks were in defence with Thomson holding the fort with young Stuart Hill doing reasonably well for his first match. Next week's clash at Stair Park will not be for the faint hearted and many Queens fans will fear the worst. However with hundreds of Queens fans for support I remain optimistic.

Gary Wood clears for Queens as Stuart Hill looks on The unfortunate Derek Lyle about to be stretchered off Some Queens supporters drown their sorrows !