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QUEENS AGAIN PAY THE PRICE FOR MISSED CHANCES

Last updated : 18 January 2004 By Duke Of Galloway
How on earth this extremely fragile Raith side managed to steal a point is beyond me. Queens missed an absoilute barrowload of chances and they must be gutted at trhe result. Queens started off with a bang and the eccentric Gonzalez in the Raith goal was performing heroics as Queens forced a series of corners but somehow the vital goal just would not come. The cosmopolitan Raith side were playing some nice one touch football but with little punch and Dodds had very little to do as a result. Burke missed a glorious chance by blazing over from close in and O'Connor also had tough luck with good efforts which Gonzlez managed to keep out. At the other end Pereira had a good chance but sliced past the post. Queens suffered a blow when Reid had to go off injured with Aitken moving to central defence and Mc Alpine slotting in at left back. It made little difference as Raith were showing very little up front with Thomson giving Sutton very little chance to show his skills. As we approached half-time the home crowd were getting a bit frustrated as Queens struggled to find a way past Gonzalez. In fact with a little composure the Doonhamers could have been several goals to the good by the interval. As it was Raith were very much in it and their midfield play suggested that Queens still had a lot of work to do in the second half.

Half-Time Queens 0 Raith Rovers 0

Queens pressed from the start of the second half and were rewarded when O'Connor headed past Gonzalez on 51 minutes from a wonderful Burns cross. Queens really went for it after this with Mc Mullen coming more into the game.The on loan player laid on a glorious chance for Bowey whose header beat Gonzalez but to the horror of the Palmy crowd rebounded off the post. Try as they may Queens just could not add to their lead thanks to some atrocious luck and inspired goalkeeping by Gonzalez. The Raith side were spraying the ball around nicely in midfield and going into the last quarter were looking increasingly dangerous. Queens looked to have hung on for a win when they lost a most unfortunate goal on 77th minutes. Sutton got on the end of a loose ball in the six yard box after Dodds had spilled a simple ball. His effort came off the bar and seemed to drop just over the line according to linesman. The referee awarded a goal despite protests from the Queens defenders. Palmy was stunned at this reverse and for the remainder of the game were treated to a disgraceful display of gamesmanship by Raith with their time wasting tactics and diving about in the Queens penalty area. The referee was having none of it and a Raith player was booked for his troubles in the final minutes. The referee finally blew his whistle to a chorus of boos from the obviously disappointed Palmy crowd. Queens must be kicking themselves at having not seen off this Raith side. They missed some glorious openings and John Connolly must be concerned at the lack of punch in front of goal. Wood was obviously missed up front so let's hope he is back for the St Mirren game which will be another tough fixture.
THE ECCENTRIC GONZALEZ IN THE RAITH GOAL


QUEENS LAY SEIGE ON THE RAITH GOAL