QUEENS BOUNCE BACK AGAINST INVERNESS

QUEENS NEW KEEPER SAMSON

Forget the narrow score line,Inverness were spared a right thrashing by the woodwork and some appalling finishing from Queens. Nevertheless this was an impressive performance from an under strength Doonhamers team who made Inverness look very ordinary indeed. Queens looked in the mood from the start with O'Connor and Jaconelli causing havoc in the Inverness penalty area. It was no surpries when on 9 minutes O'Connor slid the ball home from a few yards after an initial save by Brown in the Caley goal. Little was seen of the Caley attack who were without their ace striker Bingham. Queens new young keeper Samson looked very impressive indeed although he had very little to do as Queens took the game to the Highlanders. Queens increased their lead on 29 minutes when skipper Bowey beat Brown after great work by O'Connor. Queens were very much in the driving seat now as a disapppointing Inverness team struggled to get into the game.

Half-Time Queens 2 Inverness 0

Inverness came out fighting in the second half but they found the mean Queens defence in no mood to concede anything. Burke had repalced the injured O'Connor during the break and he along with Jaconelli were proving a right handful for the harassed Caley defence who were now resorting to dubious methods instemming the tide. Jaconelli had a great chance to finish off the Highlanders when he missed a cross by inches when standing almost on the goal. Inverness were coming more into the game but Queens were restricting them to long range efforts although Samson had one wonderful save at his right hand post. The ball fell to Ritchie but he booted the ball into Terregles Street much to the relief of the Palmy faithful who were now sensing victory. Just as it looked like Queens had weathered the storm Caley scored in the 77th minutes through Ritchie after the Doonhamers defence failed to clear after a free-kick. Inverness piled forward looking for an equaliser in the remaining few minutes but Queens held on for a memorable victory and in fact had several chances to really bury Inverness with Jaconelli,Burns and Mc Alpine going really close. Considering Queens were without three regular players this was a wonderful Queens performance and their was not a failure in the team. Jaconelli has come of age and caused Inverness all sorts of problems with his direct style reminiscent of the late great Billy Houliston. JC must also have been impressed by our new keeper Samson who looks the part and is well over six foot despite press reports to the contrary. The only minus points today was the poor crowd of just over 2,000 which was obviously due to the poor result at Brechin. There is also good news that the reserves beat Creetown in the South League with 10 men. Thomson and Wood turned out for the Queens team.