SUPER CALEY ARE TOO STRONG FOR INJURY-HIT QUEENS

Goram-injured during 1st half with Caley

Queens injury-hit side were ripped apart by a big stronger and fitter Inverness team and the game was virtually over as a contest by half-time. There were groans from the terraces as the news filtered through that Allen,Queens anchor man in defence would not play and on loan Henderson from Killie was drafted in alongside Aitken with Crawford pushed up into midfield. There was a strangely subdued atmosphere at kick-off, perhaps the faithful were resigned to the fact that Queens were in for a thumping. In fact it was a full quarter of an hour before the Palmy choir had it's opening song. By that time the impressive Caley team were a goal up and in total control. Incredibly Queens could have had two goals in the first 5 mins if Shields had been a bit sharper but as happens so often in football the other team run up the field and score. On the 7 minute mark Goram made a fantastic save from a Wyness header,turning the ball over the bar. From the resultant corner Mann glanced a header wide of the Queens keeper,taking a slight defelction of someone on the way. The home support were stunned as the Highlanders poured forward and started to dominate the game. The Queens defence was having an awful time with Aitken at times the last line of defence at time. Henderson was having a nightmare game and one was beginning to wonder why perhaps the experienced Crawford was not playing alongside Aitken. O'Neill tried his best to get Queens going but he got little responce from his team mates particularly Paton who looked out of his depth. Inverness were in complete control and it was no surprise when in the 24th minute Wyness rose unchallenged to head past Goram. It was an awful goal to lose and exposed Queens shortcomings in defence. The feeling at half-time was that if JC didn't change things Queens were in for a real hiding.

Half-time 0-2

The second half kicked off and there was a slight improvement in the Queens play but Inverness looked the more likely team. The Palmerston side continued to struggle at the back and everyone held their breath at every high cross. Scott had come on for Goram who had taken a knock but even he couldn't stem the tide. The game was over as a contest on the 48th minute when Wyness rose unchallenged AGAIN to head past Scott. The Queens keeper was furious with his defence as he was given no cover whatsoever. Caley took their foot off the pedal for the remainder of the match and finished comfortable winners despite Weatherson taking advantage of a rare error in the visitors defence to score for Queens. To be quite honest I was not surprised by this result as the writing has been on the wall for several weeks and the problems have only been compounded by a spate of injuries. The harsh reality is that we are struggling as a part-time team to compete at this level. Apart from Goram and Scott only Aitken stood out for Queens with the rest struggling against a well organised Inverness team. JC's team selection did not help the cause with the selection of Henderson alongside Aitken. Surely the experienced Crawford should have been given that role. Remember all Caley's goals came from headers in the box. Where do Queens go from here ? Well it looks like we are in for a dogfight of survival with Alloa,Arbroath and perhaps St. Mirren. We as fans must now get behind the team and give them every encouragement as I think once our injuries clear up we can survive. There is still a lot of football to be played from now until April.