TIRED QUEENS CRASH TO FALKIRK IN A GAME TOO FAR

Samuel Goal .. rubs salt in the wound

A tired looking Queens team took the field at Brockville and the league leaders Falkirk took full advantage and recorded a comprehensive victory. The margin of victory could have been greater but for some wonderful goalkeeping by that old campaigner Goram in the Queens goal. Like may others I missed the start of the match having been caught up in the traffic chaos on the motorway outside Falkirk. In fact may fans were still drifting in towards half-time. When I arrived Falkirk looked in complete control but the Queens defence looked competent enough to hold them. Queen were gradually feeling their way around the bumpy pitch and trying to play football in the swirling wind. Falkirk's direct style looked more suited to the conditions and Goram was the busier keeper as he kept out efforts from Coyle and Laurie. Queens had a wonderful chance half way through the half when Bowey had a free header bang in front of goal. He somehow managed to head over the bar much to the horror of the Queen' support. As so often happens in these situations the other team takes full advantage as Falkirk ran up the field and scored a rather soft goal. From where I was standing at least two Falkirk players were off-side before a Laurie shot was adjudged to have been over the line. Goram gathered the ball but it was definitely over the line and despite Queen's pleas for offside the goal stood. I had the distinct feeling that Queens were really up against it now as Falkirk lifted by their good fortune continued to dominate up till have time. As we stood in the sqalid visitors enclosure at half-time we all wondered how worse things could get in the second half.

Half-time 0-1

The swirling wind had increased in the second half and was now in Queens favour but Falkirk continued to dominate. We were having difficulty stringing our passes together and we seemed to be taking one touch too many. McAlpine had too reasonable chances but dwelt to much on the ball and the openings were lost. Falkirk on the other hand were more direct and Goram had two point blank saves to keep Queens in the match. Although Falkirk held the upper hand Queens were still in the game until 76th minute when the unfortunate Allan turned the ball into his own net from what looked like a fairly harmless cross. Minutes later the game was virtually over for Queens when Neilson and the Falkirk goalkeeper clashed and the referee booked the Queens man and then sent him off. It looked a 50-50 ball to me but the referee, who was well up with the play thought otherwise. It was now game over as far as I was concerned and in the 83rd minute salt was rubbed into the wounds when Samuel beat Goram to his right and made the score 3-0 in favour of the Bairns. In all a disappointing and frustrating day for the Queens players and fans alike. The fans had to endure hours of frustration on the motorway prior to the match and many missed most of the first half. The facilities for away fans at Falkirk have been decribed by some as being primitive and a death trap. As for the stewarding and policing it was rather poor. Several Queens fans ended up in the home end and some fans including myself were given the wrong information as to the location of our buses. Queens fans should not be too downhearted about his result. It has been a long hard month for us but we will regroup and now that the strenuous midweek games are over we can concentrate on picking up league points. I saw nothing today in the Falkirk team to suggest that Queens are out of their depth in this league and I'm sure we will survive.