QUEENS HAVE A HIGHLAND FLING AT DINGWALL

Last updated : 23 March 2003 By Duke Of Galloway

GOAL-O'Neill puts Queens ahead

A convincing win for Queens in the end against a disappointing Ross County side who are now in big bother and look favourites to go down with Arbroath. The opening salvos were grim viewing for the 1976 crowd which were scattered around the smart wee Victoria Park ground. The handful of Queens fans who had travelled North were making plenty of noise with their vocal chords well lubricated by several pints in the delightful Mallard Bar before the match. The first-half can only be described as simply awful but Queens at least were trying to play some football. County on the other hand looked cumbersome and completely lacking in ideas on how to overcome a stuffy Queens defence with Thomson and Scott outstanding. Just as I was about to seek the respite of the Gents toilet,Queens stunned Victoria Park with the opening goal. O'Neill took advantage of some rather loose defending by Ross to find the bottom of the net in the 40th minute and send the away support into raptures. Queens were now well on top and went in at half-time worthy of their slender lead but the game as a specatcle was abysmal.

Half -time Ross County 0 Queens 1

County came out in a desperate attempt to equalise and pushed up putting Scott and company under a lot of pressure but Queens gradually took a strangle hold on the game and were giving nothing away. Bowey was a constant menace in midfield as Queens broke up field at every opportunity with Weatherson and O'Neill asking questions of the County defence which looked shaky at times. Scott had to be on his toes on several ocassions as Queens protected their lead. As the game approached the last quarter County seemed to loose heart as Queens brought on O'Connor to harass the Dingwall rearguard. Queens sensed a few more goals and surged forward with O'Connor and Weatherson creating havoc. In the 73rd minute O'Connor ran through the static home defence rounded the keeper and netted via the post much to the delight of the visiting support. County had more or less thrown the towel in by now and in the 80th minute their harassed defence gave away an own goal when the unfortunate Mackay did the honours. As Queens played out the last few minutes chants of GOING DOWN were heard as some Queens fans started to taunt the unfortunate Ross County support as they streamed for the exits. In all not a pretty performance by Queens but they were far to street-wise for County who look like relegation fodder on this display. The sizeable travelling support enjoyed a superb day in this delightful part of the world. Victoria Park is a smashing wee ground and the Mallard Pub nearby in Dingwall Railway Station an excellent watering hole for a pre-match pint. If County do get relegated the 1st division will be the poorer as Victoria Park and Dingwall provide an excellent venue for the footbal fan. Well that's all the hard work done now chaps and we are now in 5th place which is beyond our wildest dreams. We can now enjoy the rest of the season and perhaps JC can blood some of our young players.

NELLY DOING A HIGHLAND FLING