QUEENS WIN THE BELLS CHALLENGE CUP

O'Neill sends Queens on road to Cup Glory

Strikes by folk hero John O'Neill and Derek Lyle were enough to lift the  Bells Challenge Cup against Brechin City at Broadwood. An excellent crowd of over 6,000 saw the delayed kick-off although the expeceted turnout from Angus did not happen and there were huge gaps in the Brechin stand. Queens were by far the better side although Brechin did compete well in mid-field. The huge Queens support were in good voice and Brechin looked nervous. Weatherson should have given Queens the lead in the 32nd minute but Hay in the Brechin goal saved with his legs. The opening goal came in controvercial fashion when O'Neill seemed to force the ball over the line despite Mc Culloch's attempt to clear. The referee was in no doubt and awarded a goal amid mayhem amongst the Queens support.
Queens were now in full flow and had several chances to increase their lead but that old failing that has dogged them in the league began to rear it's ugly head. As the teams left the field at half-time the Palmy faithful were a bit subdued as the cup was far from won yet.

Half-time 0-1

Queens came at Brechin on the restart and on 47 minutes Mc Alpine slung over a wonderful cross which completely foxed the Brechin rearguard and found the napper of Lyle who gleefully nodded it past the Brechin keeper much to the delight of the Dumfries fans. It was now party time as the Queens support gave it the full welly of songs as Brechin tried desperately to get into the game and Goram had to be alert as King fired one in but the ex Scotland keeper was up to the task and saved well. Queens had several more chances to really bury the little Angus side but eased off and finished comfortable winners. There was also a huge cheer when big O'Connor came on and almost brought the house down when he was unlucky not to score with a header that drifted wide. Connolly and his players were ecstatic at the end and so they should be. This was another fantastic achievement for a club who only three years ago faced relegation to Division Three. Once again I was proud to be a Queens supporter and I hope the extra few thousand that were at Broadwood are at Palmy this weekend to watch Queens against Ross County.


Teams: BRECHIN CITY : Hay,Mc Culloch,Black,Smith,Cairney,Fotheringham,
King,Riley,Grant,Jackson,Gibson.

QUEEN OF THE SOUTH : Goram,Neilson,Anderson,McColligan,Aitken.Thomson,
O'Neill,Bowey,Weatherson,Lyle,McAlipne.