Queen of the South v Stirling Albion – match report
Written by author on February 23, 2011
Q.O.S: Hutton, Reid, Harris, McGuffie, Lilley, Quinn, Carmichael, Johnston, McMenamin, Holmes, McLaren
Stirling: Christie, Doyle, Forsyth, McHale, Buist, Allison, Welsh, Aitken, Smith, Trialist, Borris
On a nice tuesday night Queens entertained Stirling and a disappointing crowd of just over 1100 came to see this one.
In a first half that Queens dominated started off with Carmichael beating the offside trap and alone with the keeper his first touch was too heavy and the Christie was able to make the block. Then McGuffie had a shot that went just wide, before Queens had a cross in the box but no attackers anywhere near it. Stirling then had their first chance with a header that Hutton saved well. Derek Holmes then had a shot that went wide before disaster struck. Stirling’s midfield was allowed to play without being put under any pressure. Aitken received the ball outside the box and was able to run unchallenged into the box and place his shot in the bottom corner. 0-1.
Queens continued to dominate and McMenamin had a shot that went just wide. McMenamin then took a shot through the crowd and the keeper somehow seen it and saved it. McMenamin had another chance with a header but again it was just wide, before Stirling had a free kick which Aitken put wide. Towards the end of the half Holmes had a header well saved before Queens had a shot which hit the post. A half where Queens dominated but unable to finish off the chances they had.
The second half continued in the same manner with Queens pressurising Stirling. In the opening minutes McMenamin was clear through with keeper but, in my opinion, got pulled back and his shot went wide as he went down. The referee however didn’t agree and only gave a goal kick. Queens finally got their goal five minutes into the half and it was McMenamin who got it.. After another Queens attack the ball fell for him just outside the box and his well placed shot found the bottom corner. 1-1. Queens continued the pressure and Carmichael again had a shot blocked after a much too heavy first touch. Then the most unbelievable miss of them all, McMenamin hit the post and the ball came back out to a Queens player who set up Holmes with an open goal but he somehow managed to hit the cross bar. It’s a long time since we have seen such a miss at Palmerston. It looked like that miss knocked Queens a bit as the pressure relented but only for a short period.
After 69 min McGuffie received the ball on about 20 yards and he hit a brilliant shot that flew into the net, leaving the keeper with no chance. 2-1. Queens then let Stirling more into the game, something that should proved costly. Harris had a free kick that went well over the bar before Johnston had a shot well saved. Holmes headed wide from the resulting corner. Stirling had a shot that went over after a succession of corners. With just a few minutes to go the ref made one of his few mistakes of the night. Stirling was given a free kick, but I have no idea why it was given. If anything Queens should have had the kick. It proved a fatal mistake as they floated the ball into the box, the ball found it’s way out to the wing and a low ,dangerous cross was easily put in the net by Gordon Smith.2-2.
Queens now with very little time to get the win won a free kick, which was delivered to the head of Bob Harris, but his header flashed wide.
The game finished 2-2 and it was two points dropped by Queens tonight I’m afraid. We now need everyone’s backing for the game on sat against Dunfermline and a win then would see us still in with a chance of the 1st division title.
Stig Nordkil at Palmerston!
