Queen of the South 1 Accies 1: Saturday, 29 April 2000

Report by George Grandison

After all of the recent SFL and SFA shenanigans, it was good to get back to football on the pitch in a game that might might, after next week, mean everything or nothing to both teams depending on what the SFA appeals committee decide.

The bonus for the decent sized travelling support was the reduction in admission to £4 a head - and of course the pre-match pipe band! Accies started brightly and went about their business in a determined manner without creating many chances, thanks to the tight marking of the Queens defence. The best early chance fell to Quitongo after 15 minutes when, following some neat play by Davidson and a great one-two with Coubrough, the little Angolan was put in space on the edge of the box. He sidestepped the last defender but as the keeper came out, he seemed to lose his balance and his shot hit the top of the bar when he should really have scored.

Queens began to come more into the game as the half went on, spurred on by a sizable support, at least by second division standards. Veteran striker Ken Eadie had a good chance when left free at the corner of the box but shot weakly at McFarlane, before the No 9 headed over from a good position. Accies took the lead 6 minutes before the break. Their possession play had just prompted me to say the the football was good but not getting anywhere when youngster Gary Lynn fired in an excellent cross at pace from the left, David McFarlane won the aerial challenge in the box and Jose Quitongo made no mistake with a powerful volley from the corner of the six yard box, prompting an acrobatic cartwheel from the wee man to celebrate!

The start of the second half was delayed slightly thanks to the local pipe band. The players were all lined up ready to start but the band hadn't quite finished their tune, so everyone had to wait while they finished up and then left the pitch. Ah, the joys of lower league football! When things did get started, it didn't take long for the Doonhamers to equalise - after just 3 minutes, captain George Rowe was left free about 8 yards out to head home powerfully and breathe new life into his team. For a spell, Accies were under pressure and for most of the half they looked pretty uncomfortable. The smooth passing had gone and they joined Queens in opting for the long, optimistic ball forward as the game deteriorated badly. Accies failed to create anything of note in the second half and came close to losing near the end when Ian McFarlane pulled off a superb reflex stop to deny Eadie with a header from close in and, in injury time, a Rowe free kick thundered just past the post.

In the end a draw was about right with Accies shading the first half and Queens having the better of the second. Where the result leaves both teams now rests squarely with the suits at the SFA.

Accies : McFarlane, Davidson (McCormick), Lynn, Hunter, Gaughan, Thomson, Quitongo, Bonnar, Coubrough, McFarlane (Moore) and Cunnington.

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