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Dont be misled by the scoreline as this was a comprehensive victory for Queens in front of a stunned Ayrshire support and the narrow scoreline flattered the Honest Men as Queens outplayed them in a second-half. The game kicked off in perfect conditions in front of a healthy crowd which included a huge vociferous support from Dumfries. The first half was a scrappy affair as both teams flexed their muscles but Ayr seemed to have control in the middle of the park. Queens left O'Neill and Mc Alpine on the bench with O'Connor and Mc Laughlan being given the nod. The Queens defence were being given a severe examination with Annand and Grady causing problems. Anderson and Thomson however, were gradually asserting their authority and Queens came more into the game. O'Connor had a great chance on the edge of the box but took one touch too many and the chance was lost. Ayr were pushing up at will and forced a number of corners. Goram was showing his experience and had a terrific one-handed save from Annand. Moments later he turned a net-bound header over, as Ayr turned up the heat. Ayr were well on top at this stage but the Queens rearguard were in tremendous form and were proving difficult to break down much to the frustration of the home support who were being out-sung by their noisy visitors. The Doonhamers did enjoy a spell of pressure before half-time but the feeling during the interval was that Ayr should have been ahead.
Half -Time 0 - 0
What a difference in the second-half as Queens took complete control with Bowey and Mc Laughlan everywhere. The Queens forwards seemed to be queing up at times for a shot at goal but somehow the ball just would not go in. O'Connor,Lyle and Weatherson all had shots blocked until Queens eventually scored from a most unlikely source in the 58th minute. Little Mc Laughlan,who had been creating havoc on the left cut inside and unleashed a drive from the edge of the box across the Ayr keeper into the corner of the net amid scenes of mayhem in the visitor's cowshed. Queens smelt victory and really put Ayr through the mill but poor finishing and some great goalkeeping kept them at bay. Big Sean O'Connor in fact on another day could have had a hatrick. Ayr came back at Queens towards the end but Queens held on for a memorable win. There wasn't a failure in this Queens team and the only disappointment for the delirious fans was that there wasn't more goals. I personally don't give a hoot as three points is what really matters as we climb up the league to safety. More please at Inverness next Saturday.
Duke's man of the match - Brian Mc Laughlan
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