MAMBO BELTER EARNS QUEENS A SHARE OF THE SPOILS

Last updated : 01 May 2004 By Duke Of Galloway


MAMBO Jaconelli earned Queens a deserved equaliser after Saints looked like stealing both points after Donnelly put them ahead from the penalty spot. To be quite honest Queens deserved three points but yet again poor finishing let them down. Queens dominated the first half with Gibson in dazzling form on the right and really the Doonhamers should have been at least two up by the interval against a disappointing Perth side whose support kept chanting Jonh Connolly's name throughout. Paton had several good tries and Bowey as usual was in the thick of things and could have had a couple of goals himself.


Half-Time Queens 1 St Johnstone 1


Saints improved at the start of the second half but could make no impression on Queens defence with Reid and Thomson outstanding. Queens were now lying deep but still continued to make chances on the break. Then disaster struck for Queens on 62 minutes. Eric Paton had just struck the bar for Queens when Saints broke away and somehow Parker got behind Reid. As the Saints striker homed in on goal the big Queens defender hauled him down inside the box and the referee had no alternative but to give a penalty. Reid was in fact very lucky to be sent off. Donnelly sent Samson the wrong way to put St Johnstone 1-0 up in front of a hushed Palmy support. Queens immediately swept up field in search of an equaliser and the Saints defence were resorting to any means what ever to keep the Doonhamers at bay. The referee was also having a real stinker and was giving Queens nothing. Gibson was working his magic on the left wing and on 74 minutes he destroyed the Saints defence with a run and cross which left Jaconelli with an easy chance to blast home as the Glasgow Street end erupted. Queens went all out for the kill urged on by the noisy home support belting out their songs along with at least two horns and a set of bagpipes. Bowey should have sealed it for Queens when his lob went just wide with Burke screaming for a square pass and a possible tap in. It was not to be however and with the chants of YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING ringing in his ears, the referee blew for full time. This was a good performance from Queens but once again poor finishing let us down. This was also possibly Gibson's finest game for Queens with some of his runs the highlight of the game. The St Johnstone support are convinced that JC will be their next manager but I'm not so sure. I hope we don't head for Dingwall next week without a manager.

SOME FIRST HALF ACTION AT PALMY AS SAINTS PRESS