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McALPINE AND O'NEILL BURY THE CLEYHOLERS

Last updated : 10 March 2002 By Duke Of Galloway

Match Report

Queens charged back to the top of the league after a storming second half display against a punchless Stranraer. The Cleyholers were first to settle and had the Queens defence in all sorts of bother for the first 15 mins with the impressive Blair going close on several occassions. Queens gradually clawed their way back into the game and the lively Lyle nearly sneaked one in from a Connolly through ball. The Cleyholers were continuing to dominate with most of our midfield posted missing and it was almost 21 mins before Queens forced their first corner which was cleared easily by the visitors. In 25 mins Lyle again almost scored from a dangerous Weatherson cross. There were some muted appeals for a penalty shortly afterwards when a shot by Nelly was charged down, however the referee was not impressed. As the first half drew to a disappointing close we were lifted by the news that both our rivals Alloa and Clydebank were both losing.

Half- time 0-0

Shortly after half-time the game exploded into life on 47 mins when former Queens player GLANCY put the Cleyholers ahead after the Queens defence failed to clear a free kick. Queens were stunned but to be honest Stranraer just about deserved their lead and thay had a chance to further embarass the home support when an effort beat Scott and crashed off the bar. The game took a strange twist shortly afterwards in the 50th min when,after a tremendous scramble in the Stranraer goalmouth,in which Weatherson and Lyle both had shots blocked on the line,up popped McALPINE to glide a delecate header into the corner of the net for the equaliser, despite a desperate attempt by McGeown to keep the ball out. Queens were now in full cry now and actually finding men with their passes and Palmerston erupted in 62 mins when McALPINE once again was right on the spot to score after a Connolly cross had caused panic in the Cleyholer rearguard. The home side now went for the jugular and to the sound of war drums booming out from the terracing the Queens laid seige to the Stranraer goal. Amidst tremendous excitement it was no surprise in the 72nd when O'NEILL stroked home a third and his 17th goal of the season after brilliant work by Lyle on the right.

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