NELLY DOUBLE SINKS THE BLUE BRAZIL

Last updated : 17 March 2002 By Duke Of Galloway
Queens eventually overcame Cowdenbeath in a brusing encounter in which the Blue Brazil were reduced to 10 men for the last 20 minutes. The score certainly flatters the Cowdenbeath side who set out their stall right away by getting men behind the ball at every opportunity. Queens, due to injuries had new signing O'Connor up front with Weatherson and Donald was drafted in to midfield. Cowdenbeath from the kick-off were to frustrate Queens by their tactics and the Palmerston side could make little hedway against a packed defence. Cowdenbeath almost took a shock lead in the 20th as Thompson nearly headed past his own keeper. However gaps were beginning to open up in the Cowdenbeath rearguard and new signing O'Connor was giving their defenders problems with his physical style of play. The deadlock was finally broken in the 42nd minute when O'neill slid a delightful through ball to WEATHERSON who took one touch and drove the ball straight into the corner of the net past a helpless O'Connor in the Blue Brazil goal. Queens suffered a blow shortly afterwards when the influencial O'neill was carried off injured and replaced by Connell.
Half-time 1-0

Almost from the kick-off Queens had the opportunity to bury Cowdenbeath when the impressive O'Connor set up Donald but the former missed an easy chance as he screwed the ball wide. Queens were making all the play and chances were being squandered and they were given a timely reminder that the game was not won yet as the Blue Brazil striker Brown shot into the side net with Scott struggling across his goal. Cowdenbeath were dealt a mortal blow in the 71st minute when they were reduced to 10 men when WINTER was sent off after taking a kick at DONALD. Queens took full advantage of the situation and put the Cowdenbeath defence under tremendous pressure. The pressure paid off in the 72nd minute when the O'Connor put WEATHERSON away and he calmly scored an almost replica of his first half goal. With the Palmerston choir now in full voice everyone sat back waiting for a few more goals which to Cowdenbeaths credit did not materialize. Queens sat back and played out time and nearly paid the penalty when the dangerous BROWN lobbed over Scott in the dying minutes to make the score 2-1. O'Connor almost scored in the final minute for Queens when he hammered in a goalbound shot only for his namesake to make a tremendous save in the Cowdenbeath goal.

In all a well dug out win for Queens against a rather negative Cowdenbeath side whose only shot at goal was their consolation effort in the last minute.