QUEENS EDGE OUT MORTON IN BRUISING CUP TIE - THREE TON PLAYERS SENT OFF

Goal Hero O'Connor in hospital

Queens made heavy weather of eventually beating a ruthless Morton side who resorted to some disgraceful foul play in the closing minutes resulting in Queens goal hero O'Connor ending up in hospital badly injured after a horrific tackle from Morton's Riley who was dismissed from the field for his trouble. Queens kicked off in front of a rather disappointing attendance which included around a hundred or so vociferous supporters from Greenock. Queens settled quickly and bombarded the Morton goal but the Greenock side were getting men behind the ball and making life difficult. They almost took a shock lead in the 5th minute when Williams got a touch to a long through passl and Scott could only watch as the ball cannoned off the crossbar. That was the nearest the Greenock side got to Scott as for the rest of the half the Queens keeper was a mere spectator. Chance after chance was made but somehow O'Connor and Weatherson could not find the net. Weatherson thought he had scored but his effort was chaulked off for either foot-up or off-side. The referee is the only one that knows. The Morton goal was leading a charmed life and it was looking like one of those nights as half-time approached. There was a shock at half-time in the main stand as the catering facilities for some reason were discovered to be shut, so no bovril or pies although facilities were available on the terracing.

Half-Time 0-0

Morton started off well in the second half and fancied their chances as Queens became more frustrated. Riley had a great chance for the Greenock side but shot wide. Queens were forcing corner after corner but just could not find the net. O'Connor came close on two occassions but the goal would just not come. Paton and McLaughlan were introduced for Queens and the Morton defence were put through the mill. They managed to keep Queens at bay but at a heavy price as Williams was sent off for sesond bookable offence. The vital goal came in the 83rd minute when O'CONNOR latched on to a defensive error and despatched the ball into the corner of the net past the helpless Coyle. The game was now won and with Queens in complete control O'Connor went for a wander down by the corner flag to kill time when in charged Morton's Riley and felled the Queens striker with the most brutal tackle I have ever seen. Riley was immediately sent off by the referee as poor O'Connor was carried off the field.
Then another Morton player Keenan was sent off following another incident. There were some ugly scenes as both sets of fans taunted each other and it was a blessing that the referee blew for the final whistle. Although the visitors had three men sent off it was not a dirty game. Queens found Morton's tactics frustrating at times and found it difficult to break them down until Paton,Lyle
and McLaughlan were introduced. If O'Connor is badly injured this will be a huge blow to Queens as the big man played well and was our most dangerous forward.

Teams
Queen of the South:
Scott,Atkinson,Anderson,McColligan,Aitken,Crawford,O'Neill,Gray,O'Connor
Weatherson,McAlpine.
Subs: Allan,Lyle,Paton,McLaughlan,Goram.

Greenock Morton:
Coyle,Collins,Bottiglieri,McGregor,Gaughan,Smith,Uotinen,Hawke,Williams
McDonald,Riley.
Subs: Cannie,Curran,McCarmichael,Kennan,McKillop.

Picture by kind permission of QOSFC