The class of 2001-02 wound back the years last Saturday, as Queen of the South won the Bell's Second Division Championship at Station Park, Forfar, where the 1950-51 squad won the old B Division title.
On that occasion Queens needed to win their final game of the season at Forfar by two goals to nil, to win the title from Stirling Albion on goal average.
QUEENS SECURE THEIR SECOND EVER CHAMPIONSHIP AT STATION PARK
On this occasion Queens needed a victory to lift the title on the penultimate game of the season, and they duly delivered with a three goals to nil win.
I don't know how many travelled in 51 but there was around 950 supporters at Station Park on Saturday to witness this spectacle.
Queens totally dominated from the kick-off and showed absolutely no nerves at all, as they maintained one attack after another from the start.
Gray and McAlpine were delivering some fine crosses from both flanks and the closest chance early on which arrived in the 12th minute, when a cross from Gray on the right was met by Lyle, which Brown in the Fofar goal could only parry up into the air, then touch onto the crossbar and over.
Queens persistence paid off with the first goal which arrived in 31 minutes, when O'Neill fed McAlpine on the left, and his pinpoint cross was met splendidly by Weatherson, who managed to send a looping header over Brown and the ball bounced into the left hand corner of the goal. This goal reminded me of a certain Andy Thomson, in the clinical way he finished, but he wasn't finished there. The Queens support erupted behind the goal as if the goal was to win a Cup Final !!
Within a minute of the opener, another McAlpine cross was met by Lyle, who was unfortunate to see his effort evade the left post.
Queens continued to dominate and Scott in goal wasn't troubled at all in the first half, but they couldn't stretch their advantage.
Half Time 1-0
Queens supporters managed to congregate towards the other end of the park for the second half starting and watch their heroes shoot towards them again. In the 50th minute, Queens all but won the title when O'Neill sent Weatherosn down the left flank and he sublimely lobbed the advancing Brown from around 20 yards and the ball sailed into the left hand corner of the net yet again. The Queens support and the players reacted exactly as in the 31st minute.
I reckon Scott had only one save, low down to his left to make in the second half, as Aitken and Thomson looked totally water tight at the back. Gray was stretched off in the 80th minute to be replaced by Crawford, but before this, O'Connor replaced Lyle, whose workrate was phenomenal along with Atkinson, Gray and Weatherson and must have wondered how he didn't score.
The next best chance of the second half occured when McAlpine crossed for Weatherson, who flicked the ball onto Car Wash Connell at the back post, who missed a sitter from around 3 yards out.
The Championship was won in style with five minutes remaining when O'Neill sent O'Connor racing through the middle. He was one on one with Brown and he absolutely rattled the ball into the postage stamp right hand corner of the net.
Queens played out the remaining 5 minutes plus 3 minutes injury time, and at the final whistle, the Queens fans invaded the pitch, as the players were swamped and carried shoulder high off the pitch. Twenty minutes of celebrations occured with many bottles of champers being uncorked, as John Connolly and Co held up the Champions banner !!
The trophy will be getting presented this Saturday against Morton and the Championship flag will be unveiled at the first game of next season at Palmerston !!
I don't know how many travelled in 51 but there was around 950 supporters at Station Park on Saturday to witness this spectacle.
Queens totally dominated from the kick-off and showed absolutely no nerves at all, as they maintained one attack after another from the start.
Gray and McAlpine were delivering some fine crosses from both flanks and the closest chance early on which arrived in the 12th minute, when a cross from Gray on the right was met by Lyle, which Brown in the Fofar goal could only parry up into the air, then touch onto the crossbar and over.
Queens persistence paid off with the first goal which arrived in 31 minutes, when O'Neill fed McAlpine on the left, and his pinpoint cross was met splendidly by Weatherson, who managed to send a looping header over Brown and the ball bounced into the left hand corner of the goal. This goal reminded me of a certain Andy Thomson, in the clinical way he finished, but he wasn't finished there. The Queens support erupted behind the goal as if the goal was to win a Cup Final !!
Within a minute of the opener, another McAlpine cross was met by Lyle, who was unfortunate to see his effort evade the left post.
Queens continued to dominate and Scott in goal wasn't troubled at all in the first half, but they couldn't stretch their advantage.
Half Time 1-0
Queens supporters managed to congregate towards the other end of the park for the second half starting and watch their heroes shoot towards them again. In the 50th minute, Queens all but won the title when O'Neill sent Weatherosn down the left flank and he sublimely lobbed the advancing Brown from around 20 yards and the ball sailed into the left hand corner of the net yet again. The Queens support and the players reacted exactly as in the 31st minute.
I reckon Scott had only one save, low down to his left to make in the second half, as Aitken and Thomson looked totally water tight at the back. Gray was stretched off in the 80th minute to be replaced by Crawford, but before this, O'Connor replaced Lyle, whose workrate was phenomenal along with Atkinson, Gray and Weatherson and must have wondered how he didn't score.
The next best chance of the second half occured when McAlpine crossed for Weatherson, who flicked the ball onto Car Wash Connell at the back post, who missed a sitter from around 3 yards out.
The Championship was won in style with five minutes remaining when O'Neill sent O'Connor racing through the middle. He was one on one with Brown and he absolutely rattled the ball into the postage stamp right hand corner of the net.
Queens played out the remaining 5 minutes plus 3 minutes injury time, and at the final whistle, the Queens fans invaded the pitch, as the players were swamped and carried shoulder high off the pitch. Twenty minutes of celebrations occured with many bottles of champers being uncorked, as John Connolly and Co held up the Champions banner !!
The trophy will be getting presented this Saturday against Morton and the Championship flag will be unveiled at the first game of next season at Palmerston !!