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29th August 2009.
Queens 2
Ayr Utd 0
Another 3 points on the board and we go joint top of the league with Raith Rovers. It was a
decent game today and we were worthy winners. Craig Samson made some fine stops to keep the score down. It was a match that
had some scrappy periods but also produced a lot of decent moves, mostly from Queens but the visitors played some nice stuff
at times but with no cutting edge or goal threat.
I felt that Willie McLaren had a really fine game today and that Rocco
Quinn had his best game so far for us. There were no failures today and Burnsy was a well deserved man of the match winner.
Ayr started quite well with Kevin James and Andy Aitken as their centre back pair and looked as if they were keen to try
and take the game to Queens. Willie McLaren had a few nice early runs down the left side and we forced a few corners early
on but former Queens keeper Craig Samson looked confident and assured. Chris Aitken ended a nice Ayr move with a shot that
went wide before Davie Weatherston was fed through by Craig Reid but he had two shots blocked ending in another corner, we
then had a great run down the right by Burnsy but his cross was cleared for yet another corner. Derek Holmes then put Weatherston
through but his effort was blocked by the keeper.McKenna then shot over the top before Rocco Quinn stepped inside but shot
straight at Samson. Ayr got a free kick 30 yds out but the wall did its job and blocked it. Burnsy went down injured after
40 minutes but he was soon up on his feet again and it was a minute before halftime that we got the breakthrough when the
pace of Weatherston saw him clear of the Ayr defence but his shot was blocked ,it fell to Holmes and his effort was blocked
but fell to the incoming Willie McLaren and he shot high into the net at the Terregles St end. A fine way to end the half.
The second half started in a rather scrappy manner except for a McLaren shot that went wide and a Holmes effort that was
blocked by the Ayr defence. In 63 minutes Tosh came on to replace McKenna who I thought played pretty well today and within
a minute we were two up. It was more good work from McLaren as he played the ball through to Quinn who had time to hit a low
shot that beat Samson at the right hand post. Ludo did not have a lot to do but shortly after our second goal he made a save
from Ryan Stevenson whom I thought was very quiet for Ayr today. McLaren was then clean through but again Samson made a fine
save, he was then replaced by Barry Wilson as Queens looked to get a 3rd goal to finish the game off.
Andy Aitken then
picked up a pretty bad injury and had to be stretchered off, he was given a good applause from the home support.
Referee
Willie Collum let play flow pretty well and it was not until the last 5 minutes that he had to get the cards out as the visitors
picked up 2 yellows.
Best for me today were Burns and McLaren but I felt everyone done pretty well and we now sit at
the top of the table along with Raith on 8 points.
Crowd was a decent 3034.
22nd August 2009.
Queens 1 Partick Thistle 0
I thought it
was a pretty decent game this afternoon and a good performance from Queens.
Thistle probably had more of the ball over
the 90 minutes but we certainly created the better openings. Thistle started very well and had a lot of the ball which saw
Ludo Roy called into action on a few occasions, including a couple of stops from Jim Hamilton headers as well as a decent
save from Mark Corcoran. Keano then had a powerful header strike the Thistle crossbar before Tosher was handed the best chance
of the opening 45 minutes when he shot over the top following an excellent move involving Kean and Holmes.
The second
period started withQueens attacking the Portland road end and Bob Harris should have put us in front following a free kick
from Tosher when he was through on the keeper but Northern Ireland international Jonathan Tuffey blocked his shot.
Nearing
the hour mark Queens were awarded a free kick about 20yds out and Wilson lined up to hit it but his shot was blocked by the
wall, he got the rebound but fired his shot wide, Holmes then had some space for a shot but it was weak and straight at the
keeper. Ludo Roy then made a fine save as he parried a fierce shot from Davie Rowson before Harris went down inside the box
but the Ref, Charlie Richmond quite rightly waved play on. Chis made a double change after 80 minutes bringing on Weatherston
and McLaren for Kean and Wilson and within 3 minutes we got the winning goal as Davie Weatherston was played through down
the left side and he closed in on Tuffey before hitting the ball under the advancing keeper and into the net for our first
3 points of the season.
Overall it was a close game with not a lot between the two sides but Queens certainly carved
out the better chances.
Ludo Roy had a good solid game in goals and got the sponsors man of the match. The back 4 looked
pretty solid to me and were never under a lot of pressure. Mark McAusland looks like he will be an excellent signing for us
and his partnership with David Lilley looks good. Craig Reid had no problems today and I thought Bob Harris was excellent
and it looks like he is getting back to his best.
The midfield today had periods of the game when they were not all on
top of things, thought Burnsy was quiet in first half but came into things a lot more after the break. Tosh and Wilson are
big players for us and its easy to see the quality they bring to the side.
Stephen McKenna looked good to me and done
all the simple things very well. he should prove to be a good signing.
Up front I thought Holmes and Kean worked well.....
For all the Holmes doubters I took a note of the following.
21 headers won and only 3 lost.
The changes with 10
minutes to go payed dividends today and it was a great 3 points which leaves us still undefeated this season. Lets hope we
can get the better of Thistle again on Tuesday night and get a possible money spinning tie in the next round.
My best
for Queens today were Harris,McKenna,McCausland,Roy and Holmes.
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