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ROSS COUNTY 1 : 2 QUEEN OF THE SOUTH

8th May 2004

Scott Rating: 7.43

Paton Rating: 6.75

Thomson Rating: 7.12

Reid Rating: 7.13

Aitken Rating: 6.64

S1 Bagan Rating: 6.50

1 Bowey Rating: 7.93

McColligan Rating: 6.87

Gibson Rating: 7.00

S2 Jaconelli Rating: 7.00

1 Burke Rating: 7.31

SUBSTITUTES
S1 - 72 Burns Rating: 6.00	S2 - 77 O'Connor Rating: 6.00	Payne	McMullan	Samson

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Members of the Internet Fan Club can award players marks out of ten for their performance today. The player with the most points awarded in the two days following a match will be the IFC Man of the Match. All of the points will then be added to a running total for each player and the results published in the mom League Table.

Name or IFC No.

MATCH SUMMARY

Ian Scott saw fit to make just the one change to the side that had drawn with St.Johnstone last Saturday as his namesake, Colin Scott, made a welcome return between the sticks following a lengthy lay-off due to injury. The game started with both sides showing their intent to produce attacking football with Brian McColligan making space as early as the third minute and finding the bar as the 'keeper was beaten, at the other end a free kick conceded by Scott as his momentum took him just out of the box with the ball in his hands was wasted as the Staggies shot straight at the well organised visiting defensive wall. It was end-to-end stuff as Emilio Jaconelli made some good space on the edge of the box and forced the 'keeper into making a good save whilst it was the turn of the Ross County strike force to hit the woodwork as a good ball in was smashed against the post to the relief of Scott. The final action of the first ten minutes saw a Jim Hamilton effort touched around the post by Scott. The game settled down for a period as both sides looked to open up the play and get forward at every opportunity. Jaconelli had a header fly past the post as he met an Alex Burk cross well on twenty minutes. Brian Reid was the first of two Queens players to be booked as he made a robust challenge that looked ball-winning but referee MacDonald decided was foul. Willie Gibson found some space on the left hand side of the box and battled through a couple of tackles before coming up against the 'keeper who did well to smother quickly at his feet. But at the other end disaster struck as Jim Thomson made a great clearance from a whipped in left wing cross to concede a corner, the ball was played fast and deep to the back post where Jim Hamilton connected well to send the ball over the line, despite the best efforts of David Bagan on the back post as he hooked it back out, the linesman though was convinced that the ball had been totally over the line.

Hamilton heads it home for the opener.

Queens were not dis-heartened however and a neat combination of Burke and Bagan almost saw the latter being put through but for a fortunate trailing leg of a defender. At the other end a timely Andy Aitken interception prevented a County player a chance but for Queens the half-time whistle was approaching fast and a goal was needed. It came very quickly as Queens broke up the park and won a corner on the right, the ball was swung across and landed at the feet of Emilio Jaconelli, his initial effort was well saved and pushed away but Bowser retrieved it wide of the six yard box and steered it into the back of the net for a deserved equaliser. Another goal almost came seconds later as David Bagan broke through and onto an Eric Paton pass but his effort was well saved.

Jaconelli gets in the first attempt.......

but Bowser retrieved the rebound and hammered home.

The second half started more slowly than the first had and the first real action saw a strange refereeing decision as Steve Bowey was clearly brought down by Jim Laughlan as he made his trade mark bursting run into the box, with everyone expecting a penalty and Bowser looking like he needed some attention due to the tackle the referee did the fashionable thing and booked the innocent party. Ross County were playing some neat football as both sides pressed for a winner, however the Queens defence was standing firm and the County strike force were generally being restricted to long-range shots at goal. On sixty-six minutes what had looked likely happened as Eric Paton received the ball out wide and beat his man to square the ball back to the predatory Alex Burke who made no mistake as he slid the ball past the 'keeper to give his present side a 2-1 lead over his new side.

The 'keeper can only watch as Burke's strike gives Queens the lead.

Queens looked like adding more as the County defence looked incapable of defending balls played over the top of them, on numerous occasions Gibson, Burke or Jaconelli were found with acres of space to make in-roads towards the County goals. The Staggies though had a couple of chances themselves and Colin Scott was showing his worth as he got down very well to palm away an effort and only four minutes later had to do the same again to deft Hamilton. In between the two saves Paul Burns had entered the match with David Bagan being replaced. Sean O'Connor made a welcome appearance as the match was in its final stages as he replaced Emilio Jaconelli, within a few minutes of coming on a Paul Burns cross from the right was only inches away from a stretching Sean O'Connor. There were no real chances of note at either end in the dying seconds and Queens held out well to take all three points back down the road and get Ian Scott off to a flying start in his first game in charge.

Sean was just a few inches away.

All in all this was a very good performance from both sides as whilst there was little at stake you would not have known it from the commitment shown by the twenty two players involved. There was a healthy crowd and the Doonhamers contingent was superb as usual with the added attraction of the 'end of season fancy dress' award which was well contested and won by our own version of the '118' runner '1919'.

Just a few of the characters on show.