LATEST MATCH REPORT
Reports from matches this season go to the fixtures section and click on the report linked to the match you want to read about. Alternatively for earlier seasons go to the fixtures section of the archive for the relevant year.
AIRDRIE UNITED 0 : 2 QUEEN OF THE SOUTH 31st July 2004
Scott
Rating: 7.00
Scott
Rating: 6.36
Thomson
Rating: 7.95
Reid
Rating: 7.25
1
English
Rating: 7.35
S2
Bagan
Rating: 6.50
McColligan
Rating: 7.30
Bowey
Rating: 7.16
McLaughlin
Rating: 7.37
S1
McNiven
Rating: 5.67
1
Wood
Rating: 6.61
SUBSTITUTES
S1 - 46 S3
Jaconelli
Rating: 8.05
S2 - 87
Burns
S3 - 87
Gibson
Payne
Samson
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Name or IFC No.
MATCH SUMMARY
The season started for real in brilliant sunshine at New Broomfield with a first ever game against the "new" Airdrie United. With new signing Chris Armstrong unavailable and Eric Paton out through injury the team more or less picked itself. That meant first competitive starts in a Queens shirt for Tommy English, Chris Scott and David McNiven. Emilio Jaconelli, an injury doubt through the week, was fit enough to take a place on the bench.Notable on the Airdrie team list was Alan Gow, not yet a Gretna player despite Mr Mileson's millions.

The home side were first to show going forward as Mark Roberts did well to make the bye-line down the left and put in a dangerous cross just too high for Alan Gow. At the other end, McNiven got a header at goal from Bowey's cross but straight at Mark "The Price Is Right" McGeown. On 11 minutes, Queens created an excellent opportunity after McColligan won a challenge in midfield and allowed Bowey to stride forward. His pass picked out McLaughlin who's looping cross completely took out the goalkeeper and central defence but Garry Wood couldn't quite turn it in at the back post. A few minutes later, another McLaughlin ball let McNiven shoot at goal but without the power to trouble McGeown.

On 19 minutes Chris Scott became the first booking of the season for one of his trademark flying challenges which have been a feature of pre-season! A minute or so later Colin Scott had to move smartly to tip over Marvyn Wilson's 25 yard volley after a corner was part cleared by Reid. Not to be outdone, Bowey struck just over from 30 yards on 24 minutes. Just after the half hour mark, McNiven's shot from a Chris Scott cross was deflected over off Wood. Finally, on the stroke of half time, Mark Roberts appeared to be clean through for the home side but was pulled up by a linesman's flag.

Queens made a half time switch with Jaconelli appearing in place of McNiven who did have lengthy treatment on a first half knock. The change was to prove inspirational though as Jaconelli immediately set about making a nuisance of himself among the home defence. It took just four minutes before his snap shot on the turn just eluded the right post though McGeown probably had it covered. At the other end on 51 minutes Coyle got his first sniff of goal when his shot from the edge of the box was deflected over off Reid. In the 56th minute English missed a tackle down the right side and allowed Vareille to cross. Mark Roberts met the ball at the back post and headed powerfully at goal but fortunately straight at Colin Scott.
The deadlock was broken just two minutes later though following a shocking pass from Marvyn Wilson. His attempted lay off in his own back four was well short and Jaconelli was able to gain possession and hold the ball up on the left side of the penalty area before looping a perfect cross over to the unmarked Garry Wood in the six yard box. He was left with the simplest of tasks to tuck the ball into the net. Ten minutes later and Jaconelli almost doubled the lead. His looping header from Jim Thomson's deep free kick seemed destined for the top left corner of goal until McGeown tipped it wide. From the resulting corner McLaughlin rifled a shot just over the bar. With quarter of an hour remaining, and after another Jaconelli effort had been well saved by McGeown, Vareille again skinned English and crossed for a Roberts header. Again though Scott was well placed to deal with it.
The match was ended as a contest on 79 minutes when Jaconelli was bundled over in the box by Neil McGowan. Tommy English has been elected this year's penalty taker and showed exactly why by burying the ball into the top right side of goal to double the lead. In the aftermath the unfortunate McGowan was replaced by Stephen McKeown as the home side gambled to try to stay in the game. The one black spot for Queens arrived on 86 minutes though with Jaconelli pulling up with what appeared to be a hamstring pull as he chased a through ball over the top. The stricken striker was stretchered off and replaced with Willie Gibson and at the same time Paul Burns came on for David Bagan. There was still time for David Dunn to be booked for a cynical check on Willie Gibson as Queens surged forward on a break from an Airdrie corner but the game was competently won.

A good start then albeit at some cost with the injury to Emilio looking fairly serious. We'll look for a home draw in the next round with midweek ties being the order for the rest of the competition. Next week the really serious stuff starts as Alex Smith brings his Ross County side, including Alex Burke,to visit.

Ewan Lithgow


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