( Duncan, Williams 2 )
John McCormack chose to bring back both Gemmell and Gallagher, after they sat out the game at Shielfield due to suspension. They replaced Willie Martin and Jim White respectively. Queen's started the match in sprightly fashion, befitting of the glorious weather that shone down on the, by Division 3 standards, large crowd at the game. John Gemmell had the first effort, a flicked volley from an Allan cross after the winger had done well to find space down the left. Morton keeper Coyle was on hand to tip the ball away for a corner. From that corner, after it had been partially cleared, the ball was flicked on for Steven Canning to diving head the ball wide. Then from another corner, taken by Taggart, Johnny Whelan headed the ball just wide. Queen's were on top at this stage, and looking confident, but then came the disastrous loss of the first goal. It arrived after just 10 minutes. John Gallagher was beaten down the Morton right by Derek Collins, his cross was accurate, the defence were static, and a trialist, former Ayr youngster Lee Duncan, was able to head the ball to Mitchell's right and into the back of the net. The Queen's defence had again been found wanting with a cross ball, and Mitchell had not commanded his area well enough. Against the run of play, Morton found themselves a goal in front.
Queen's were still playing some good football at this stage, and a goal could have made all the difference. But it failed to come. A header from Gemmell was parried away by the home goalkeeper after good holding up work by the tall No. 9 had allowed John Gallagher to receive possession and swing a cross over from the left. The same player found another opportunity shortly afterwards. Tony Quinn did very well to dispossess a Mortonian within QP's half of the field, and sent Allan away down the left. Allan's jinking run saw him get into the penalty area; he laid the ball to Gemmell, but Coyle was able to block the shot with his legs. Despite being a goal up, it could not be said that Morton deserved their advantage; Queen's were still winning most of the possession in the middle of the park, and creating more chances. One Morton player who did look threatening was long haired Australian John Maisano; he had a rare Morton shot after around 20 minutes after avoiding a couple of tackles but he was always dragging it well wide.
At this stage there was no need for Queen's fans to be too despondent; their side were on top on the balance of play, and a goal could turn around the game. But all hope was to evaporate after 23 minutes, following a hideous second goal for Morton. After receiving the ball from Mitchell, Danny Ferry attempted to play the ball back to his goalkeeper. His effort was woefully short, Alex Williams pounced, rounded the goalkeeper, and calmly sidefooted the ball into the empty net. A terrible goal to lose, and just the sort of error that must be stamped out.
After this, players and fans alike seemed to lose heart. The nature of this goal seemed to demoralise Queen's Park, and few more chances were made for the rest of the ninety minutes. Allan did have one, after cutting from the left into the box, but his shot was weak, and posed no danger to Coyle. John Maisano ( his brother Marco was also in the home starting eleven ) went on a twisting run that saw him cut the ball back for Duncan, but a block tackle was made and Danny Ferry picked up the pieces to thump clear. Then, Morton made it three with another soft goal. A corner from the Queen's right eluded all home defenders, despite an abundance of them within the penalty area, and that man Williams was able to nod home despite Moffat's efforts to clear from the goal-line. Tony Mitchell had again been proved suspect with a cross ball, but his defenders should have been able to eliminate the danger.
It was really all over, and after just 34 minutes. The frustration of the Queen's fans was evident after a suspected dive by a Morton player who had been sent away well by Maisano; Agostini's challenge was fair, however.
Half-time came with most associated with Queen's feeling they had seen this give-up-several goals-in a short space-of time-thing before. The second half saw no further scoring, with Morton coasting and having most of the efforts. Marco Maisano had his drive parried by Mitchell on 57 minutes, and shortly after, a miskick from the otherwise reliable Moffat gave Williams the chance for his hat-trick, but Mitchell made the block. He had another squandered chance late on when he shot wide from a good position. Queen's only real shots at goal during the second period came from looping attempts from outside the area, by Taggart and Quinn. This was indicative of the lack of spirit in the side after half-time: understandable, really. The changes were rung; Martin replaced Canning shortly after half-time, and Fisher and Allan came on for Gemmell and Allan. Fisher looked the liveliest of the three, and a mazy run down the left took him into the area, but his final ball lacked all conviction. John Maisano curled a free kick just wide after 78 minutes; the same player was involved in a laughable incident in the closing minutes. After clearly falling over the ball, the referee took it into his head that Maisano had been fouled, and awarded a free-kick. Really, Queen's fans have seen too many bad decisions in the last couple of seasons to find such things funny, and any laughter was of the derisive kind.
Indeed, you were not likely hear much humour of any sort after the final whistle blew to end our torture. Exactly how Brechin can be beaten in midweek, goodness only knows, but maybe that old cup spirit that goes back to the days of Wattie Arnott and R. S. McColl will see Queen's through. We seem to have little else to base our hope on.
Morton: Coyle, Collins, Bottiglieri, McGregor, M. Maisano, Smith, Uotinen ( MacDonald ), Bannerman, Williams, J. Maisano ( Cannie ), Duncan ( Reilly ).
Goals: Duncan 10, Williams 23, 34.
Queen's Park: Mitchell, Ferry, J. Gallagher, Moffat, Agostini, Quinn, Taggart, Whelan, Gemmell ( Jack ), Canning ( Martin ), Allan ( Fisher ).
Attendance: 2,003.