( Gemmell 2 ) ( Bonnar, Russell )
Kenny Brannigan had clearly taken the pre-match decision that it was time to make his mark on the team in what was his first game in absolute charge. In came Paddy Gallagher, who the new coach has clearly taken a shine to, to link up with Whelan and Clark in a new midfield trio, with Ross playing the holding role. Richard Sinclair was in to replace the injured Moffat, and an operation to remove Willie Martin's appendix kept him out. However, it was pleasing to see Willie take his seat in the centre stand.The return of Steven Canning to the team was a little surprising, but what was an even bigger jolt was where he fielded; not at left-wing back, but upfront, leaving James Allan to play in the more withdrawn wide role. Clearly, Brannigan's feelings were that, as a team, we had to shore things up defensively after the shambles of last week.
If that was the case, then he'll have been holding his head after only 5 minutes as Hamilton opened the scoring. Callaghan swung over an enticing ball from the left, and as Mitchell came out rather uncertainly to clear, Bonnar nipped in front of him to head into the empty net. Mitchell's main weakness had again been exposed, but blame must also be attached to the defence, and Damiano Agostini mainly, for not picking up Bonnar's run into the box sufficiently. For the second consecutive home cup tie, Queen's had gone behind early on.
Queen's first effort at goal came in 9 minutes, when Gemmell dragged a low shot well wide from a tapped free kick. Hamilton's attentions were now sure to turn to testing the Queen's rearguard with crosses, and from another Callaghan ball Brian McPhee's header was held by Mitchell. A few minutes after, the heavily involved Callaghan blasted high over.
In 19 minutes another corner at the Queen's Park end caused some bother, and once Mitchell had fisted clear, Dobbins miskicked his shot into the ground, therefore spurning an opportunity to make life extremely difficult for the home side.
James Allan, not making a major impact in his new role, did manage a trademark jinking run prior to pushing further forward permanently, but Potter saved his cross to the near post. Steven Canning had not really looked sharp enough yet to play so advanced, and withdrew to a more defensive role. Paddy Gallagher, revelling in his new found responsibility, turned and fired in a low shot from the vertex of the area which Potter was again forced to hold.
A fine move in 22 minutes was the most encouraging thing for the home fans so far in the game; Danny Ferry chipped the ball to Gemmell on the edge of the box, and John chested the ball down for Canning to volley on target, with Potter diving to his right to prevent a goal.
Tony Mitchell made a save from an Allan Russell header in 29 minutes, created by McPhee's right wing cross, but within a few minutes Queen's had equalised, much to Hamilton's surprise. No wonder, as it was very avoidable. Nelson made a mess of his clearance, hitting the ball straight to James Allan 18 yards out. Allan cut inside, beating two defenders, and then dithered somewhat, sizing up his options, before electing to lob the oncoming Potter. The goalkeeper was able to parry the effort, but only as far as John Gemmell who rose above a defender to head into the corner of the net.
Queen's had clearly recovered from the early setback and began to take the game to Accies. A long ball across the area from Gallagher was too deep for Allan, and Ross Clark had an attempt from the edge of the box blocked after picking up possession and driving forward himself. In between, Hamilton had again made Queen's sweat from a couple of set-pieces. A corner across goal was headed wide with Mitchell decidedly unsure, and a deflection meant for another corner. This time though, the keeper palmed away to safety.
A minute from half-time, a fine pass from John Gemmell sent Gallagher away on the left. Paddy approached the area, momentarily lost control of the ball, before shooting but the tight angle made any hope of success minimal, and Potter saved. Then Gallagher crossed from the left, but Whelan and Allan both failed to connect.
Queen's would have been glad to have been level at half-time. But one thing would have been proven, and that's that they had no especial reason to fear Hamilton, who at times seemed a disjointed bunch. And Queen's took the game by the scruff of the neck from the start of the second-half, playing some neat football. A free-kick from deep by Stevie Fallon allowed Johnny Whelan to loop a header onto the roof of the net, and then a great run from the ever-dangerous James Allan led to a cross from the bye-line being knocked behind.
In 54 minutes, Queen's attacking bore fruit. Richard Sinclair broke up a Hamilton attack and curved a long pass for Gemmell to run on to. The young forward showed strength and pace to get past Sean Sweeney, and fired in a perfect volley into the net. John's striking abilities have been much improved in recent weeks, and he is now beginning to perhaps fulfil some of his obvious potential.
A late tackle by Russell on Queen's double scorer went unpunished bar a free-kick award, and on 63 minutes Johnny Whelan epitomised his box-to-box qualities with an outstanding slide tackle on Alisdair Graham as the midfielder hared in on goal. A recognised Queen's tactic, the Whelan throw in for Gemmell to flick on, led to Allan firing in a shot which was deflected for a corner. Whelan had made a marvellous start to the second half, and Allan and Paddy Gallagher were also giving huge contributions.
For the final 25 minutes though, Accies had command of the game in terms of attacking, though obvious chances were few. One of the reasons was the introduction of young Darren Gribben, who looked a real danger with his silky ball skills. In 72 minutes the 16 year-old powerfully shot for goal, but Mitchell was equal to it. Then, a long free-kick was taken by the goalkeeper before Gribben could get onto it.
In 78 minutes, Steven Canning prevented a certain goal, when clearing off the line after Russell had lofted the ball over Mitchell's head; the keeper then gathered the ball gratefully, and Stevie deserved a pat on the back for an invaluable saving clearance.
Three minutes later, Paddy Gallagher summed up a tenacious display when winning the ball off Elfallah with a crunching tackle on the edge of the box after the sub had beaten him. Then Johnny Whelan again saved the day, stopping McPhee from shooting a few yards from goal. Two Callaghan efforts from range both failed, sandwiching the introduction of Menelaws for Allan.
Queen's had been struggling to contain some of these attacks, but seemed likely to have done most of the hard work. However, the bane of their lives - the corner kick - was again to strike, and in the final minute. The ball was played in from the right, and Mitchell could do no more than parry it to his right; the ball was returned across goal, and with Queen's static, Russell got a touch with his head to secure the equaliser. More misery for Mitchell and his defence, and no doubt Brannigan will not have failed to notice. A battling performance from Queen's then, and still genuine belief that we will earn a tie against Inverness in the 4th round.