Queen Of The South 1 v 1 Greenock Morton
Queen of the South escaped Cappielow with a point after drawing 1-1 with Morton in an action packed match.
Kenny Shiels` Morton side equalised with just over five minutes to go to break Queens hearts and cancel out Iain Russell`s opener.
However, that only tells half the story as the game not only had two goals, it also had two red cards – both for McIntyre`s side.
Iain Russell and Chris Higgins were sent off either side of half time and Queens held their one goal lead up until the closing stages of the match.
The match started after a minutes applause in memory of Morton fan Andrew Kemp, who tragically passed away during Saturday`s abandoned match. Fans were allowed in free to the game and donations were made to the ambulance service as supporters filled the stadium.
The first chance of the game fell to Barrie McKay after 30 seconds but the man on loan from Rangers blazed his half-volley over the bar.
Garry O`Connor and Fouad Bachirou were proving a handful for the Queens back four in the early stages and the away side had to wait 15 minutes for their first effort on goal with Paul Burns drilling the ball past the Morton goal.
Ex-Scotland international O`Connor rattled the post moments after as Morton were becoming the dominant side in the game.
Queens started to come in to the game, however, and after a lapse in concentration by the Ton centre backs, Russell and Paton were involved in a two-on-one breakaway but Russell failed to play in Paton and the attack fizzled out.
Yet the momentum had started to shift and Derek Lyle put Morton `keeper Nicolas Caraux under pressure and the ball fell to Reilly who blasted wide from a difficult angle.
The breakthrough did come for the Palmerston side on 44 minutes and Queens went 1-0 up with Russell opening the score with a tap in after Paton drilled the ball across goal. However Queens` fortune was set to change in the remainder of the first half in controversial style.
Higgins was sent off for a handball thirty yards out from goal which incensed the Palmerston faithful who made the journey up to Cappielow. Euan Anderson deemed the chance to be a clear goalscoring opportunity. From the resulting free kick Doug Imrie came close to equalising for the Cappielow side, however, Queens managed to hold on and went in at the break one nil up and one man down.
10-man Queens were already facing an uphill battle with ten men but four minutes in to the second half Iain Russell was sent packing too for a late challenge in the middle of the park. Queens saint turned into a sinner as they would be forced to defend a one goal lead with 40 minutes to play.
Barrie McKay then missed a glorious opportunity for the home side as he failed to find the target from six yards out and the Doonhamers were starting to live dangerously. Chance after chance fell to the home side with McKay, Imrie and O`Connor all finding themselves on the end of great opportunities.
Queens remained resilient however and the back four were slowly turning in to a back 9 as every man was getting behind the ball. Fitzpatrick also skimmed the bar with a speculative effort from outside the box and the Doonhamers could breathe a sigh of relief going in to the last ten minutes.
However, Queens` resilience was eventually broken by Archie Campbell of Morton who headed home substitute Sampayo`s cross. With five minutes to go Queens looked in danger of not only drawing, but heading down the M74 empty-handed with Morton piling on even more pressure.
The extra two men on the park became the difference maker for the home side and they looked determined to take the lead. Marc Fitzpatrick caused Queens more problems but he spurned two chances in the space of thirty seconds as the game was drawing to a close.
Yet it was the nine men of Queens who were attacking in injury time and Derek Lyle had a chance to nick it but unfortunately his chance was blocked. Shortly after, the full time whistle went and the travelling Queens celebrated the point as if it was a win and rightly so – as the team played 40 minutes with 9 men and battled valiantly.
Queens face a tough trip to Livingston on Saturday as the play-off push continues for McIntyre`s men.
O`Connor dwarfs Burns
Main Picture’ A minutes appluase in memory of Andrew Kemp’
Report and Photos Courtesy of http://www.qosfc.com
