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Red Justice

Queen of the South 4-3 Aberdeen
By Colin Moffat

Queen of the South won a thrilling encounter

Queen of the South reached their first ever Scottish Cup final by winning a seven-goal thriller against Aberdeen.

Steve Tosh slammed home the opener for Queens, while a header from Andrew Considine levelled before half-time.

Paul Burns finished from close range only for Aberdeen's Barry Nicholson to follow suite, while Sean O'Connor fired the Doonhamers back in front.

Considine bagged his second header of the day but John Stewart responded by lashing in the winner on 60 minutes.

The First Division side will meet either the winner of next weekend's semi-final, with St Johnstone waiting to play the winner of the Partick Thistle v Rangers replay.

Queen of the South made a bright start and less than three minutes had passed when Soutar battered an attempted clearance against O'Connor, the ball rebounding behind for a goal kick to the relief of the Dons keeper.

Queens' top-scorer Stephen Dobbie then tried his luck with two shots, the first curling wide, while the second effort cannoned off the chest of Dons defender Zander Diamond. It was no surprise when the First Division side claimed the lead on 22 minutes.

Soutar failed to punch clear Ryan McCann's deep free-kick into the and the ball broke to Andy Aitken, who slipped it back to Tosh.

The former Aberdeen midfielder carefully side-footed his shot from 16 yards high into the top corner. Queens had the ball in the net again but Burns had strayed two yards offside before gathering Dobbie's pass.

Palmerston goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald was called on for the first time as he gathered a header from Lee Miller.

But the Scotland Under-21 international was soon picking the ball out of the net after Considine levelled matters on 36 minutes.

The Dons defender rose above Jim Thompson to guide a header inside the post after Scott Severin had nodded Nicholson's free-kick back into the six yard box.

Gordon Chisholm's team were dealt another blow three minutes from the interval when Dobbie limped off to be replaced by another ex-Aberdeen player, Stewart.

However, Stewart played a key role in Queens' second goal just four minutes into the second half.

Burns gathered a pass from Stewart at the back post and, with the goal at his mercy, sent an awkward shot against Severin, but the midfielder got another opportunity and managed to slam the loose ball home from close range.

MacDonald made a fingertip save to deny Chris Maguire and Burns squandered a golden chance when he sent a shot over the top from eight yards as the game raged from end to end.

Parity was restored when Nicholson was on had to finish after MacDonald had done well to keep out Miller's header from a Maguire cross.

Fans of the Dons barely had time to celebrate before they were behind again.

Considine misjudged a long upfield punt and O'Connor did well to slip the ball past Diamond before slotting a neat shot beyond Soutar from 18 yards.

This time the supporters from Dumfries had their joy cut short with Considine making up for his blunder with a second goal.

Nicholson's cross from the right was helped on by Miller and the young defender found himself alone at the back post with the easiest of tasks to head home.

A breathtaking sequence of five goals inside 11 minutes was complete when Queens scored an almost identical goal to the one they had just lost, Stewart picking up a header from Thomson and lashing the ball past Soutar.

The Dons swarmed forward for the remainder of the game and Diamond was incredibly unlucky to hit the bar with a header then the post with a shot from the rebound.

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Reluctant Hero · Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 8:15 pm Post subject:

The match was quite exciting and QoS fully deserved their place in the final. At the start of the second half, there was a goal with virtually every attack with 5 goals in about 15 minutes.

If they put on a similar display in the final, there is no reason why they can't win it.
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Red Justice · Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 10:36 pm Post subject:

Was a tremendous perfomance by Queens and a few of their players certainly looked SPL material on the day. Exciting on the radio and watching highlights on TV. Aberdeen did have poor defending but QOS deserved the result with their stamina and spirit throughout the game. Great goals by Queens also for a First Division side. Think Queens would struggle to beat Rangers in a Scottish Cup final but the other teams would leave open possibilities for them. When I lived in Dumfries in the 1970s I never knew QOS to manage to beat an Old Firm team. Partick Thistle can get there being a good side but I would like to see Queens go all the way for a chance in Europe that would be really something for the Doonhamers.
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kevin04 · I Love 'Our Scotland' Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 334

well done qots, maginifcent performance. great game even if it was bad defending btu greatr stuff.

come on the jags tomorrow, knock those húns out oot..

jags-queens final

Red Justice · Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 7:02 am Post subject:

Well good luck to Queen's now having European football after the penalty shoot-out between St Johntone and Rangers indeed a QOS v Rangers final.

Somebody told me Queen's had gone full-time but never knew that news to me. Thought they still were a part-time club?
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youatethebabyjesus · No Longer a Wean Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 60

the gers will skelp ther didy arses.

Reluctant Hero · Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 10:25 am Post subject:

youatethebabyjesus · No Longer a Wean Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 60