Queens dumped by Diamonds

Oct 22 2008 by Our Correspondent, Dumfries Standard Wednesday

SILVER linings were thin on the ground as Queens made their way out of New Broomfield but there was one comfort that could be held onto.

And that came when the club’s coaches, players and fans alike arrived home, flicked on Ceefax and looked at the First Division table which still showed the Doonhamers top of the pile.

Gordon Chisholm’s men remain at the summit thanks to goal difference despite this awful defeat to the Diamonds.

First half goals from Joe Cardle and Simon Lynch slayed Queens who failed to click into gear and produced a display that was way south of below par.

If the resounding 6-1 thumping of Livingston at Palmerston was the team’s most electric performance of the campaign, then this offering was by far the poorest.

The manager said as much afterwards. Those passing the Doonhamers’ dressing room on their way to the post-match briefing after the final whistle were left in no doubt as to what Chisholm’s thoughts on the 90 minutes were.

“I think we got exactly what we deserved, which was nothing,” the furious gaffer commented. “We were second best to everything all day.

“That was the poorest we have played all season. I’m really disappointed, particularly with the two goals we gave away.

“When you are at the top, you know the opposition will be determined to beat you and I thought Airdrie came out and played really well.

“The players need to know that we have to start well and handle the physical side of the game. They also can’t give goals away the way we did out there.

“We have done really well so far and the boys deserve a lot of credit for that. But they know they didn’t perform here, they have held their hands up and admitted they were second-best in every department.

“The league is very tight but we have to look at ourselves. You can’t predict who is going to win any game every week but we didn’t help ourselves at all.”

Honest remarks from Chisholm that were plain old facts. His side’s defence struggled to cope with the intelligent play and strength of Paul Di Giacomo and Lynch. In midfield, Queens were simply bullied out of the contest.

Stevie Tosh had a couple of bright moments in the first half but rarely influenced play. There was little threat out wide and, up front, the strikers got little change from Airdrie’s towering centre-halves.

The Doonhamers’ lack of threat on the flanks was evident throughout and the travelling support will be wondering why the quartet of Michael McGowan, Bob Harris, Paul Burns and David Weatherston didn’t trouble the Diamonds with their exciting pace.

Kenny Black’s men opened the scoring in the seventh minute.

Shots from Di Giacomo then Darren Smith were blocked, the latter’s into the path of Cardle whose effort from close range hit keeper Cammy Bell on its way into the net.

Airdrie stopper Stephen Robertson did well to deny McGowan and Tosh before the home side made it 2-0 a minute before the interval.

A Marc Smyth tackle on Burns saw the ball fall at the feet of Di Giacomo who crossed for Lynch and the ex-Celtic rookie did the rest, curling a low drive beyond Bell.

Both teams came close to scoring in the second half but Queens were devoid of ideas in attack which ensured a comfortable day’s work for the hosts.

Referee Mike McCurry’s final whistle was relief for the Blue Army and following the sad death of director Keith Houliston a few days earlier, it brought the most dreadful of weeks to a welcome conclusion.

Standard man of the match: Jim Thomson. The veteran centre-half was the best of a bad bunch.

Teams

Airdrie: Robertson, Smyth, Donnelly, Nixon, Lovering, Smith (McDonald 78), McLaughlin, McKenna, Cardle (Hazley 79), Lynch (Noble 86), Di Giacomo. Subs not used: Watt, Hollis (gk).

Queens: Bell, McGowan, Thomson, Sives, Harris (McQuilken 78), Burns, MacFarlane, Tosh, Weatherston, Kean (O’Connor 45), Dobbie. Subs not used: Barr, Simmons, Halliwell (gk).

Booked: Tosh.

Referee: Mike McCurry.

Attendance: 1,542.