Queens ten can't quite match Killie's eleven

A fine winter's day on the first weekend of December saw Killie hobble into the last sixteen of the Scottish Cup as Queen's campaign came to an end. In truth the match was probably decided by an over-zealous refereeing decision when the whistler sent off Queens' midfielder McKenna for an enthusiastic challenge in the second minute of the match.

In the picture on the left (courtesy of the excellent QoS web site) the referee Mike Tumilty can be seen brandishing the card with some swagger - clearly enjoying his moment in the winter sunshine. A shame that some refs seem to forget that the event is about players, managers and fans and not about them. In my opinion the challenge by McKenna was worthy of at most a booking - mistimed and the result of a Scottish Cup tie adrenalin rush. A yellow card and a quiet word would have been the best course of action.

Soon after Cilian Sheridan (should that be Killian Sheridan) scored from close range. The bearded Irish striker chose not to celebrate for reasons I did not understand and I headed to the kiosk for a Killie pie ! The most celebrated match day snack in Scottish football.

This was truly £2.20 worth of heaven. A steak pie rather than a scotch pie but more meat and gravy than you might expect. The Killie pie has now overtaken the Steak Bridie served at Glenrothes Juniors as the best pastry on the Road to Hampden - so far ! The Killie Pie even has it's own web site and football fans will be salivating if they visit www.killiepie.com

Despite being one goal down The Doonhamers took the game to their more illustrious oponents and were unlucky to be trailing at half time. A quick stretch of the legs round the back of the visitors stand and I discovered that the Killie Stewards have a generous interpretation of the 'no smoking in the stadium' rule

Queens continued to press in the second half .......

but Killie scored a second with a breakaway. Late on Sandy Clark's boy scored for Queens and the scoreline of 1-2 was probably about fair although Killie were hanging on at the end. Arriving bang on 3.00 pm I did not get a programme until after the match - so a quick detour to the club shop to pick up the matchday mag.

The Queens fans can be proud of themselves. At both Meadowbank Stadium and Rugby Park they turned up in big numbers and cheered on their team in a good old-fashioned sporting way

I did not get the chance to see them in their home town of Dumfries, but with good fan backing and good footballers they will do well this season and will definitely get promoted from Div 2.

And so back to Kilmarnock in early Februuary for their match in the round of the last 16 at home to ICT.