By Paul Marshall
February 7 2004

Motherwell made it through to the Quarter Finals of the Scottish Cup after seeing off First Division Queen of the South 3 - 2 at Fir Park. Motherwell got off to the best possible start, attacking the Queens goal straight from the kick off and after just a minute, defender Andrew Aitken clumsily knocked Motherwell striker David Clarkson to the ground inside the penalty box. Mike McCurry pointed to the spot and Derek Adams slotted the penalty past John Dodds.






It was all one way traffic at this point and Motherwell could have doubled their lead after 15 minutes. Burns was unlucky to hit the bar before Clarkson got on the end of the rebound only for Dodds to pull off a great save.






Burns finally ended is Motherwell goal drought when he headered home a Adams corner from 6 yards out. Burns grabbed his second in the final minute of the half after the Queens keeper flapped at a Adams shot leaving ' Toastie ' to slot away Motherwell's third.






Heavy snowfall at half time had the home support worrying Mike McCurry abandoning the match.



Motherwell had a few chances early in the second half through Dair and Lasley but Dodds saved well.



Queens manager John Connelly threw on loan Hearts defender Paul McMullan and the youngster had a immediate impact. He won a free kick in a dangerous position on the edge of the area, it was from this that the visitors scored their first. Stephen Payne whipped the ball in and O'Conner headered past Marshall. Queens got a lift from the goal and had a good spell of possession before O'Conner added his second four minutes after his first. But it was all too late for the Doonhammers with the game finishing 3 - 2.





Final Whistle


Motherwell

Marshall,
Corrigan,
Hammell,
Lasley (Bollan 77),
Adams,
Craigan,
Dair,
O'Donnell,
Burns (McDonald 88),
Clarkson,
Quinn.



Queen of the South

Dodds,
Paton,
McAlpine (McMullan 59),
Bagan,
Reid,
Aitken,
O'Connor,
Bowey,
Wood (Jaconelli 61),
Payne (McColligan 69),
Burns.


Attendance 8,101

Referee M McCurry


Motherwell now face Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Fir Park in the Quarter Finals.

Full Draw

Aberdeen v Spartans/Livingston
Celtic v Kilmarnock/Rangers
Partick Thistle v Clyde/Dunfermline
Motherwell v Inverness CT