QOB travelled to the murkey depths of Hitchin (Silent Hill, Wrong Turn, The Hills Have Eyes), this Sunday past as they were forced to play their 3rd round county cup game on away territory to Whitwell FC, following bad weather in the local area over the last two weeks. However it was 3 an easy for QOB as they took control of the game from the outset and despite one or two hairy moments in the first half blew their opponents apart with an excellent display of football.

Queens playing with a flat back 3 of Parsons, Dahlsim and Heath Damon were able to combat all that was thrown at them from Whitwell. However some watseful finishing from Queens (more than likely from having a ton of mud stuck to the boots and ball) with Cader, Coffey and Hakner proving the biggest culprits, meant that half time would provide the opportune moment to regain some composure and much needed rest for the likes of Chris Dinneen and Josh Beatty back after a few weeks absence but looking solid in the Campo and wing back roles respectively.

Despite a glut of missed chances there had been some excellent work from the impressive Jamie Parsons in central defence to keep the scores level and in midfied the eel Matt Hodgkin it was only a mater of time before QOB would break the dead lock.

From the restart QOB looked to have more purpose and gile going forward creating clear cut opportunities to take full control of the game. With 10 minutes gone in the 2nd period Coffey was able to intercept a misplaced pass across the home defence to steal in from 20 yards and fire an unstoppable shot hard and low into the bottom corner to set the travelling fans into a world of ecstacy. It was no more than QOB had deserved and allowed them turn up the power in search of further goals. This duly arrived with a slick move endning in a timely finish from man of the match Matt Hodgkin, who cooly slotted into the bottom corner before wheeling away in delight to help put the game beyond their opponents.

As the game wore on the chances kept coming with Cader and Hakner linking up well as has been the case all season to split the defence open only to be foiled in the final third.

Like all good fireworks displays though QOB dceided to save the best until last. With all the talk in the changing room (rabbit hutch) before hand about Matt Taylors joke goal the day before no one would have expected a similar strike within their own ranks. Steve Hakner battling to the final whistle with a hillbilly tracking him down slipped a ball into the path of the Coffmeister around 35 yards out, and in one sweet movement he spotted the keeper off his line before sending an outrageous (many would say lucky) dipping shot over the keeper and into the net. It was the kind of goal that made the whole journey worth the entrance fee alone.

Next up is a tough encounter with Garston Gunners who Queens must beat to stay in the Championship hunt, and with OGB taking on Joes no the same day this race could still rumble on into the last games of the season. But for now QOB can look forward to a 4th round match in the County Cup where they will be looking to secure a place in the Q/F and to prove they are up there with the best in Hertfordshire on a Sunday morning.