Scottish Cup final - as it happened

Published on Friday 23 May 2008 23:43

ALL the major action from today's Scottish Cup Final

Pre-match, there is a one minute round of applause in memory of Tommy Burns.

Kick-off - 3pm - The weather perfect for the final spectacle of an intriguing season

4 mins: McCulloch is shown a yellow card for a tough tackle on Robert Harris

10 mins: Queens almost get the opener. A corner kick falls to O'Connor whose effort is cleared by Cuellar

12 mins: Thomson has to make an vital challenge to prevent Beasely getting a cross into the box

14 mins: McCann is spoken to by the referee for a strong - and late - challenge on Darcheville

19 mins: Tosh mis-hits a volley and the ball loops up into the area - and into the arms of Alexander

24 mins: McCulloch has a shot blocked and the rebound goes to Kevin Thomson - who shoots wide for Rangers

25 mins: Boyd gets in behind the Queens' defence and passes to Beasley who sends the ball straight over the bar from the edge of the box. Gers fans are none too impressed but at least their team are beginning to threaten QoS

27 mins: Boyd has a great chance from ten yards out but he sends his header over the bar. But the striker is getting closer all the time...

33 mins: Goal! Qos 0 - 1 Rangers. Boyd has been threatening this for a while now, but it's a free kick he scores from, not open play - as if the Rangers fans care! The Gers striker simply runs up and rifles a shot straight into the top corner of the Queens' net

39 mins: QoS aren't going to give up, though. Tosh makes a good run into the Rangers box and Alexander has to make a brave dive to get the ball away. The resulting cross could have been fatal, but Whittaker puts enough pressure on O'Connor to put him off his aim

42 mins: Rangers get a second! A corner causes all sorts of hassles for QoS and leaves Cuellar the space to pass to Beasley, who coolly slots it home. QoS have been game opponents, but could it all be over now?

45 mins: two minutes of extra time but Rangers look happy enough to wind the clock down. With two goals who can blame them? The half ends.

The second half

Qos have to take the game to Rangers, but this will leave them vulnerable at the back. How will they cope in the next 45 minutes? Will Rangers increase their lead?

49 mins: Goal! The half has hardly began when QoS get one back! A fine run into the box by O'Connor results in a pass and easy slot-in for Tosh from six yards. We now have a game on our hands...

52 mins: Amazing! Qos 2-2 Rangers. A superb goal from Jim Thomson makes the scores equal and sets up what will surely be a nerve-wracking time for Rangers after it looked like they had sewn it all up at half time

60 mins: No change, but the atmosphere of the game has changed dramatically as Rangers are chased all over Hampden by a revitalised QoS side who now have a great chance of lifting the cup - although it's never wise to underestimate a team like Rangers, just ask Dundee United...

64 mins: Rangers are giving away the ball to Queens in midfield too often. In this case it allows Dobbie to charge forward

66 mins: Another QoS attack. O'Connor chrges past two Rangers tackles and is unlucky not to win his side a corner before running out of steam

73 mins: Goal for Rangers! 2-3! The irrepressible Boyd does it again

75 mins: Substitutions. Beasley is replaced by Steven Davis for Rangers and Qos swap McQuilken for John Stewart

78 mins: Boyd is aiming for a hat-trick but is denied as MacDonald saves his header from ten yards out

87 mins: McCann is replaced by Scott Robertson for QOS

88 mins: Three minutes of extra time announced

90 + 3 mins: Stewart is brought down by Cuellar only 25 yards from goal. It's the last chance for QoS, but Boyd makes a good block from Harris's shot. That's it! Rangers hear the final whistle blow and know they are the Scottish Cup winners for 2008! Well done and congratulations to Queen of the South for such a good performance also

Queen of South: MacDonald, McCann, Thomson, Aitken, Harris, McQuilken, MacFarlane, Tosh, Burns, Dobbie, O'Connor. Subs: Grindlay, Stewart, O'Neill, Paton, Robertson.

Rangers: Alexander, Whittaker, Cuellar, Weir, Papac, McCulloch, Ferguson, Thomson, Beasley, Boyd, Darcheville. Subs: Graeme Smith, Dailly, Davis, McMillan, Fleck.

Referee: S Dougal (Scotland)