Colin's testimonial
Colin's testimonial
I feel that Colin O'Neill's testimonial match couldn't go without a mention. First of all thanks go to Ipswich and their 28 supporters for coming up north for a thoroughly enjoyable evening. A crowd of just over 4000 turned up to give Colin around £25,000.
In the game Colin played the first thirteen minutes, before going off to a standing ovation and chants of "Psycho,Psycho". Colin showed he could still play by floating a beautiful ball over the Ipswich defence and Tommy Coyne nodded past the stranded goalie to make it one-nil. We played well in patches and we knocked it around the Ipswich defence. Innes Ritchie was a particular stand out in our back four and coped fairly well with everything that was thrown at him. Paul Lambert enhanced his chance of a Scotland cap with a lovely chip over the goalkeeper from just outside the eighteen yard box. The next goal came in the second half and again it came from the right boot of Paul Lambert. This time it was a free kick from twenty yards and it was swerved brilliantly round the wall and into the bottom corner of the net. Ipswich then pulled the first of two goals back. A cross came over from the left taking out Scot Howie and an Ipswich man (I forget who) headed in from six yards and sent applause rippling through the Davie Cooper Stand and signalled the start of the Ipswich fans conga. The final goal of the game made it 3-2. There was a scramble in the box and another Ipswich player (I forget who again) volleyed into the net.
Les Mottram's blast on the whistle for the final time was the cue for a mass pitch invasion and Colin and the other players were mobbed by fans. The 'Well fans made their way over to followers of Ipswich and soon scarfs and tammies were being swapped. Thankfully the police and stewards recognised the good nature of the invasion and no trouble could be seen. I would like to thank again all players and organisers and most importantly the fans for giving "Psycho" one last good memory of Fir Park.
Derek Wilson
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