Bitter pill, but omens are good

Details to follow

We've all had them - those days when you just shouldn't get out of your bed. For Gulliver, this was certainly one of those days.
It started with a soaking on the way to work, got worse with computer failures and printers playing up; descended into misery with a letter from the taxman - and ended with the sort of gut-wrenching disappointment that seems to come all too often to those who follow this wonderful club.
Let's get a couple of things straight right from the outset; we can't blame anybody but ourselves for the fact that we won't be in the draw for the next round - and we should be rightly disappointed that we let a two-goal lead slip, and ultimately lost a cup tie at home to 10 men.
However, despite the bitter taste of defeat, there were a lot of positives to take from the performance:

• Some of the football we played was worthy of a far bigger audience than the 404 who watched the drama on the magnificent Hampden surface.
• For much of the game, we had the better of our opponents who will be playing in a higher division than ourselves this season.
• Once again, despite the draining start we have had to the season, the players were still full of running at the end of the 120 minutes.
• And if there was any justice in this ludicrous game, we would be celebrating another cup success tonight, instead of drowning our sorrows.

However, the truth of the matter is that it's goals that count, and all the record books will show is that Forfar beat Queen's Park 3-2 after extra time.
But for those who want to know more than the mere scoreline, here's an unusual wee taste of how the evening went.
Regular followers of our games at Hampden will know that Gulliver has taken to Tweeting and giving running updates on all the action.
Here's how tonight's Tweats unfolded:

First minute - Queen's win corner, McBride has shot saved.
2: First test for Strain - clutches free kick confidently
3: Corner Forfar ... big threat! Danger cleared by Quinn.
4. Diagonal ball of the decade from Little. Just got away from Smith in box
9: Getting a bit scrappy, but we're holding our own ... and we're trying to play football.
11. Spoke to soon. Forfar missed sitter. Long cross to Gibson sidefooted past when should have buried it. ESCAPE!
14: Great run by Little, earns corner, cross too deep.
16: So close!! Anderson to Burns great cross, Eaglesham's toenails just not long enough to get on end of it. Nice football.
20: As you might expect, Forfar now having more possession. Our passing not quite good enough.
22: Little cross, Quinn header - easy save for McLean.
23: Great play Chuckie; tied Campbell in knots and stood ball up to far post - just nicked off Smith's head. Encouraging
25: Decent play again, but Tod got in the way of Chuckie's cross.
27: Warning: Long ball, first time cross; header by Gibson - inches wide.
30:GOALLLLLLLLLLLLL Queen's. Quinn cross CHUCKIE WATT HEADER. 1-0.
31: Danger straight away. Harsh hand ball. Strain saved easily from Campbell free-kick.
36: Edgy wee spell as Forfar lump balls into box. Hearts in mouth as Templeman crumples in box under Little challenge. Ref signals bye-kick.
39: Brilliant break Watt and Little. Cross again nipped off Smith's napper at last minute.
43: Beautiful break; Burns to Eaglesham; great drawback and shot. Just turned wide by McLean. Corner came to nothing.

Half time: Queen's 1 Forfar 0. So far so good.

No changes at break. Queen's win corner right from kick-off. Poor delivery.
Not a minute gone yet and Queen's have won another corner - again Chuckie's pace decisive.
48: Soft foul on Templeman. Danger cleared as Gibson climbs in box.
50: Wee chance, but Quinn's cutback fell between Eaglesham and Smith. Chuckie found space from rebound; poor cross.
57: Neat play all the way from our box to Chuckie on right. No end product. Change made as Murray replaces Smith.
61: Campbell shot from distance turned wide for corner. Cleared.
62: Murray fouled right on edge of box. Chuckie shoots - saved McLean.
68: GOALLLLLLLLL Queen's Chuckie shot hits bar: McBride drills home rebound 2-0.
72: Corner Forfar. Templeman rises highest to nod home. 2-1. It was always the danger.
74. Soft foul on Templeman Defence goes to sleep and Deasley smacks home equaliser. 2-2.. and it's all gone quiet.
78: Campbell booked for foul on Anderson, who has again been immense.
80: McBride whipped in free-kick; Eaglesham header deflected for corner.
83: Campbell second yellow for foul on Murray. He's off. Bolochoweckyj yellow for foul on same player.
Free-kick delivery not good enough and Forfar break. Little clears and Mowat booked as McBride threatens to wriggle free.
86: Little booked for "foul" on Templeman.
88: Crazy moment as Little gifts Deasley possession. Strain finally clears danger.
89: It's Queen's who want extra time. Forfar are going for it.
90: Final flurry from Queen's wins another corner - but we haven't had a good one yet! Corner not good enough and just for a change a Challenge Cup tie with Forfar ends 2-2 ... and we're into extra time.

Extra time:
2: Queen's getting conned into silly tackles. Hilson wins foul on edge of box. Sellars fires home. 3-2 Forfar
5: Chuckie wins corner, but again the ball in isn't good enough.
6: Longworth for Anderson, who's taken a couple of sore ones. At least we are going for it.
8: Another corner for Queen's. Chuckie fires in shot - blocked - rebound volleyed just over by Longworth
10: Another corner. Burns inswinger this time. Cleared.
13: Big penalty shout as McBride shot blocked - seemingly by Forfar defender's hand - not given. Eaglesham heads wide from resultant corner. We're playing some lovely stuff, but it's looking like one of those nights

Half time in extra-time: Queen's 2 Forfar 3.

30secs: Murray decked on edge of box. Bishop booked. McBride shot cleared.
2: Another foul for Queen's - again just on edge of box. McBride beats wall - but great save McLean. Corner
4: Quinn cross deflected wide by Longworth. It's one-way traffic - but where's the goal coming from?
5: Murray wins corner. Ball bobbles about and is hacked clear.
6: Yet another soft foul on Deasley. This time effort goes just wide.
9: Guess what - it's another corner Queen's. God knows what the final count will be, but we've got to put the ball in the net
13: Last couple of minutes, and we seem to have run out of ideas.
Last chance saloon. Murray eases clear but cross blocked. Smith blows final whistle bang on time. We're out, and we have only ourselves to blame.

So there you have it, all the drama as it unfolded - and no matter what you might say about our Challenge Cup clashes with Forfar, they are never dull.
But what does tonight tell about the Queen's Park prospects for the season?
The good news is that we look better going forward than we have for some years. There are goals in this team - and Gulliver genuinely believes that we could be in for a good season.
The bad news is that we also adhere to that ancient tradition of making things hard for ourselves, and occasionally snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
We were mugged tonight, and right at this minute, that's hard to take. But you know what, Gulliver reckons that it could well be the Queen's Park fans who have most cause to look back fondly at the end of this season.
Tonight was a sickener - a bad end to a very bad day. But the signs are good, and we will enjoy better times ahead ... here's hoping the players can just lift themselves for the wee matter of a clash with Clyde on Saturday,
Keep the faith.