D. Ferry (qpfc.com)

In his New Year message to the faithful, coach Billy Stark warned that the thoroughly entertaining but cavalier home performances which had become a trademark of his tenure may have to take a back seat for a while as some tinkering was required if visiting teams were to be prevented from stealing points from Hampden.

And so we return to the old debate of whether winning is everything, or whether there is a duty to entertain. Obviously it is to be hoped that both can be achieved at the same time, but if this match is anything to go by then some long afternoons lie ahead. The return of Paul Harvey may well be the solution to the problem, as his unique skills can prise open the most stubborn of defences, but by only playing one player up front, Q.P.'s options are definitely limited.

Having been swiftly put to the sword by Queen's in the last encounter, this time Montrose turned the tables and it was their turn for a whirlwind start which saw David Crawford under sever pressure from Wood and Hall when going for a high swirling cross from the right. Fortunately Alan Trouten was on hand to boot the spilled ball away from danger.

In the 5th minute Greenhill sliced a first timer from 20 yards wide, and the Queen's responded through Mark Ferry who latched onto a Shaun Molloy pass before firing a powerful left foot drive over from the edge of the Montrose penalty area.

A magnificent through ball from Danny Ferry sent Stuart Kettlewell clear, but the midfielder's rash swipe at the ball went embarrassingly wide.

Queen's were caught sleeping at a 17th minute free kick when a short pass allowed Wood to get to the byeline before cutting the ball back where it was diverted into the path of Hall right in front of goal. Fortunately the nepotism target of the Montrose boo-boys scuffed his shot to allow Shaun Molloy to head the weak effort off the line.

Molloy was just as useful at the other end too, and his direct free kick was deflected for a corner which Stuart Kettlewell headed just over.

Just after the half hour mark it was Kettlewell's turn to repay the earlier favour by setting up Danny Ferry for a strike at goal which looked a goal all the way until Butter pushed the shot away at full stretch. Just before the interval, Shaun Molloy relieved the monotony of a dour midfield battle when he skelped a first time effort over the bar from the edge of the area.

In an effort to introduce better balance to the side, Danny Ferry swapped wings with Ross Clark when the teams re-emerged, but neither is at their best on the left hand side, and Danny's performance would dip by as much as Ross's would improve.

Mark Ferry's 50th minute curler was well held by Butter before Ferguson became the first player to be booked for a scything tackle on Alan Trouten from behind.

Brian Blair then sent a measured drive straight at Butter before Shaun Molloy was deservedly booked a minute after a crunching late challenge on Trialist after referee Muir had correctly allowed the Montrose move to continue. The poor Trialist had only just come on, and after a a further ten minutes of failing to run his injury off, he himself was replaced having made virtually no contribution to the match whatsoever.

The aforementioned Shaun Molloy had his third attempt on goal of the afternoon a couple of minutes after receiving his yellow card, but his long range volley floated harmlessly wide of the target.

Smart sent a flashing header narrowly past in the 70th minute, and then Alan Trouten shot straight at Butter from close range.

A second match on the trot without a goal looked very much on the cards at this stage, but Queen's managed to contrive a move to win them the game. Mark Ferry was the architect with a deft through ball to Ross Clark on the right who steadied himself before shooting across Butter for the far corner. Although the agile 'keeper managed to get his right hand to the ball, it spun loose to allow predator-in-chief Frankie Carroll to pounce and gleefully hammer the ball home from close range.

Substitute Bryan Felvus then further warmed Butter's fingers with a rasping low shot before Mark Ferry was needlessly booked for kicking the ball away, an offence which Montrose players had been equally guilty of before and after this particular instance of dissent. Indeed, the only consistent thing about this official was his inconsistency as many of his decisions continually baffled both sets of supporters.

With five minutes remaining Frankie Carroll hammered in a powerful drive which Butter tipped over the bar, before a late breakaway from Montrose allowed Sharp a clear sight of goal just 10 yards out. Fortunately Gavin Rushford came sliding in to save the day by blocking the low netbound drive.

As Queen's comfortably and sensibly played out the remaining few minutes, substitute Sharp was booked for a late challenge as his frustration got the better of him.

Next Saturday the Spiders' roadshow visits Firs Park and a lot more invention will be needed if the much improved East Stirlingshire are to be as easily put to the sword as was the case when five goals were rattled past them without reply at this venue in September.

Finally, a word about referee Alan Muir - useless!

ENTERTAINMENT VALUE :  2/5

STAR SPIDER(S) :  Danny Ferry (the green shoots of recovery are now fully in evidence)

QUEEN’S PARK : David Crawford, Alan Trouten, Shaun Molloy, Gavin Rushford, Richard Sinclair, Brian Blair (Bryan Felvus - 62), Stuart Kettlewell, Ross Clark, Danny Ferry (Ally Graham - 88), Frankie Carroll, Mark Ferry

Subs (not used) :  Stevie McGovern (G/K), Tony Quinn, Jonny Whelan

Scorer(s) : Carroll (72)

Booked : Molloy (late challenge - 66), M. Ferry (dissent - 80)

MONTROSE : Jim Butter, Kerr Dodds, Stuart Ferguson, Paul Doyle, Neil Stephen (Graeme Sharp - 62), Steve Kerrigan, David Greenhill, Craig Smart, Martin Wood, Euan Hall, Matt Slater (Trialist - 62) (replaced by Calum Watson - 76)

Subs (not used) : Michael Hankinson (G/K), Alan Budd

Scorer(s) :  none

Booked : Ferguson (dangerous challenge - 58), Sharp (late challenge - 90)

REFEREE : Alan Muir *  (* = inept, ** = poor, *** = mediocre, **** = good, ***** = excellent)

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