By The Spider
October 5 2002

Saturday, 5th October, 2002 Stirling Albion 1 Queen’s Park 0 (Scottish League - Third Division)

Queen's Park are now beginning to run out of excuses as they find themselves languishing at the bottom of the league for the second season in a row. At the same time last season, they were where they deserved to be but this time they are playing some great attacking football but they just don't have anyone worthy of the description, "a clinical finisher" as this game demonstrated once again.

In the 6th minute Danny Ferry and Stevie Fallon combined well before the former sent over an inviting cross from the right and, although it caused the Stirling defence some anxiety, they were eventually able to clear. Jimmy Allan then sent Danny Ferry into a good position, but the skipper shot over from twenty five yards.

A Willie Martin header then sent Jimmy Allan down the left wing but his first time shot from the touchline was an outrageous attempt and flew out of the ground behind the goal.

Stirling's first serious attack came in the 12th minute when Duncan sliced well wide after O'Brien's initial effort had been blocked. Then from a similar position, Mallan sliced well wide too.

Jimmy Allan curled a 19th minute free kick over the bar before Albion hit Queen's on the break and the visitors were somewhat fortunate to escape with their goal intact after Stewart misjudged the strength of a through ball to allow Mallan to reach it first and skip round him. However Moffat got back in time to clear the striker's effort from the wing as Stewart raced back to his line.

Moffat then showed great close control as he took down a cross in the Stirling area before feinting his way towards the bye line inside the area. However, as he prepared to shoot from close range, he slipped and the chance was wasted. Danny Ferry had a left foot shot saved in the 29th minute, one that Willie Martin nearly got an extra touch to as he stretched at full length to try to divert it past Reid.

Just after half an hour's play, Danny Ferry floated a nice free kick to the back post where Steven Moffat had pulled away to, but Damiano Agostini just couldn't get a final touch when Moffat's header came into the six yard box. Duncan was immediately booked for clattering into Jimmy Allan from the kick-out before the home side scored the only goal of the game. Left winger O'Brien played a one-two on the edge of the area before mis-hitting his shot, but it fell kindly for Colin McKinnon who gleefully prodded it into the empty net from six yards out.

Colin Stewart made a great blocking save from a Mallan header in the 35th minute and was quickly up on his feet to save again as a shot came in again almost immediately.

Tony Quinn shot wide of target in the 37th minute before blotting his copybook a minute later with a poor headed backpass from thirty five yards which went straight to Cummings on the edge of the area. Tony's blushes were spared though as his defenders quickly got back to snuff out the danger.

As half time approached, Jimmy Allan dribbled his way to the bye line and then inexplicably fired the ball high past the back post where none of several players in close proximity had an earthly of deflecting it into the net. Tony Quinn then saw Reid punch out his header before the keeper gathered the midfielder's rebound volley.

Immediately after the restart Jimmy Allan poked a ball across the Stirling area and Stuart Jack's drive was only inches away from the postage stamp corner. Tony Quinn then played a good ball out to Danny Ferry on the right wing before dashing into the area for the return cross which gave him a free header from ten yards. Quinno picked his spot but somehow a defender managed to get in front of him and the ball was deflected for a corner.

Sadly Queen's early pressure soon evaporated and although there was some great build up play, too often the final ball was poor. Willie Martin did raise Queen's fans' hopes in the 66th minute when he turned from a throw in before firing inches over the bar but it was Stirling who had the best chance in the 70th minute when Dunn flicked on a corner only to see Rowe blast over the bar from the edge of the six yard box. A minute later, Colin Stewart made a great low save from Dunn following a quick Binos breakaway which put the right winger clean through on goal.

Jimmy Allan was going on some great runs on the left and, from one such, Willie Martin's curling shot was saved by Reid. Then John Gallagher picked up an 83rd minute booking when he blocked a dangerous cross with his hand.

As the minutes ticked away, substitute Paddy Gallagher shot for the far top corner from a wide position on the left when a cross could have been more productive. In injury time, Dunn was booked for tripping Danny Ferry before Mallan outpaced Moffat, but the striker then lobbed well wide of goal as Stewart advanced off his line to narrow the angle.

Danny Ferry had another fantastic game, so much so that it put several of his team mates to shame. Excluded from any criticism however were Stevie Fallon, Steven Moffat and Jimmy Allan all of whom played well above the level one would expect of a Third Division player.

Although there is always the possibility of a friendly being arranged, next Saturday is blank as far as competitive fixtures are concerned thereby neatly bringing an end to the first quarter of the league programme. It all starts again in a fortnight's time when Montrose visit Hampden and unless the strikers begin to demonstrate some clinical finishing, it could be disappointment at five o'clock again.

ENTERTAINMENT VALUE : 3/5           STAR SPIDER : DANNY FERRY (QP's Beckham!)

QUEEN’S PARK : Colin Stewart, Stevie Fallon, John Gallagher, Steven Moffat, Damiano Agostini, Tony Quinn, Danny Ferry, Johnny Whelan (Craig Taggart - 87), Willie Martin (Paddy Gallagher - 85), Stuart Jack (John Gemmell - 68), Jimmy Allan

Subs (not used) : Stewart Thomson (GK), Gordon Lappin

Scorer(s) : none

Booked : Gallagher (83 - handball)

STIRLING ALBION  : Chris Reid, Paul Nugent, Paul Hay, Mark McNally, George Rowe, Fraser Duncan (Hugh Davidson -55), Robert Dunn, Colin McKinnon (Stephen Reilly - 84), Stevie Mallan, Darren Cummings (Allan Moore - 62), David O'Brien

Subs (not used) : Iain Turner (GK), Kenny McLellan

Scorer(s) : McKinnon (33 mins)

Booked : Duncan (31 - late challenge), Dunn (90 - trip)

REFEREE :  Gary Mitchell ** (* = inept, ** = poor, *** = mediocre, **** = good, ***** = excellent)