By The Spider
January 22 2003

Saturday, 18th January, 2003 Queen's Park 3 East Stirlingshire 4 (Bells Scottish League - Third Division)

Ever come away from a game in a state of disbelief about what you have just witnessed? If so, this game must be a contender. For a start we had David Hunter in charge of on-field events in his last game as a member of the Coaching Staff whilst Paul Martin (whose last game was the 'Rovers cup win) maintained a discrete distance from new head coach Kenny Brannigan by sitting a few rows behind KB in the centre stand.

Obviously still fired up from Tuesday night's cup victory, and having been allowed by Kenny Brannigan to continue where they left of, the same Queen's starting line-up tore into East Stirlingshire with a relish and immediately exposed the Falkirk side's defensive frailties.

In only the third minute, Gordon Lappin flighted in a free kick from the right hand side and, whilst the visiting 'keeper and defence left it to each other, John Gemmell leaped high into the air to nod the ball into Todd's top right hand corner. A minute later, and the ball went into exact the same spot as John Gemmell latched onto a Johnny Whelan head flick to direct the ball over the stranded 'Shire goalkeeper. Two up in four minutes - just how many could Queen's score here?

Whelan headed a deflected a Danny Ferry cross into Todd's arms in the sixth minute as Queen's kept up the pressure, but Tony Mitchell then had to produce a fine double stop from Leishman and Mackay just seconds later as 'Shire immediately broke away to the other end and took advantage of very slack marking in the Queen's area.

Jimmy Allan forced Todd into making a save in the 13th minute, but 'Shire Trialist left winger Dylan Kerr showed exactly how it was done when he expertly chipped Tony Mitchell from an acute angle in the 16th minute.

Back came Queen's and Gordon Lappin powered a high drive at Todd in the 19th minute after a low left wing cross from Stephen Moffat had come through a ruck of players to him at the edge of the penalty area.

Queen's restored their two goal advantage in the 26th minute when Jimmy Allan quickly seized on a defensive error by Mauchan and wasted no time in blasting the ball across Todd and into the far corner of the goal.

Kerr tried to pull another one back for 'Shire in the 38th minute, but Tony Mitchell dived to his right to make a comfortable save from the winger's direct free kick. Just before the interval, Willie Martin got on the end of a deep curling cross from Gordon Lappin, but the striker's looping header landed on the roof of the net.

As the players headed towards the dressing rooms, there was the worrying sight of Stephen Moffat limping round the track in some distress, and it looked extremely doubtful that he would be ready for the next game, let alone the second half.

It therefore came as little surprise when Richard Sinclair emerged from the tunnel as Moffat's replacement, and this was a pivotal moment in the game because, for some reason (presumably to have Ferry mark Kerr), the instruction was also given for Lappin and Ferry to swap sides.

In any event, there's no point worrying about your own defence when you are in your opponents' half and Willie Martin nearly extended Queen's lead in the 49th minute when he accepted a great through ball from Ross Clarke only to see his low left foot shot miss the far post by a couple of inches.

Having recently committed a bad foul from behind on John Gemmell which was worthy of a booking in itself, centre half Allison then produced an even worse one in the 55th minute which did earn him a yellow card, but that was less than the offence deserved. However, a minute later 'Shire were right back in it. Gordon Lappin got suckered into trying to close down Boyle and the substitute winger immediately read the script to race into the open space behind Lappin to receive a superb pass. As Boyle's cross came in, Jordan Leishman cleverly came in from the blind side to glance the ball beyond Tony Mitchell and into the far corner. An excellent finish to a good move.

By now Queen's were looking a ragged bunch, and it was becoming clear that the loss of Moffat when combined with fatigue from Tuesday was leaving The Spiders in a precarious position. Leishman had a shot on the turn saved by Tony Mitchell before a header from the same player was deflected narrowly wide. However, between those two events, Queen's should have had a penalty when Jimmy Allan was clearly shoved inside the 'Shire area with only the match officials missing this glaring offence.

It was another significant moment because 'Shire equalised in the 62nd minute, and another quality finish it was too. A punched clearance from a corner by Tony Mitchell came out to the angle of the edge of the area and Sean McAuley stepped forward to fire a great shot into Mitchell's top right hand corner.

Boosted by two pairs of fresh legs in the form of Kettlewell and Menelaws, Queen's responded in an effort to regain the initiative, and soon had the visitors on the back foot. In the 78th minute, a John Gemmell back header from a Johnny Whelan long throw-in went right across the six yard box just begging to be put away, but there were no takers. Jimmy Allan then created an opening for David Menelaws, but Todd saved well low to his right.

Mackay then earned himself a booking with a late challenge on Danny Ferry, but Queen's were quickly back on the offensive again and should have regained the lead in the 82nd minute. With the ball bobbling about frantically in the 'Shire area, firstly John Gemmell cracked the ball off the right hand post before Ross Clarke sent another effort onto the top of the bar and over. Heartbreaking stuff but worse was to follow.

'Shire won a free kick on the right some 30 yards out and the Maltese born former Leeds and Kilmarnock winger Dylan Kerr strode forward to send an unstoppable left foot shot over the top of the wall and into Tony Michell's top right hand corner beyond the 'keeper's despairing dive.

That was it, and Queen's were left to ponder the sad statistic that 'Shire have only won two League games all season, both of them at this venue.

It's far too early to judge Kenny Brannigan's appointment, but he like all Queen's fans must be desperately hoping that Stephen Moffat's injury is not a long term one as his qualities were badly missed during the second half.

Next Saturday, Queen's play hosts to either East Fife or Hamilton in the third round of the Scottish Cup, and if The Spiders can progress to the next round, then this result will be quickly forgotten and forgiven.

ENTERTAINMENT VALUE : 4/5           STAR SPIDER : Ross Clarke (kept at it right to the end)

QUEEN’S PARK : Tony Mitchell, Gordon Lappin (Stuart Kettlewell - 68), Danny Ferry, Stephen Moffat (Richard Sinclair - 46), Damiano Agostini, Stevie Fallon, Willie Martin (David Menelaws - 68), Johnny Whelan, John Gemmell, Ross Clarke, Jimmy Allan

Subs (not used) : Chris Lamb (GK), Chris Fisher

Scorer(s) : Gemmell (3 & 4 mins), Allan (26 mins)

Booked : none

EAST STIRLINGSHIRE  : Chris Todd, Roddy Maughan, Grant Mclaren, Scott Allison, Patrick Clark, Mark Lukowiecki (Gerry Boyle - 52), Sean McAuley, Jordan Leishman, Jamie Mackay, Dylan Kerr (TR)

Subs (not used) : Trialist (GK), Steve Livingston, Graeme McGhee, Joe Tobin

Scorer(s) : Kerr (16 & 85 mins), Leishman (56 mins), McAuley (62 mins)

Booked : Allison (55 - late challenge), Mackay (81 - late challenge)

REFEREE :  Calum Murray ** (* = inept, ** = poor, *** = mediocre, **** = good, ***** = excellent)