By The Spider
March 22 2003

Wednesday, 19th March, 2003 Stirling Albion 1 Queen's Park 0 (Bells Scottish League - Third Division)

As much as Queen's deserved their victory at Gretna, equally so were they unlucky to lose against Stirling Albion having seen great efforts come crashing back off the crossbar in each half. The Spiders showed only one change in their line-up following Saturday's win at Gretna with Ross Clark replacing Jonny Whelan in midfield whilst Jamie White and Allan Dunning were restored to the squad, albeit only to occupy seats on the subs bench.

The pitch was certainly conducive to playing neat passing football, so what happens when East Fife play on it is anyone's guess. However, both teams were happy to make good use of it and build ups tended to be quick and imaginative.

Stirling were first to threaten in the 9th minute when Hay sent a powerful shot just wide of Mark Cairns' left hand post. Then John Gemmell was presented with a couple of opportunities in quick succession. The first came from a low Willie Martin cross on the right which he sclaffed well wide, before he then attempted an effort from long range but only succeeded in blasting it well over the bar. After a great scoring streak at the turn of the year, the big man looks low on confidence right now and could badly use another goal.

Queen's came close in the 17th minute following good work by Jimmy Allan on the left flank. The winger's cross tempted Hogarth to come dashing off his line to the edge of his area to fist the ball away, but it went straight to Stuart Kettlewell barely ten yards away who lashed a volley straight back towards goal with Hogarth being indeed fortunate to be able to grab it with his outstretched hands.

Stirling themselves had a couple of opportunities to open their account, the first coming in the 19th minute when Cairns had to look lively to hold a direct free kick from Crilly. Then, a minute later, the Queen's 'keeper did even better when he dived to save a first time shot from Dunn after Mallon had sent over a tempting early cross from the left wing.

Queen's produced the move of the game in the 24th minute with several players being involved in a great one-touch sweeping move which saw John Gemmell being put through with just Hogarth to beat. However, despite doing the right thing and taking the ball early, big John could only curse his luck as his right foot drive beat the 'keeper only to bounce back off the underside of the bar and away from goal.

Stirling almost capitalised on their good fortune in the 28th minute, but Morris's fierce low shot whizzed inches outside the right hand post. The same player then sent a header from a Crilly free kick to exactly the same spot six minutes later.

The first booking came in the 39th minute when Willie Martin received a yellow card for a slightly late challenge on Smith who collapsed as if he had been hit by a battering ram, when only the faintest contact had been made.

The next bookings came just three minutes later with Crilly being deservedly carded for walking away with the ball when Queen's wanted to take a quick free kick, but Ross Clark can consider himself most unfortunate to be equally punished when his only crime was to try to wrestle the ball back from Crilly's grasp which he was surely entitled to do in the circumstances. To the amazement of all, referee Duff (an apt name as he was to prove during the course of the evening) took no action at all against Smith who had then raised his hands against Clark before shoving him to the ground. Smith would continue to show his true colours on several occasions throughout the game, and quite how he escaped being booked himself on the night remains one of life's great mysteries.

That was the last action of the first half and the second half almost opened in spectacular fashion with David McCallum curling a direct free kick into the postage stamp corner only to see it come back off the junction of post and bar with Hogarth beaten all ends up by McCallum's great effort. Minutes later, McCallum sent in a near identical effort from exactly the same place, but this time Hogarth was able to claw the ball out from underneath the bar with a great diving save.

In between those two exciting incidents, Mark Cairns had kept Queen's level by saving a close range shot from Nicholas. However, there was little that the 'keeper could do in the 62nd minute when the home side took the lead. Cairns had stood up well to parry a point blank range header from Nicholas whose momentum then took him onto Cairns, knocking the Queen's 'keeper to the ground and then falling on top of him. With Cairns then unable to get to the loose ball, David O'Brien followed up and knocked the ball into the empty net only to be initially greeted by silence as home supporters and colleagues alike anticipated that the goal would be chalked off for the foul on the 'keeper. However, having looked in the direction of his far side assistant who made no gesture whatsoever either way, referee Duff awarded the goal and only then did the celebrations commence as Queen's players and supporters alike were themselves stunned into silence. Perhaps the officials had felt that there was no intent on Nicholas's part, which may well be the case, but nonetheless there can be no doubt that Cairns would have had a simple task to collect his own parry just two yards away had he been able to remain on his feet.

To their credit, Queen's shrugged off this setback and simply got on with the task of trying to restore parity again. However, Stirling are very good at holding onto a lead and now set out to frustrate their opponents at every turn with Crilly, in particular, doing everything within his power to either slow the game down or break up play with a series of niggly fouls.

Each side had one clear cut chance each, Stirling's effort coming in the 73rd minute when Dunn dragged a right foot shot wide after being played through on the counter-attack by Nicholas, whilst ten minutes later Willie Martin's powerful shot was deflected over the bar for a corner which came to nothing. In between those two incidents, David McCallum became the 4th player of the evening to be booked following a 50/50 challenge with Crilly whose theatrics ensured McCallum's entry into Mr. Duff's notebook. Perhaps the most accomplished player afield, it's a pity that Crilly is recognised more for his lack of sportsmanship than for the exquisite skills he undoubtedly possesses.

Anyway, there is no use crying over spilled milk and Queen's now face back to back games, the first at Hampden this Saturday, against Peterhead with the six points at stake going a long way to determining just who is likely to accompany East Fife to the Second Division next season.

ENTERTAINMENT VALUE : 3/5           STAR SPIDER : Stevie Fallon (yet another superb display)

QUEEN’S PARK : Mark Cairns, Danny Ferry, David McCallum, Richard Sinclair, Damiano Agostini, Stevie Fallon, Stuart Kettlewell (Paddy Gallagher - 58), Ross Clark, John Gemmell, Willie Martin, Jimmy Allan (Chris Fisher - 72)

Subs (not used) : Tony Mitchell (GK), Jamie White, Allan Dunning

Scorer(s) : none

Booked : Martin (39 - late tackle), Clark (42 - aggressive behaviour), McCallum (76 - late tackle)

STIRLING ALBION  : Myles Hogarth, Paul Nugent, Paul hay, Andy Smith, George Rowe, Mark Crilly, Robert Dunn, Ian Morris, Stevie Mallon (Steve Kerrigan - 62), Steven Nicholas (Dougie Wilson - 90), David O'Brien

Subs (not used) : Anton Nugent (GK), Mark McNally, David McGeown

Scorer(s) : O'Brien - 62 mins)

Booked : Crilly (42 - unsporting behaviour)

REFEREE : Steven Duff * (* = inept, ** = poor, *** = mediocre, **** = good, ***** = excellent)