By The Spider
August 8 2003

Saturday, 2nd August, 2003 St. Mirren 3 Queen's Park 2 (after extra time) (Bells Challenge Cup – First Round)

Last season, one of Queen's Park's biggest problems was the loss of late goals and it looks like new defence coach Scott Murdoch is going to have his hands full trying to eradicate the problem as this game and the friendly with Hearts have shown.

During the course of this Challenge Cup tie, coach Kenny Brannigan handed competitive debuts to Derek Scrimgour his three new signings Ally Graham, Steven Reilly and Steven McAuley, and KB must have been delighted with the performance of all four. Bearing in mind that Steven Moffat, Frankie Carroll and Jonny Whelan are waiting in the wings too, and you can see why Queen's fans are more optimistic about this season than for quite some time now. One concern about the squad though is the absence of another goalkeeper, and the overly blue new away strip apart, it was somewhat embarrassing that The Spiders only listed 15 players instead of the customary 16.

With both sides being a little bit cautious in the opening stages, neither team threatened until the 7th minute when Queen's won the first corner of the match. David Menelaws rose unchallenged at the near post, but his flick evaded the back post and went out for a goal kick. Allan Dunning has still a lot to learn about defensive duties but he continues to look dangerous going forward and it was his break from the back in the 14th minute that created the opening goal. A measured chip over the home rearguard saw Ross Clark give chase and although both he and home 'keeper Hinchcliffe reached it at the same time, the energetic young midfielder was first to the rebound to tuck it away into the empty net.

Saints won their first corner in the 16th minute which was quickly followed by another, but both were easily dealt with by the visiting defence where Damiano Agostini was looking particularly impressive. Having established that the home rearguard was pretty dodgy at coping with late midfield bursts, Queen's nearly did it again three minutes later when Stuart Kettlewell made an identical run for another ball over the top and he was only stopped in his tracks just outside the box by a desperate dive from Hinchcliffe which saw the big 'keeper rightly booked for a professional foul which could even have seen him sent off given that he was the last defender. Anyway, just as he did against Hearts at Hampden, Ally Graham stepped up to curl a brilliant effort over the wall and into the back of the net to maintain his impressive record of having scored on the opening day of each of the last five seasons.

Two to the good, Queen's continued to look very comfortable and a measure of their control was the fact that it took until the 29th minute for Gillies to record his side's first attempt at goal, and that was only a left foot shot on the turn from a throw in which he hooked well wide of the target. Indeed that was the last piece of goalmouth action during the remainder of the half as The Buddies huffed and puffed but all to no avail.

No doubt following a stern talking-to during the interval, St. Mirren came out with all guns blazing for the second period. Gillies hooked a deep corner wide immediately following the resumption and then Stuart Kettlewell was deservedly booked for a wild lunge at Crilly out on the touchline as Queen's began to struggle to even get the ball out of their own half.

For all that they had been so dominant beforehand, the Queen's defence now began to struggle to cope with the increasing pressure, and some quality crosses were proving especially difficult to deal with. Broadfoot amazing headed an inswinging corner over from underneath the crossbar in the 54th minute and then a Crilly free kick seven minutes later came just as close.

However, it was Mark Crilly who reduced the deficit in the 62nd minute when he ran unmarked from midfield to get on the end of a square ball from the right from Gillies and he reached it just before Scrimgour to toe-poke the ball high into the postage stamp corner. By now the Queen's midfield were chasing shadows as the relentless pressure increased further. Broadfoot forced Derek Scrimgour into a low diving save to his right at the expense of a corner and then the Queen's 'keeper made a point blank save from Dunn to keep his team ahead.

Ross Clark was booked for a late tackle in the 68th minute before the same player was given a sight of goal in a rare breakaway, but he was totally lacking in composure as he wildly sliced the ball high and wide with his left foot from an acute angle. However, at least Queen's were now able to enjoy some play in their opponents' half and it took a crude block from Kevin McGowne to halt Steve McAuley's progress as the former Airdrie striker made his way to the edge of the area. Ally Graham stepped up to try to put the tie beyond doubt with his mercurial left foot, but this time the effort was weak and Hinchcliffe had no trouble gathering the bobbling shot.

With just over quarter of an hour remaining, McGinty hooked wide of the near post and then Scrimgour denied the same player at the expense of another corner. With 10 minutes to go, O'Neill headed another inswinging corner over from barely a yard out, but Queen's at last broke out of their defensive shell and again and began to look for a killer third goal. Stephen Canning fired in a cleanly struck shot in the 82nd minute which whistled inches past Hincliffe's near post, and then Canning again threatened four minutes later when he burst into the home box before squaring the ball inside which required a desperate clearance for a corner.

Just when it looked as if Queen's might indeed manage to hold out for a memorable victory, disaster struck in the 87th minute as Richard Sinclair was adjudged to have brought down Brian McGinty from behind and he duly dusted himself down before stepping up to rifle the resultant penalty low to Derek Scrimgour's right.

It was a cruel blow for Kenny Brannigan's new look team and worse was to follow. Five minutes into the first period of extra time, the ball fell loose in the Queen's six yard box and John O'Neill nipped in to prod the ball home from close range.

Now with their noses in front for the first time, Saints full-timers were quite content to keep possession and, try as they might, the rapidly tiring legs of the Queen's players just could not produce the extra energy needed to regain control of the game despite valiant attemps from Clark and McAuley in the dying moments.

Disappointing as defeat may have been for Queen's, they can take great heart from their performance and now must stand a good chance of taking something from their opening league game at Gretna next Saturday where the "Millionaire's XI" will hopefully remain shell-shocked after their five goal drubbing at the hand of Inverness Caley.

ENTERTAINMENT VALUE : 3/5           STAR SPIDER : Damiano Agostini (a rock at the back)

QUEEN’S PARK : Derek Scrimgour, Allan Dunning (Stephen Canning - 68), David McCallum (Danny Ferry - 38), Richard Sinclair, Damiano Agostini, Stevie Fallon, Ross Clark, Stuart Kettlewell, Ally Graham, Steven Reilly, David Menelaws (Stephen McAuley - 61)

Subs (not used) : n/a (GK), Stephen Moffat

Scorer(s) : Clark (13 mins), Graham (19 mins)

Booked : Kettlewell (49 - late tackle), Clark (68 - late tackle)

ST. MIRREN : Craig Hinchcliffe, David Van Zanten (John O'Neill - 46), Laurie Ellis, Kevin McGowne, Gus McPherson, Kirk Broadfoot, Ricky Gillies (Tom McHard - 85), Mark Crilly, Brian McGinty, Paul McKnight (Robert Dunn - 32)

Subs (not used) : Stevie Woods (GK), John Cuddihy

Scorer(s) : Crilly (62 mins), McGinty (pen - 87 mins), O'Neill (95 mins)

Booked : Hinchcliffe (19 - professional foul), McGowne (72 - deliberate obstruction)

REFEREE : Willie Young ** (* = inept, ** = poor, *** = mediocre, **** = good, ***** = excellent)