By The Spider
November 24 2003

Saturday, 22nd November, 2003 Stirling Albion 3 Queen's Park 1 (Tennents Scottish Cup – 1st Round)

Queen's Park supporters are generally extremely tolerant of the club's coaches, one advantage of generally harbouring realistic expectations, but from time to time general murmurs of discontent begin to be heard.

Such was the case at Stirling on Saturday when, once again, Kenny Brannigan seemed extremely reluctant to take Ally Graham off when the big man was clearly having a wretched time of it. His confidence appears to be at an all time low right now, and to keep humping high balls in his direction when there is little by way of midfield support is clearly doing neither him or the side any favours right now.

It is clear that the side needs a new approach to inject a bit of variety into our play, and KB has proved his worth by bringing in a number of players who are more than capable of playing attractive football, so his present blind spot towards big Ally is surprising to say the least and it could prove damaging to him in the long run if supporters continue to become disillusioned, not so much by results, but more by the lack of entertaining football currently on offer.

And yet it could all have been so different with Queen's getting off to the best of starts in only the 3rd minute. A ball over the top caught the home defence napping and Stevie McAuley displayed an expert predatory instinct to run from a deep position to beat Hogarth to the ball and sent an exquisite first time dipping shot over the stranded 'keeper and into the net from an acute angle.

Encouraged by this great start, Queen's totally dominated the opening 10 minutes and had further opportunities to extend their lead. Stevie Fallon made a great run out of defence in the 9th minute before putting Ally Graham clear on the right wing but the cross was too near Hogarth when there were plenty of other targets in Irn Bru tops to aim for.

The big man made up for it a minute later though when a deft head flick gave Stevie McAuley a clear sight of goal from close range but Stevie miscued his volley at full stretch. Then Jonny Whelan had a clear opening to strike for goal but he sliced his long range effort whilst on the run wide of the target.

Stirling's first goal threat came from Wilson in the 12th minute when his snap shot whistled inches past Derek Scrimgour's right hand post. Four minutes later, Wilson came close again when his fierce strike hit the side netting.

A great move between Ross Clark and Stevie Reilly ended up with Ross unlucky not to get on the end of Stevie's return ball across the face of goal which Hogarth was fortunate to be able to gather at the second attempt.

Shortly after the half hour mark, McLean sliced a volley wide from a good position, this preceding a long passage of play without the serious involvement of either 'keeper.

The first of a mini-spate of bookings began in the 40th minute when Elliott was shown a yellow card for a late challenge on Stuart Kettlewell.

This was soon followed by perhaps the most entertaining caution for several seasons. Responding to a comment made by a QP fan about the size of his waistline, McNally had retorted "and you've got a big mouth, pal." Imagine the delight therefore when, a few seconds later, and unable to let it lie at that, a follow-up remark from McNally was overheard by the far-side assistant who immediately raised a flag to draw the attention of referee Martin Sproule to the incident. Whilst the banter between McNally and the travelling support was hardly likely to cause a riot, Sproule read McNally the riot act and the defender's name also entered into the referee's little black book to ironic cheers which were almost as loud as those which had celebrated McAuley's magnificent opportunism.

Sadly, the joyous mood which would have been a great way to end the half was tempered slightly when Stewart Thomson was booked for an injudicious and unnecessary tackle from behind out on the right wing which resulted in a dangerous free kick which Rowe met with a diving header to send the ball marginally wide.

Neither side made any changes at half time and again Queen's nearly made an early breakthrough. Straight from kick-off, the ball was played high out to Jonny Whelan on the right wing. Taking the ball neatly on his chest, Jonny quickly volleyed it goalwards with his left foot and despite his effort clearing Hogarth's despairing acrobatic dive, it also just missed the far post. A certainty for this site's "goal of the season" award had that one gone in!

Sadly, that was the last that would be seen of Queen's as an attacking force for the next 20 minutes as Ally Graham became increasing isolated and understandably disillusioned as hasty clearances anywhere up the field became the norm. The sad catalogue of consecutive Stirling attacks reads as follows:

• (48) - Derek Scrimgour saves a point blank bullet header from Rowe who has lost Ally Graham at a corner
• (50) - Scrimgour again to the rescue as he denies Ferguson with a sliding tackle
• (51) - again George Rowe is left free in front of goal at a corner, and this time his header gives Scrimgour no chance
• (55) - O'Brien's shot on the turn from a throw in is saved low at his right hand post by Scrimgour
• (61) - poor marking leaves McLean free on the right and he has all the time in the world to fire hard and low across the face of the goal where David O'Brien easily nets at the back post

Stevie Reilly got his usual booking for a late challenge on Smith, although it has to be said that his opponent deserved all that came his way for his attempts to niggle and wind up Queen's players whether it was through fouls, diving, not retreating at free kicks or getting involved off the ball.

Stuart Kettlewell sliced wide from long range in the 70th minute, before Ross Clark fired a dangerous ball across the six yard box which, although spilled by Hogarth, was quickly hacked away.

The final nail in Queen's coffin came in the 73rd minute when Gary Kelly was left completely unmarked in front of goal to send a close range diving header past the exposed Derek Scrimgour.

The manner of the goal certainly wasn't a surprise as, by now, the visitor's defence was a shambles, mainly due to the enforced substitution of Stephen Moffat who had been hobbling for a least 10 minutes prior to being replaced by Danny Ferry. Prior to receiving his injury, Moff had been showing glimpses of the form which made him such a star performer last season, and hopefully his absence will be brief because his partnership with Stevie Fallon and Damiano Agostini looked rock solid for most of the first half.

As the game moved towards its inevitable conclusion during the closing stages, Derek Scrimgour made a good low diving save from Scotland before Ross Clark could only send a trundler towards Hogarth with two minutes remaining.

So, no cup glory this season, and unless an upsurge in League form occurs either by way of improvement or a tactical rethink, dwindling attendances could well reach new lows during the coming months. As entertainment is most definitely a missing ingredient at present, perhaps Kenny Brannigan needs to swallow his pride and allow Allan Dunning the opportunity to prove that he can make it as a forward after all. Everyone else has been given a chance, so doesn't he deserve his?

 

ENTERTAINMENT VALUE : 2/5

STAR SPIDER :  Stephen Moffat (his injury and eventual substitution ultimately cost QP the game)

QUEEN’S PARK : Derek Scrimgour, Ross Clark, John Thomson, Stevie Fallon, Damiano Agostini, Stephen Moffat (Danny Ferry - 58), Stevie Reilly, Jonny Whelan, Stuart Kettlewell, Ally Graham (Derek Carcary - 83), Stevie McAuley (Frankie Carroll - 68)

Subs (not used) : David Crawford (GK), Paddy Gallagher

Scorer(s) : McAuley (3)

Booked : Thomson (45 - tackle from behind), Reilly (67 – late challenge)

STIRLING ALBION : Myles Hogarth, Paul Hay, Derek Anderson, Mark McNally, George Rowe, Andrew Smith (Chris Scotland - 86), Douglas Wilson, Craig Ferguson (Gary Kelly - 58), Scott McLean, Barry Elliott, David O'Brien

Subs (not used) : Scott Morrison (G/K), Ross Beveridge, Chris Geddes

Scorer(s) : Rowe (51), O'Brien (61), Kelly (73)

Booked : Elliott (40 - late challenge), McNally (44 - comments to travelling support),

REFEREE : Martin Sproule ***  (* = inept, ** = poor, *** = mediocre, **** = good, ***** = excellent)