By The Spider
February 9 2004

Saturday, 7th February, 2004 Cowdenbeath 5 Queen's Park 1 (Bells Scottish League – Third Division)

Boosted by two recent decent performances, Kenny Brannigan selected an unchanged starting line up for the trip to the happy hunting ground at Central Park.

Such a strategy looked well justified as his charges got off to the best possible start, albeit assisted by a dodgy decision from the far side assistant referee. Derek Carcary looked to be a couple of yards offside when he ran up the right wing to receive a through ball, but the flag stayed down and a perfect cut-back from the bye line allowed Jonny Whelan to slide the ball home from three yards out.

The home side looked rattled by the early setback, but Queen’s failed to press home their initial advantage and Cowden quickly got into their stride. Fusco shot wide from 20 yards a minute later before Jonny Whelan did likewise in the 11^th minute.

An excellent inswinging corner from Paul Harvey on the quarter of an hour mark saw Carlin desperately tip the ball over his own bar before Stevie Reilly became the first player from either side to be booked three minutes later for one of his trademark stupid late slide tackles for a ball that was never his to be won.

The equaliser came in the 26^th minute and, while it was an expertly struck first time shot from Dene Shields, the striker should never have been given so much room from a corner just 12 yards out.

Jonny Whelan had a shot on the turn saved in the 28^th minute before McKeown was booked for pulling down Derek Carcary as the youngster sped past him.

In the 35^th minute, Paul Harvey curled a free kick narrowly past, but the home side took the lead a minute later. Danny Ferry badly mistimed his jump for a header and then lunged in at Skinner from behind when trying to redeem himself. It was a risky move on the captain’s part and when Skinner duly tumbled to the ground, referee MacDonald pointed to the spot. Had it been at the other end, Queen’s fans would have been claiming for a penalty so they can’t complain too loudly when a 50/50 decision goes against them. Anyway, there was little protest from the Queen’s players and Dene Shields stepped up to fairly lash the ball into the roof of the net past Derek Scrimgour.

Queen’s only chance to get back on level terms before the interval came in the 42^nd minute when Frankie Carroll got on the end of a Jonny Whelan back header but couldn’t direct his own back-header under the bar from close range.

Having made two tactical substitutions at half time, Cowdenbeath went further ahead in the 52^nd minute when recent signing from Gretna Stephen Skinner latched onto a poor clearance from Damiano Agostini to fire a fine left foot strike home via a post from 25 yards. Shortly afterwards, substitute Mauchlen was booked for stupidly throwing the ball away after disagreeing with a decision.

He was joined soon afterwards by Ross Clark who was also deservedly shown a yellow card, in his case for felling Mauchlen at the edge of the Queen's penalty area immediately after a powerful header had rattled Derek Scrimgour's crossbar. Gilfillan's shot from the resultant free kick whistled inches past an upright.

Queen's tried hard to reduce the deficit and began to play some good football. Firstly Stevie Fallon forced Carlin to push away a shot at full stretch, and minutes later the home 'keeper did equally well to divert a Frankie Carroll effort away for a corner. With nothing to lose, other than more goals, Kenny Brannigan then went for broke by replacing Damiano Agostini with Stuart Kettlewell whilst Derek Carcary made way for Ally Graham.

Before either player could become involved, Skinner was also booked for a late challenge.

Skinner sent a long range effort just over the crossbar in the 68th minute before Ally Graham curled a free kick narrowly wide. Queen's then became even more attack minded when Stevie McAuley came on for Paul Harvey and the 3-4-3 formation dominated play for the next eight minutes, but without creating any real openings as Cowdenbeath sat deep ready to hit on the break when any opportunities presented themselves.

The first chance to do so came in the 81st minute and it was so simple and easy that it had to be seen to be believed. A straightforward long ball was flicked on to Liam Buchanan who was left completely unmarked and able to run through unchallenged on Scrimgour before coolly slotting the ball past him.

Queen's were stung into immediate retaliation, and Ross Clarke had a back post header saved before a superbly executed Jonny Whelan stretch volley on the run whistled inches over the crossbar.

However, instead of pulling a goal back, Queen's lost a 5th goal in the 86th minute when Liam Buchanan was left unmarked once again and free to run onto a long through ball before neatly lobbing over the advancing Derek Scrimgour who was once again left hopelessly exposed by his defensive colleagues.

Then, to round off a thoroughly miserable afternoon for The Spiders, Stuart Kettlewell was booked in the last minute for a late tackle.

This was definitely one to forget for those Queen's fans who were brave enough to brave the Artic elements, and hopefully the players can repay their supporters' loyalty by producing a rare home win against Stirling Albion next Saturday. As remote a possibility as that seems, the sad truth is that Queen's do have the players capable of winning such a game if they play to their full potential. However, that is unlikely to happen until KB finally admits that Stevie Fallon is easily the best sweeper at the club, that Danny Ferry is much more comfortable on the right flank, that Ross Clark is best utilised in an advanced midfield role and that Stevie Reilly and Paul Harvey are too lightweight to have both playing in the same team.

Much of Queen's problems have stemmed from the need to find a decent left wingback, but moving several players out of position has not solved the problem. Better then to go with David Stewart in that position and restore Richard Sinclair to the heart of the defence to add some much needed cold steel to that area. If lessons are not learned from this defeat, next Saturday could be equally painful.

ENTERTAINMENT VALUE : 3/5

STAR SPIDER :  Jonny Whelan (lacked support from his midfield colleagues)

QUEEN’S PARK : Derek Scrimgour, Danny Ferry,  David Stewart, Ross Clark, Damiano Agostini (Stuart Kettlewell – 62), Stevie Fallon, Paul Harvey (Stevie McAuley – 73), Stevie Relly, Frankie Carroll, Jonny Whelan, Derek Carcary (Ally Graham – 62)

Subs (not used) : David Crawford(G/K), David McCallum

Scorer(s) : Whelan (1)

Booked : Reilly (18 – late tackle), Clark (57 – late tackle), Kettlewell (90 – late tackle)

COWDENBEATH : Andy Carlin, David Mowat, David McInally (Iain Mauchlen - 46), Bryan Gilfillan, John McKeown, Innes Ritchie, John Paul Kelly, Gary Fusco, Dene Shields, Stephen Skinner (Liam Buchanan – 71), Liam McGuinness (Ryan McCallum – 46)

Subs (not used) Allan Fleming (G/K), Presley Orhue

Scorer(s) : Shields (26, 36-pen), Skinner (52), Buchanan (81, 86)

Booked : McKeown (30 – deliberate foul), Mauchlen (54 – dissent), Fusco (63 – late tackle)

REFEREE :  Scott MacDonald ***   (* = inept, ** = poor, *** = mediocre, **** = good, ***** = excellent)