By The Spider
April 19 2004

Saturday, 17th April, 2004 Queen's Park 0 Stranraer 2 (Bells Scottish League - Third Division)

Stranraer must have really enjoyed their two visits to Hampden this season as, on each occasion, they have departed with all three points having coasted their way through the games after being gifted easy early goals.

Queen’s could not have started this game in worse fashion.

Jenkins  collapsed in the Queen’s area following a hefty aerial challenge with David Stewart and as a cross came over from the right, the entire Queen’s defence stood motionless. Not so Stranraer’s predator-in-chief, Michael Moore, who correctly followed the golden rule of “play to the whistle” and ran in to nod Finlayson’s cross past Derek Scrimgour from just inside the Queen’s six yard box.

Even if Queen’s could laudably claim that they were waiting for the ball to be put out of play to allow Jenkins to receive attention, to lose a goal in such circumstances is unforgivable when you are more or less handling the game to the league leaders almost before the contest has started.

From this point on of course, it was always going to be an uphill struggle. Finlayson nearly put the game out of sight in the 12^th minute when his 25 yard shot on the run clipped the top of Derek Scrimgour’s crossbar on its way over.

Queen’s first threat was posed in the 18^th minute when Derek Carcary wriggled free of his markers to hit a shot which was deflected narrowly wide. Stranraer immediately forced their way back up to the other end and Moore should have done better than to hook a cut-back from Wingate wide.

Stranraer continued to dominate play with the gulf between the sides becoming more apparent the longer the game went on. Derek Scrimgour held a shot from Finlayson in the 25^th minute, and then three minutes later a low Sharp drive skidded inches past the Queen’s ‘keeper’s left hand post.

Scrimgour came to Queen’s rescue another three minutes later when he dived full length to his right to keep out another Moore header, but the second goal was only being delayed.

When it did come, in the 33^rd minute, it was again completely preventable. A Finlayson run down the right was brought to a conclusion but, with the ball won, two defenders hesitated and with neither clearing it, Finlayson prodded the ball inwards to David Graham who was given far too much room to turn before dragging a low left foot shot on the turn past the outstretched left hand of Derek Scrimgour.

Five minutes later, Derek Scrimgour again kept former Spider Finlayson off the score-sheet, and it was left to David McCallum to end the half by curling a direct free kick wide.

The second half was delayed by 10 minutes to allow a replacement assistant referee to get changed because David McKenzie needed to take over from the injured Crawford Allan. By comparison to the first half it was poor stuff as Stranraer shut up shop, comfortable in the knowledge that the day’s work was done. Scrimgour did well in the 58^th minute when he dived bravely at Graham’s feet after the Stranraer striker had burst into the Queen’s area, and then Moore became the first player to be booked when he complained too loudly about a decision which had gone against him.

Substitute Frankie Carroll was trying hard to inject some life into the Queen’s attack, and he forced a great right handed save from McCondichie before the ‘keeper was quickly tested again as he dived full length to cover a Paul Harvey shot which dipped inches wide of the far post.

Stuart Kettlewell repeated Finlayson’s 12^th minute feat in the 82^nd minute when he too fired in a fierce shot which beat the ‘keeper before clipping the bar on its way over.

Stevie Reilly was booked in the 86^th minute when he deliberately felled Jenkins as the Stranraer midfielder burst past him at the halfway line, and then Collins suffered the same fate when he was also deservedly shown a yellow card, in his case for a nasty two footed challenge on Stephen Canning.

The game nearly finished with a consolation goal for Queen’s, but Frankie Carroll was unable to direct his close range header past McCondichie.

If Kenny Branngian was looking for any crumbs of comfort before next week’s difficult away trip to Peterhead, he will have found precious few in this performance where there was little to be positive about. The players gave their all as usual, but they lacked leadership and with Derek Carcary being well shackled there was no-one with that little bit of sparkle to prise open a resolute defence.

A two goal defeat is nothing to be ashamed of, but unless there is a better performance next week, Queen’s may find a hungry Peterhead side less willing than Stranraer were to slacken off in the second half.

ENTERTAINMENT VALUE : 3/5

STAR SPIDER :  Stevie Reilly (outstanding at the back)

QUEEN’S PARK : Derek Scrimgour, Richard Sinclair, David McCallum, Allan Dunning (Frankie Carroll – 51), David Stewart (Damiano Agostini – 64), Stuart Kettlewell, Paul Harvey (Martin Bonnar – 80), Stevie Reilly, Derek Carcary, Jonny Whelan, Stephen Canning

Subs (not used) : Brian McCue (G/K), David Weatherston

Scorer(s) : Carcary (86)

Booked : Reilly (86 – professional foul)

STRANRAER : Andy McCondichie, Stephen Swift (Kevin Gaughan – 83), Fraser Wright, Derek Wingate, Murray Henderson, Allan Jenkins, Kevin Finlayson, Lee Collins (Tom McAllister 90), Michael Moore (Brian Crawford – 72), David Graham, Lee Sharp

Subs (not used) : Martin McAuley (G/K), Chris Cruickshank

Scorer(s) : Moore (1), Graham (33)

Booked : Moore (64 – dissent), Collins (87 - dangerous tackle)

REFEREE :  Crawford Allan/David McKenzie ****  (* = inept, ** = poor, *** = mediocre, **** = good, ***** = excellent)