By The Spider
March 17 2002

Tuesday, 5th March, 2002 Albion Rovers 2 Queen’s Park 0 (Scottish League - Third Division)

Games don't come much worse than this, although both sets of players deserve great credit for attempting to play football in atrocious conditions. With torrential rain and driving winds throughout, action was at a premium hence a shorter report than usual.

The first shot of the game came in the 13th minute, but Graeme Smith held it comfortably in spite of the speed with which it came off the greasy surface. A minute later and referee Conroy booked Jim Brown for a late challenge when the official should have merely warned the player as there was no malicious intent; the conditions being entirely responsible for Jim's inability to avoid following through.

In the 21st minute Queen's had a half-hearted penalty claim for hand-ball following a Jim Brown flick-on, and then liam McVey was crowded out before he could inflict damage having been first to the loose ball in the area. Two minutes later, Booth nearly opened the scoring with an excellent wind-assisted free kick from 40 yards which only just skimmed past Smith's left hand post by virtue of a slight deflection off the edge of the wall.

Tony Quinn then nearly scored an own goal when he misheaded a long throw in past his own back post when attempting to clear it in the other direction. At the other end a Johnny Whelan cross forced Fahey into diving at his near post as the wind took from it's original intended course.

With the wind at their backs, Queen's made an aggressive start to the second half and Whelan's free kick curled narrowly over the bar. Then Graeme Smith was forced to make a great diving save from a fierce 15 yard drive. Craig Stevenson then became the second player to be booked when he tried to hurdle a 56th minute slide tackle. Referee Conroy deemed that to be the equivalent of a two-footed tackle; a strange decision given that Stevenson was actually the victim of the incident and was injured in the process. Shortly afterwards, further Queen's claims for hand-ball in the penalty area were again dismissed.

Queen's thought that they had taken the lead in the 66th minute when a free kick was touched to Stevenson who took one touch before firing a shot towards the far post. It looked a goal all the way but Gal was unable to jump over it and it fell off him just outside the six yard box where Stephen Canning pounced on it to slam the ball whom. The celebrations were cut short by the stand side assistant's flag which had been raised for offside, but the penalty area had been so congested that he could not have had a clear view of the incident - a dubious decision if ever there was one.

In the 74th minute a long Whelan throw in fell to McVey whose right foot hook shot was well saved by Fahey. 'Rovers then immediately swept to the other end and when Tony Quinn was unable to clear a cross that had splashed on the drop before home, Charlie McLean took full advantage to blast past Smith from 15 yards.

Worse was to follow in the 81st minute when a Bonar shot was deflected into the substitute striker's path and Charlie McLean was first to the ball which had dropped just outside the sodden six yard box and scoop it into the roof of the empty net.

Queen's were denied their third, and most convincing penalty claim right at the death when Stephen Canning was scythed down inside the area from behind, and yet Conroy somehow managed to deem it a fair challenge despite no contact whatsoever being made with the ball. An absolutely shocking decision which, although it was too late in the day to save Queen's, adequately managed to sum up a miserable evening.

Hopefully the return game at Hampden will be played in more enjoyable conditions for players and spectators alike.

ENTERTAINMENT VALUE : 1/5                 STAR SPIDER : Each and every Q.P. fan who went!

QUEEN'S PARK : Graeme Smith, Jim Brown, Liam McVey, Neil Collins, Craig Stevenson, John Cunningham (Chris Fisher - 81), Tony Quinn, Johnny Whelan, Mark Gallagher (John Gemmell - 70), Stephen Canning, Allan Dunning

ALBION ROVERS : Chris Fahey, Robert Coulter, Gerry McKenna, Jordan Smith, Stuart Easton, Mark Booth, Colin Waldie, Chris Silvestro, Martin Harty (Charlie McLean - 63), Ian Diack (Steve McCormick - 63), Paul Bonar (Kevin Donnelly -85)