By The Spider
August 31 2002

Saturday, 31st August, 2002 Queen’s Park 1 Gretna 0 (Scottish League - Third Division)

Like most other clubs, Queen's were also active in the late rush to register players before the signing deadline tonight, and Spiders' supporters turned up for today's game in hearty mood following the acquisition of three new players yesterday.

To get two players with Premier League experience in Brendan Crozier (St. Johnstone) and Steven Fallon (Dundee United and then to Arbroath) was good news in itself, but both were entirely overshadowed by the return (again on loan) of Colin Stewart, a Scotland U-21 'keeper with Kilmarnock. Colin was quite outstanding when with us two seasons ago, and although the initial loan period expires at the end of December, hopefully it can be extended (the goodwill of Jim Jeffries permitting) until the end of the season.

All three players were thrown straight into today's squad, with two of them making the starting line up; Stewart in for the injured Mitchell and Crozier allowing Canning to take a breather on the bench. Fallon took Willie Martin's usual seat on the bench, the popular Queen's striker being sidelined with an injury.

There was pre-match concern that, following Tuesday night's exertions, Queen's players would suffer from weary legs during the second half so it was good to see them looking "up for it" in the early stages. However, it was Gretna who had the first scoring opportunity when Tony Quinn got himself into a fankle in midfield and Dobie was given a sight of goal, but his shot across Stewart also went wide of the far post.

John Gemmell played a finely judged pass behind McGuffie for Jimmy Allan to run onto and new boy Brendan Crozier collected the ball inside the area when the ball came back over. His shot on the turn was blocked though before he could make the perfect start to his Hampden career.

In the 13th minute Danny Ferry released Johnny Whelan on the right wing before darting round him on a decoy run which allowed the midfielder to cut inside, but his left foot shot from the edge of the area was weak. A minute later though and there was a far better finish from captain Danny Ferry after he had played a quick one-two with John Gemmell before bursting between two defenders into the area and sidefooting the ball past Mathieson and into the far corner. So many times before Danny has got himself into that same position to squander the chance, so it was wonderful to see him produced such a composed finish this time and hopefully there will more of the same in future games.

In 16 minutes, Hore laid the ball back to McGuffie who was playing in his usual right back role in spite of having the No.11 shirt on his back but the former Spider's shot went wide of Stewart's right hand post. Five minutes later, Craig Taggart wriggled clear of centre half May before his left foot shot trundled weakly to Mathieson.

Then Jimmy Allan took a very quick free kick using Taggart for a "wall" pass before dashing into the area, dummying Turner with a neat step-over, and firing a powerful shot to the near post top corner which Mathieson pushed out for a corner.

Just before the half hour mark, Turner threatened at the other end when he fired a shot just over Stewart's crossbar. A long Danny Ferry free kick found the head of John Gemmell who rose well to nod for goal only for his effort to come back off Mathieson's legs.

From this point on though, the Queen's forwards became increasingly isolated as the midfield (hardly surprisingly given the hard shifts that Quinn & Whelan have had lately) fell out of the game as Gretna began to move the ball around more.

Hore hooked over from an Irons cross before Skelton scuffed a shot wide after Damiano Agostini had headed out a free kick whilst under pressure. Colin Stewart finally made his first actual save in the 42nd minute from a low Irons strike from a touched free kick, and then right on half time Hore sent a shot wide with his weaker right foot.

If Queen's were going to remain in contention, half time changes would be needed to provide some fresh legs and Cowboy did just that with Canning on for Crozier who had a quiet but efficient debut, and shortly after the resumption with Fisher for Taggart.

Gretna nearly struck in the opening minute when a shot was deflected and it nearly crept in at a post. Danny Ferry was doing his best to generate enthusiasm in all areas of the midfield and, when "in the mood", there cannot be a more dynamic figure in Scottish football. This attitude was exemplified in the 54th minute when he became defender, midfielder and striker in one move! Having come in from right back to sweep up behind his central defenders, he then sprinted out from the right of the defence to left midfield to link up with Chris Fisher and before Danny was eventually crowded out on the right of the Gretna penalty area! Great stuff, and even if nothing came of it, it was a boost to the other players to see their captain offer such vitality when he too has played in every game so far this season.

In the 59th minute Irons had another go for goal with a controlled shot from the edge of the area after a poor clearance from a corner. Then Skelton toe-poked the ball across Stewart and just wide of Colin's left hand post after the Gretna left wing back had made a great run into the Queen's penalty area.

Jimmy Allan picked up a booking in the 65th minute for a trip on the impressive Skinner; a waste of a yellow card really as the Gretna no. 7 was substituted just seconds later.

As Gretna continued to dominate play, Queen's defence were hard pressed to limit their scoring opportunities and Hore got in front of his marker at a free kick in the 66th minute to flick a near post header just over the bar.

Chris Fisher went on a run though the middle in the 77th minute and, with Gemmell and Allan on either side of him, Queen's had an extra man's advantage as they progressed from the halfway line. However, Allan was looking knackered by that stage and was content to drift out to the left touchline whereas in the first half he would have stayed level with Fisher to make the pass an easy one at the edge of the area with Gemmell taking the other defender away. Chris, to the consternation of some supporters, was left with little option other than to go it alone and forced a good diving save from Mathieson. That Allan was taken off just seconds later, to be replaced by Richie Sinclair, showed that at least Cowboy understood why Fisher had gone for goal himself.

Colin Stewart was called into action again in the 81st minute when Hore spotted him off his line and fired in a long range left foot drive, but it was easily dealt with by the tall 'keeper. Tony Quinn also tried to do the same at the other end, but although his 45 yard effort beat Mathieson, it drifted just wide of the relieved 'keeper's right hand post.

As the game entered its last couple of minutes, there was a final flurry of activity. Irons headed over from a corner before Danny Ferry sliced a first time shot from a poor clearance. Then, in injury time, Richard Sinclair nearly sold the jerseys when he completely misjudged a headed backpass to Colin Stewart and sent it across his 18 yard line instead. Hore beat Stewart in the dash for the loose ball and went past him but, before he could slot the ball into the empty net, back dashed the much maligned John Gallagher from seemingly nowhere to block Hore's effort at the last second. Gallagher has been found wanting positionally on several occasions this season, but this timely intervention more than made up for it and he now deserves to start with a clean slate before further judgement on him is made.

It has been said following three of the previous four League matches, Montrose being the exception, that Queen's would play worse in some games and win. This proved it as, tired limbs being the main reason, many home players looked off the boil today, John Gemmell and Danny Ferry being exempted from inclusion in that band.

Next Saturday (NB: brought forward from the Tuesday and with a 1.00pm kick-off) Queen's entertain East Stirlingshire at Hampden in the first round of the League Cup. Provided that the players aren't given too hard a time of it in training this week, expect to see them absolutely buzzing as this win will have given them all a great lift.

ENTERTAINMENT VALUE : 3/5           STAR SPIDER : DANNY FERRY (sponsors actually got it right for once!)

QUEEN’S PARK : Colin Stewart, Danny Ferry, John Gallagher, Steven Moffat, Damiano Agostini, Tony Quinn, Craig Taggart (Chris Fisher - 49), Johnny Whelan, John Gemmell, Brendan Crozier (Stephen Canning - 46), Jimmy Allan (Richard Sinclair - 78)

Subs (not used) : Stewart Thomson (GK), Steven Fallon

Scorer(s) : Ferry (14)

Booked : Allan (65)

GRETNA : David Mathieson, David Hewson, Gavin Skelton, Tommy Turner, Kyle May, Matthew Henney (Andrew Thwaites - 61), Stevie Skinner (Alex Benjamin - 66), David Irons, Mark Dobie, John Hore, Ryan McGuffie

Subs (not used) : David Wylie (GK), Steven Rooke, Martin Bell

Scorer(s) : none

Booked : none

REFEREE :  Cammy Melville ** (* = inept, ** = poor, *** = mediocre, **** = good, ***** = excellent)