By The Spider
November 23 2002

Saturday, 23rd November, 2002 Queen's Park 2 Peterhead 0 (Bells Scottish League - Division Three)

Much of the conversation in the Social Club before this match was looking further ahead than the imminent 90 minutes football, with speculation continuing to be rife over just who is the Committee's favourite to replace John McCormack as coach. As far as an inside appointment is concerned, neither Paul Martin nor David Hunter have thrown their respective hats into the ring, each citing business commitments as their reason for not doing so. Andy McGlennan, another prospective candidate, didn't rule himself out, preferring instead to deflect the question by claiming that this site is his current means of seeing who is likely to be within the frame!

Well, perhaps after today's result, the "dream team" pairing of Martin & Hunter may re-consider their present stance as they got a huge response from the players who quickly and effectively dismissed any concerns over a possible post-Cowboy backlash.

The side was along the usual lines except that, for some strange reason, Messrs Moffat and Agostini had chosen to swap numbers, whilst Allan Dunning failed a late fitness test following his limping off at Firs Park last Saturday with the improving Brendan Crozier taking his berth on the right wing.

Having suffered an emphatic 0-3 defeat up at Peterhead a couple of months ago, this certainly was not going to be an easy fixture and the visitors provided ample warning of their capabilities by dominating the opening few minutes thanks to some crisp excellent one-touch passing play. During that time, Danny Ferry had to make a timely interception to rob Johnston just 12 yards out, before Tindal fired over from long range.

However, gradually, the midfield quartet of Ferry, Canning, Quinn and Whelan began to get to grips with their opposite numbers and Queen's then had a lengthy spell of pressure themselves. It began with a superb goal in their first real attack and it was a stunning solo effort from Jimmy Allan. Accepting a pass with his back to goal some 40 yards out, young James quickly jinked past two defenders before curling a 20 yard drive round a helpless Mathers and into the top left hand corner.

No longer confined to the touchline following his switch slightly infield to great effect last Saturday, Jimmy is certainly seeing a lot more of the ball and he was on hand to accept a pass following a John Gemmell breakaway from the halfway line, but this time Mathers was able to save the subsequent shot low to his right.

As the Queen's No.11 threatened to destroy Peterhead almost single handed, he embarked on another penetrating run, this time down the left wing and having worked his way into the area, and with the visitors defence all backing off him waiting for the cross to Gemmell, the youngster again tried his luck and was unfortunate to see his sweet left foot shot crash off the inside of Mathers' near post before the ball flashed across the face of the goal before eventually spinning out for a goal kick beyond the far post.

At this point though, Queen's began to lose their way again, and Peterhead regained their grip on the game gradually forcing Queen's deeper and deeper leaving John Gemmell too often left as a lone figure at the halfway line.

In the 14th minute a goalbound Iain Stewart effort deflected off Stevie Fallon for a corner and, when that was cleared to the edge of the box, Tindal sliced his first time shot high and wide of the target.

For all that Peterhead would now have by far the lion's share of the possession, they were unable to turn their outfield superiority into scoring opportunities as Fallon, Agostini and Moffat confidently handled everything that was thrown in their direction.

Indeed, the next serious shot at goal didn't come until the 37th minute, and even then it was that man Allan again as his left foot shot on the turn slipped wide of an upright.

Just before half time, Peterhead earned a free kick in dangerous position at the edge of the Queen's penalty area, but Colin Stewart easily saved Roddie's weak effort.

In the home dressing room at half time, Paul Martin and David Hunter (in conjunction with the ever inconspicuous Tommy Wilson) had to solve the puzzle of reducing the amount of Peterhead's possession, but without leaving John Gemmell even more isolated up front. Their solution was a brave one, and in all fairness, one that John McCormack himself would have been unlikely to countenance given his infrequent use of Ross Clarke over the last two years. Brendan Crozier was the player to give way as Queen's completely changed their shape and went from a 3-4-3 to a 3-5-2 formation with Clarke given a foraging role.

Queen's first attack of the second half, in the 48th minute, began in unlikely circumstances as Damiano Agostini charged out of defence and took the ball up the left wing to the halfway line before the ball was slipped through to Jimmy Allan who sped off towards the bye line leaving Raeside in his wake. Having got there, he picked out John Gemmell at the back post, and although the low cross fell slightly behind the big striker, John would have been better to take an extra touch as opposed to his ungainly first time hooking of the ball over the bar from six yards out.

However, there was no time to dwell on the glaring miss because, within a minute, Queen's had extended their lead and in exactly the fashion that the caretaker coaches had been hoping for. John Gemmell challenged well for a deep cross into the heart of the area from Stephen Moffat, and when the ball broke clear at the edge of the area, who was there but Ross Clarke to thrash a first time shot off the underside of the bar and past the bewildered Mathers for his first goal for the Club.

Queen's quickly pressed for a killer third and Stephen Canning and Jimmy Allan produced some magical interplay between them to work the ball down the entire length of the left flank, but ultimately to no avail as Peterhead were then able to mount a quick counter-attack of their own which resulted in Colin Stewart tipping over a volley from Tindal which he can hardly have seen, such was the blistering pace of the netbound strike.

As frustration grew in the visitors ranks, the hitherto unfussy Calum Murray who let a lot of annoying little things go, finally was left with no alternative other than to book Simpson for "doing" (in professional vernacular) Gemmell from behind at the corner flag. Whilst such challenges may have been the type of tackle which earned the likes of Norman Hunter and Dave Mackay their legendary status, there is no place for them in the modern game and at a higher level a red card would have been more likely.

A speculative left touchline cross from McSkimming in the 55th minute cleared Stewart's outstretched hands and came back of the face of his crossbar before being ushered away to safety by Fallon with no visiting player having gambled on the possibility. At this point the action was fairly end to end and seconds later Mathers made an instinctive point blank save from Jimmy Allan who had managed to get on the end of a speculative long ball.

In the 64th minute, Colin Stewart saved well from a Johnston header, but the amount of room given to the Peterhead player was of concern. The lesson went unheeded though as the same player then headed a 70th minute free kick from the right over Stewart's bar without any challenge being made.

Peterhead then took off their other wing back as they threw caution to the winds in the hope of staging a late recovery but, in doing so, laid themselves wide open to the possibility of counter attacks. On one such occasion, Johnny Whelan threatened to burst through the heart of the visitors' defence, but he was tripped by the clearly tiring Raeside who earned himself a booking for the offence. Mathers easily saved Moffat's on target free kick.

At the other end, Stephen Moffat made a fantastic recovery to slide in on Iain Stewart who looked set to burst the nest from five yards out, and no sooner had the ball gone to the other end than Johnston also found himself into Mr. Murray's notebook for scything down Paddy Gallagher from behind.

It wasn't a vintage Queen's performance by any means, but more importantly there were two great goals scored whilst Colin Stewart earned another shut out. Cowboy got his new career off to a winning start at Cappielow against Montrose, but the main significance of that result was that it allowed Queen's to get within touching distance of the Angus side and add even more incentive to produce another victory at Hampden next Saturday against Stirling Albion before the interesting little trip to Greenock the week after that.

Until then, just like Andy McGlennan, keep your eyes peeled on this site's Message Board for news of potential candidates for the vacant Hampden post. Perhaps the successful applicant may even have been watching the game today?

ENTERTAINMENT VALUE : 3/5           STAR SPIDER : Jimmy Allan (showed great dribbling skills)

QUEEN’S PARK : Colin Stewart, Danny Ferry, Stephen Canning, Damiano Agostini, Steven Moffat, Stevie Fallon, Brendan Crozier (Ross Clarke - 46), Johnny Whelan, John Gemmell (Willie Martin - 70), Tony Quinn, Jimmy Allan (Paddy Gallagher - 79)

Subs (not used) : Tony Mitchell (GK), Richard Sinclair

Scorer(s) : Allan (7 mins), Clarke (49 mins)

Booked : none

PETERHEAD  : Paul Mathers, Scott Clark (Craig Cooper - 61), Calum McDonald (Lamile Camara - 71), Robbie Raeside, Mark Simpson, Shaun McSkimming, Stuart MacKay, Iain Stewart, Kevin Tindal (Kevin Bissett - 77), Martin Johnston, Andy Roddie

Subs (not used) : Ross Buchanan (GK), Kevin Bain

Scorer(s) : none

Booked : Simpson (54 - tackle from behind), Raeside (78 - trip), Johnston (86 - tackle from behind)

REFEREE :  Calum Murray *** (* = inept, ** = poor, *** = mediocre, **** = good, ***** = excellent)