By The Spider
December 2 2002

Saturday, 30th November, 2002 Queen's Park 0 Stirling Albion 1 (Bells Scottish League - Division Three)

Compared to some of the exciting play witnessed in recent weeks, this was a pretty tame affair, but it is hard to criticise Queen's for their part in the mediocre display given that several of them may have been under par due to the flu virus currently doing the rounds at Hampden. Although skipper Danny Ferry was the only player to declare himself unavailable, Allan Dunning probably did himself no favours by being prepared to give it a go, whilst stand-in skipper Johnny Whelan also looked far from his best.

Stirling were a poor side when Queen's met them at Forthbank at the beginning of October, and The Binos were fortunate to gain their single goal victory that day. However, on this occasion, they fully deserved to repeat the scoreline and they must now consider themselves as genuine promotion contenders if they can maintain this sort of form.

Genuine scoring opportunities were few and far between as Stirling seemed prepared to be patient and simply wear Queen's down rather than attempt to go straight for the jugular. As such, much of the play was confined to areas outside the penalty boxes and the lack of atmosphere on the park was mirrored off it.

McKinnon for the visitors had the first chance in the 11th minute, but he set the scene for what was to follow by heading wide when presented with a free header in front of goal.

Indeed, another 11 minutes passed before Queen's had an opportunity of their own; John Gemmell producing a good shot on the turn from a Stevie Fallon pass before Jimmy Allan swung a wild left foot effort over the bar a few seconds later.

McKinnon brought out a good save from Colin Stewart in the 25th minute, although the big 'keeper looked to have spilled the powerful shot over the bar as opposed to tipping it over. As the game briefly picked up for a short spell, Jimmy Allan forced Turner into making a good low save, and then Colin Stewart did likewise at the other end from O'Brien.

Allan Dunning made his only real contribution to the game in the 35th minute when he made his way down the left wing to the bye-line before cutting the ball back to John Gemmell. Unfortunately, the ball fell slightly behind the Queen's centre forward and he could only scoop it onto the top of the bar as he swung his right leg in a wide arc in an effort to get his shot on target.

Substitute Wilson sent a free header over the bar in the 38th minute, and then Stewart saved a lower headed effort from Rowe three minutes later. It looked as if half time would come without a goal being scored but Stirling nicked one seconds before the interval when McKinnon sent a low left foot volley past an unsighted Colin Stewart from ten yards out.

As he proved last week, Paul Martin isn't one for leaving his options open until it's too late and he made two changes at half time in an attempt to spark some much needed life into Queen's play.

There was an encouraging sign in the 52nd minute when Gemmell, Clarke and Martin all interchanged passes with the latter putting the former through with just Turner to beat. Although big John was able to reach the ball before Turner as it skidded away from him on the greasy surface, the big Stirling 'keeper was able to get down to save the toe-poked effort which initially looked to be slipping under him.

McKinnon picked up the only yellow card of the day on the hour mark for stupidly disputing a decision, although ironically it was actually one of the few 50/50 ones that referee Cassidy had got right all game!

Shortly afterwards, Mallan glanced a header from an O'Brien cross wide of the target before Jimmy Allan suddenly sprang to life and, after a trademark dribble up the right touchline, his shot deflected off the nearest defender onto the outside of the near post for a corner. Although the resulting dead ball cross proved fruitless, another one from the same position a couple of minutes later presented Stephen Canning with a great opportunity just six yards out, but he headed over the bar having perhaps been distracted by John Gemmell's jump just in front of him.

In the 72nd minute, right winger Wilson ran completely unchallenged into the Queen's area as all the defenders backed off him with no-one prepared to close him down. Then, like one, no less than three of them simultaneously converged on Wilson who naturally simply cut the ball back to Beverage who was now completely unmarked in front of goal. Incredibly, the chance was squandered as somehow the other substitute managed to scoop the ball over the bar.

As Stirling sought to finish Queen's off, a low first time drive from Hay skidded by Colin Stewart's left hand post with the big on-loan 'keeper rooted to the centre of his goal.

Only the one goal down with quarter of an hour still to play, most people in the stadium would have expected a late onslaught from The Spiders in an attempt to salvage something from the game. Sadly, apart from a 79th minute shot which Jimmy Allan sliced well wide, there was never any danger that Stirling would be pegged back and it was a rather sorry way to see Queen's surrender the five match unbeaten run that they had worked so hard to build.

Hopefully the flu symptoms will all have disappeared by this Saturday so that Queen's can better show just what they are capable of. The players will certainly need no motivating for this one as they would love nothing better than to beat their old gaffer's well-paid full-timers in their own back yard. They will not be short of vocal encouragement from travelling supporters as they attempt to do so, and hopefully this time they will get the slice of luck that so cruelly deserted them in that amazing match at Hampden just a few weeks ago.

ENTERTAINMENT VALUE : 2/5           STAR SPIDER : Stevie Fallon (another sound performance)

QUEEN’S PARK : Colin Stewart, Ross Clarke, Stephen Canning, Steven Moffat, Damiano Agostini, Stevie Fallon, Allan Dunning (Willie Martin - 46), Johnny Whelan (Richard Sinclair - 46), John Gemmell, Tony Quinn (Paddy Gallagher - 83), Jimmy Allan

Subs (not used) : Scott Thomson (GK), Brendan Crozier

Scorer(s) : none

Booked : none

STIRLING ALBION  : Iain Turner, Paul Nugent, Paul Hay, Mark McNally, George Rowe, Hugh Davidson, Robert Dunn (Dougie Wilson - 24), Colin McKinnon, Stevie Mallan, Gary Munro (Ross Beverage - 67), David O'Brien

Subs (not used) : Chris Reid (GK), Steven Reilly, Fraser Duncan

Scorer(s) : McKinnon (44 mins)

Booked : McKinnon (60 - dissent)

REFEREE :  Brian Cassidy ** (* = inept, ** = poor, *** = mediocre, **** = good, ***** = excellent)