By The Spider
March 1 2004

Saturday, 28th February, 2004 Queen's Park 1 Peterhead 0 (Bells Scottish League - Third Division)

For those fans used to seeing Queen’s having a real go at their opponents for the full 90 minutes with plenty of meaty tackles thrown in for good measure, this match must have come as something of a culture shock.

Coach Kenny Brannigan, now minus the services of two of his best players because neither Stephen Moffat nor Stevie Fallon want to play for him anymore, appears to have now realised that results are paramount if he is to win over the remaining doubters amidst his flock, with other senior players also rumoured to be considering their position.

With Allan Dunning at right wing back, Stevie Reilly in central defence and Ross Clark & Stephen Canning restored to their preferred central midfield positions, it was a new look QP side that took the field against Peterhead.

With Derek Carcary in lively form up front, KB’s charges made an early breakthrough when the youngster sped down the right wing in only the 3^rd minute before delivering a dangerous low cross along the six yard box which the unfortunate Daryn Smith only succeeded in diverting into his own net, as he sought to prevent the ball from reaching Ally Graham behind him.

Peterhead showed little interest in attempting to quickly reduce the deficit, and it was the home side that continued to make the running. David McCallum sent an angled drive narrowly over, and then Derek Carcary showed extraordinary close control keepy-up style in the visitors’ penalty area before thrashing the ball into the side netting.

It wasn’t until the 18^th minute that Peterhead posed their first real threat when Martin Bavidge glanced a header narrowly past Derek Scrimgour’s left hand post.

Just before the half hour mark, Iain Good was booked for pulling back Carcary as he burst past the former Spider.

The next scoring opportunity fell to Jonny Whelan in the 33^rd minute when Mathers spilled a corner at the Scouser’s feet, but the ‘keeper then redeemed himself by blocking Jonny’s first shot and then smothering his second.

Three minutes later, Roddie went on a great run down the left wing leaving three defenders trailing in his wake before sending over a dangerous cross which David Stewart volleyed away at full stretch when facing his own goal and with Bavidge waiting to pounce behind him. Immediately afterwards, referee Sproule finally lost patience with the niggling Robertson and showed him a yellow card for tripping Ross Clark who was clearly relishing being back in the thick of the action in midfield.

As halftime approached, Peterhead finally sprang to life and began to play like a side that were still very much in the promotion race. A Johnston diving header from a corner went narrowly past before a Roddie header was cleared off the line, as was the rebound off his back from the attempted clearance.

Whilst it was good for home fans to be able to cheer their favourites in at half time a goal to the good, in truth it had been a poor half with Queen’s mostly content to sit back, and Peterhead lacking the ability to do anything about it.

In the 49^th minute, Ally Graham was booked for a hefty shoulder charge as he chased after the ball, and then Derek Scrimgour comfortably held a powerful drive from Bavidge. The same player then glanced a header narrowly past, but the fact that there was almost 20 minutes between the two events shows how little goalmouth action there was. Indeed, the normally attack-minded Jonny Whelan was playing a very defensive game, seemingly under instruction not to venture too far up the park, although he did send a fantastic cross along the six-yard box in the 71^st minute. Sadly, there were no takers and the chance was wasted.

It was now very clearly a game of cat and mouse. Queen’s were content to leave Graham and Carcary isolated up front, and it was therefore unusual to see attacking players like Canning, Clark and Whelan content to sit back near the half way line as Carcary in particular looked in vain for someone to lay the ball off to. For their part, Peterhead were totally lacking in the ability to get behind the home defence, and so the game had degenerated into a spell where both defences were trading clearances, with Queen’s particularly guilty of booting the ball aimlessly up the park rather than attempt to mount a counter-attack.

Roddie was given an opening in the 73^rd minute, but his header was weak and Scrimgour saved easily. A minute later, the same player was booked for a foul on Allan Dunning.

There were a couple of near things in the last couple of minutes, one at either end. Firstly, Derek Carcary was put through by Ross Clark, but his shot was too weak to beat Mathers. Then, with a minute remaining, a Roddie direct free kick curled inches over the top with Scrimgour struggling to cover it.

So, Queen’s gained their first home win (East Stirlingshire apart) since the emphatic home win over Elgin in August. Surely a cause for celebration then, but the manner of the victory raises old questions about whether a win is more important that an entertaining performance.

On Tuesday evening, The Spiders visit Firs Park for the re-arranged game against East Stirlingshire before it’s Elgin City’s turn to make the long journey south to Hampden on Saturday. Both of these matches are games which Queen’s could reasonably be expected to win, unlike this latest encounter, so it will be interesting to see whether Kenny Brannigan will instruct his midfield to shake off the shackles so evident in this victory, or whether another dour tactical encounter will prevail.

ENTERTAINMENT VALUE : 2/5

STAR SPIDER :  Danny Ferry (as good as Stevie Fallon at his best)

QUEEN’S PARK : Derek Scrimgour, Danny Ferry, David McCallum, Allan Dunning, David Stewart (Damiano Agostini – 75), Ross Clark, Stephen Canning (Stuart Kettlewell – 75), Stevie Reilly, Ally Graham (Martin Bonnar – 87), Jonny Whelan, Derek Carcary

Subs (not used) : Brian McCue (G/K), Paul Harvey

Scorer(s) : o.g. (65)

Booked : Graham (49 – over-vigorous shoulder charge)

PETERHEAD : Paul Mathers, Jamie Buchan, Iain Good, Robbie Raeside, Mark Perry, Rob Duncan, Scott Robertson, Daryn Smith (Stuart Mackay – 84), Martin Bavidge, Martin Johnston, Andy Roddie

Subs (not used) Ross Buchanan (G/K), Kris Brash, Kevin Tindal, Richard Shand

Scorer(s) : none

Booked : Good (29 – deliberate foul), Robertson (37 – persistent fouling), Roddie (74 – late tackle)

REFEREE :  Martin Sproule ****   (* = inept, ** = poor, *** = mediocre, **** = good, ***** = excellent)