By The Spider
September 19 2004

Saturday, 18th September, 2004 East Stirlingshire 0 Queen's Park 5 (Bells Scottish League – Third Division) (picture from qpfc.com) QP's record league win against 'Shire will do the players' confidence no harm at all, and will hopefully lead to good things.

Following the disappointment of last week's late, late defeat at home to Montrose, nothing less than three points were demanded by Queen's fans to put the Spiders back on course for good season with hopefully most of it being spent in the top half of the table.

Queen's took the field with the same line up as had started the previous Saturday and, again, they began the game slowly. Indeed, it was 'Shire who looked determined to lose their "joke-figures" status when they created the first opening in the 5th minute with Thywissen heading straight at David Crawford from a good position.

Frankie Carroll sent a speculative quick low shot on the turn across the face of the goal two minutes later but, that apart, Queen's were finding it hard to make any headway against opponents who were closing them down very quickly and intercepting a lot of well-intentioned passes. It was therefore something of a surprise, and indeed relief, when Queen's took the lead completely out of the blue (and orange!) in the 15th minute. Stuart Kettlewell began the move in a right midfield position by slipping the ball between two opponents to Ally Graham who laid the ball off to Alan Trouten on the right touchline. The youngster then fired in a low cross towards the near post where it was met first time by Frankie Carroll who deftly slipped it past a static Gilpin.

Any thoughts that 'Shire might let their heads go down following this setback proved wide of the mark, as indeed almost immediately from the restart did a shot from the impressive figure of Thywissen after Donaldson had laid the ball sideways into his path.

The tall Norwegian could have equalised in the 25th minute when he rose to meet a free kick from the left touchline, but his header slipped wide of the David Crawford's left hand post.

Queen's were hardly worthy of their win at this point, so to go two up a minute later was definitely a bonus. There seemed no danger whatsoever when Ally Graham flicked a header on to Frankie Carroll whose first touch was overhit, but 'Shire right wingback David Harvey could only look on in horror as his attempted sliced clearance was carried by the wind over Gilpin and sailed into the empty net just under the crossbar. Surely now the home side would capitulate?

Instead, they simply rolled up their sleeves and got stuck in even more than they had already done. Shaun Molloy cleared a Donaldson shot on the turn off the line just two minutes later, David Crawford saved well from a low shot by Robertson before making a great stop from a Dunbar direct free kick, and then a Mackay header was cleared off the line.

Quite how Queen's were two up at this stage was hard to fathom, but right on the stroke of half time they nearly made it three when Frankie Carroll burst through the heart of the home defence only to slip his effort past the advancing Gilpin but also wide of the 'keeper's right hand post.

Queen's have been in this position before at Firs Park, only to throw their lead away, so nothing could be taken for granted at this stage yet.

However, any lingering doubt that Queen's would take all three points was removed within minutes of the restart. With their very first attack of the half, Ross Clark slipped the ball out to Ally Graham on just inside the left side of the Shire penalty box, and the big striker looked up before sending a measured chipped shot beyond the outstretched arm of Gilpin who, despite getting a hand to it, was unable to keep the ball out.

Frankie Carroll could have added another two minutes later, but he somehow completely missed a Molloy cross when right in front of goal, but he made up for it a minute later when he dived to head a cross from the left back across Gilpin and into the top corner of the net.

All resistance now indeed looked futile for the home side, and at this point they could have been forgiven for throwing the towel in. Indeed, they did exactly that, but their small band of supporters in the enclosure were not in a particularly forgiving mood with 'Shire chairman, the former Spider Alan Mackin, being on the receiving end of some choice comments for the remainder of the game.

Queen's now took total command of the game, so much so that David Crawford didn't have another save to make during the remaining 41 minutes.

Stuart Kettlewell now began to run the midfield, but his shooting skills still need some honing as demonstrated by his poor effort from an Alan Trouten pass which was as high as it was well wide. A minute later Frankie Carroll sent a first time shot from an Ally Graham headflick inches beyond the far post, and immediately afterwards Stuart Kettlewell made a solo burst down the inside right channel only to see his low shot deflect inches wide off Gilpin's heel after the ball had passed between the 'keeper's legs. From the resultant corner, Damiano Agostini again passed up another reasonable chance to break his duck for the club when he pulled a volley wide from the edge of the area.

On the hour mark Ross Clark shot well wide from 30 yards, and then Ally Graham headed over from a Shaun Molloy left wing free kick..

Still, if Queen's were unable to convert any of these multitude of chances, they could always rely on good old (well, very young actually) David Harvey who scored his second own goal of the afternoon in the 72nd minute when he sliced a right wing cross from Alan Trouten into the postage stamp corner to put Queen's five ahead.

Ally Graham then saw Gilpin save his header from a Ross Clark right wing corner, before the big man headed a cross from the other wing over.

Thywissen should have grabbed a consolation goal for a desolate 'Shire side with four minutes remaining when the ball broke to him 25 yards from goal on the right hand side, but with David Crawford some 15 yards off his line the tall midfielder shot wide of the far post.

Ross Clark had the last goal attempt of the game with two minutes remaining, but he sliced his free kick both high and wide of Gilpin's left hand post.

This was the first time since season 1985-86 that The Spiders have put five past a side without reply (Berwick Rangers were put to the sword by that margin twice that season), so the achievement should not be overlooked. Neither does it make Queen's world-beaters just yet, as there was a considerable amount of good fortune in the manner of the victory.

Next week the revival roadshow visits New Bayview to take on East Fife, and only if another three points can be gleamed there can Queen's fans truly raise their sights to begin believing that a top three finish is not beyond this side's capabilities. New acquisition Mark Ferry, a midfield player from St. Johnstone, looked an accomplished player during his twenty minute run-out, and if Billy Stark can add a good striker to his inherited squad to provide further options up front, then perhaps even Gretna and Peterhead might need to start looking over their shoulders.

ENTERTAINMENT VALUE :  4/5

STAR SPIDER(S) :  Stuart Kettlewell (now starting to show why Dundee Utd. are monitoring his progress)

QUEEN’S PARK :  David Crawford, Alan Trouten, Damiano Agostini, Gavin Rushford Richard Sinclair, Shaun Molloy (Mark Ferry - 70), Stuart Kettlewell, Ross Clark, Ally Graham (Bryan Felvus – 85), Frankie Carroll (Bryan Felvus – 69), Brian Blair (Paul Harvey – 78)

Subs (not used) :  Stevie McGovern (G/K), David Weatherston

Scorer(s) : Carroll (15, 49), O.G.(26, 72), Graham (46)

Booked : none

EAST STIRLINGSHIRE : Ross Gilpin, David Harvey, Graham McGhee, Jamie Mackay, Chris Newall, Scott Livingstone, Paul Ross (Derek Ure - 50), Carl Thywissen, Ross Donaldson (Grant Findlay - 50), Jamie Dunbar, Joe Robertson (Alan Moffat - 50)

Subs (not used) :  Tony Mitchell (G/K), Steven Oates

Scorer(s) :   none

Booked : none

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