By The Spider
November 1 2004

Saturday, 30th October, 2004 Gretna 4 Queen's Park 1 (Bells Scottish League – Third Division) (picture from qpfc.com) Gretna's direct approach paid off for the home team, but Queen's again won many admirers for their attractive passing game.

Faced with the absence of three key players, David McCallum through injury and Damiano Agostini and Stuart Kettlewell through suspension, coach Billy Stark responded as many predicted by promoting his three unused outfield subs from the previous week, Shaun Molloy, Richard Sinclair and Brian Blair for the away clash with Gretna. Stevie Reilly, Martin Bonnar and Tony Quinn filled their places on the bench.

Since Gretna’s only League defeat of the season at the hands of the Spiders at Hampden back in August, the big spending Borders side have changed their way of playing to a far more direct style with the towering Deuchar out-muscling opposing defences in much the same manner as he did with East Fife. Queen’s are rated by many, including Gretna’s manager Rowan Alexander, to be the best footballing side in the division, so an interesting contrast in styles lay ahead for those who basked in the unseasonably warm late autumn sunshine prior to kick-off.

Deuchar’s brawn nearly caused a problem in the 3^rd minute when a clearance from Richard Sinclair rebounded off the towering striker some 30 yards out, and David Crawford had to back-pedal furiously to grab the ball under his crossbar.

Frankie Carroll set up Brian Blair at the edge of the Gretna area a minute later, but his low shot lacked sufficient power to beat Mathieson. Gilfillan then shot well over from 30 yards before Mark Ferry tested Mathieson with a volley after his initial shot had been blocked.

Deuchar swept aside a challenge from Richard Sinclair to latch onto a long clearance in the 13th minute, but his powerful drive flashed into the side netting. Containing Deuchar was clearly going to be a difficult task, but a nigh impossible one if he was going to cheat into the bargain. Just as Scott Patterson had done earlier in the season in the match at Stirling, Deuchar clearly shoved his marker in the back before nodding the ball into the path of former Spider Ryan McGuffie who shot home from close range. Quite how referee Downie failed to spot such an obvious infringement defied belief, as was the case with the official at Forthbank,  but this was only the first of several poor decisions during a dismal performance from this incompetent whistler.

McGuffie then sent a snapshot narrowly wide before Mark Ferry shot narrowly over from 25 yards.

Gretna were not looking like a side that were capable of outplaying Queens, and yet they extended their lead in the 28^th minute. David Crawford went for a 50/50 low through ball with Kenny Deuchar who looked the more committed to winning it, and duly did so before sliding the ball into the empty net.

Queen’s should have pulled a goal back just after half an hour’s play when a deep cross from Shaun Molloy was knocked back across the six yard box by Ross Clark but Brian Blair failed to connect properly with the ball. If Queen’s looked shell-shocked at being two goals down out of nothing, things got decidedly worse a minute later when Gavin Skelton fired low past David Crawford from a cut back from the bye line.

Considering how even the outfield play had been, for Queen’s to be three goals behind at such an early stage was quite remarkable. As half time approached, Birch sent a first time shot over from the edge of the area, and then Skelton embarked on a solo run which ended with David Crawford saving his high shot.

Queen’s emerged after the break looking determined to take the game to Gretna, and right from kick-off they took control of the game playing some excellent passing football. Unfortunately, there was no end product and one had to feel sorry for Frankie Carroll who was working his socks off, often emerging with the ball despite the challenges of two defenders.

Throughout the first half, referee Downie had taken an extremely lenient attitude towards several dangerous challenges on Queen’s players, so it was somewhat ironic when Shaun Molloy became the first player to be shown a yellow card following a tackle from behind.

Queen’s finally made a breakthrough just after the hour mark, thanks to the endeavours of Frankie Carroll who won a penalty when he was pushed well inside the area when shielding the ball. Ross Clark stepped up to slot the ball home low to Mathieson’s left.

David Crawford made his first save of the second half in the 67^th minute when he saved a long range low shot from Gilfillan who was finally booked two minutes later for persistent fouling.

Mark Ferry also received a yellow card a minute later, in his case for being late with a sliding tackle, before Queen’s should have got themselves back into the game with just over quarter of an hour remaining. Paul Harvey sent in a delightful chip over the defence to Ally Graham who chested the ball down for himself only to blaze the ball over the bar from 10 yards out. By any standards it was a bad miss, and had Queen’s scored at that point, there would have been few Gretna followers willing to put money on their favourites holding out, such was the extent of Queen’s outfield superiority.

Gavin Rushford was booked for a trip on Baldacchino, and then Ally Graham headed wide of the near post from a left wing cross.

Queen’s were starting to lose faith following these two missed chances, which were the last they were to create in this game. Birch was booked for dissent, and then David Crawford retreated well to clutch a deft chip from Gilfillan.

The scoreline definitely flattered Gretna, but it became embarrassing two minutes from the end when substitute Brian Wake broke away with Queen’s encamped in Gretna’s half to latch onto a long clearance and clip the ball over the exposed David Crawford.

Whilst Queen’s are playing some stylish and attractive football, the bottom line is that Ally Graham and Frankie Carroll are too often isolated against four or more defenders. The dilemma for coach Billy Stark is whether to persevere with just two forwards, or to adopt a more adventurous formation and play another striker like Bryan Felvus to increase his side’s options up front.

Three defeats in a row have now seen the Spiders plummet to 7^th in the League table, and next Saturday’s home game against Stenhousemuir must produce three points to put Queen’s back into the top half of the table.

ENTERTAINMENT VALUE :  3/5

STAR SPIDER(S) :  Gavin Rushford (developing into a fine sweeper)

QUEEN’S PARK : David Crawford, Alan Trouten, Shaun Molloy, Gavin Rushford, Richard Sinclair, Paul Harvey, Brian Blair (Martin Bonnar – 59), Ross Clark, Ally Graham, Frankie Carroll, Mark Ferry

Subs (not used) :  Stevie McGovern (G/K), Stevie Reilly, Bryan Felvus, Martin Bonnar, Tony Quinn

Scorer(s) : Clark (pen – 62)

Booked : Molloy (58 – tackle from behind), Ferry (70 – late tackle), Rushford (74 - trip)

GRETNA : David Mathieson, Mark Birch, Jamie McQuilken, Bryan Gilfillan, Andrew Aitken, David Irons, Ryan Baldacchino (Derek Townsley – 84), Ryan McGuffie, Kenny Deuchar, David Bingham (Brian Wake – 79), Gavin Skelton

Subs (not used) : Alan Main (G/K), Stephen Cosgrove, David Holdsworth

Scorer(s) :   McGuffie (22), Deuchar (28), Skelton (32), Wake (88)

Booked : Gilfillan (69 – persistent fouling), Birch (79 – dissent)

REFEREE : Jamie Downie *  (* = inept, ** = poor, *** = mediocre, **** = good, ***** = excellent)