"Astonishingly Brilliant" Spiders Draw With Morton

no more Mr. Nice Guy
By The Spider
December 7 2002

Saturday, 7th December, 2002 Greenock Morton 1 Queen's Park 1 (Scottish League - Third Division)

"More of the same please" is what Queen's fans would have been asking their players to provide for this game after a superb display in the last encounter between the sides at Hampden a month ago, but this time with some better finishing. Well, indeed in many respects, it was more of the same. A 1-1 draw and six Morton players booked as Queen's again dominated for much of the game.

Of course, there were significant differences too, not the least of which was seeing John McCormack entering the Morton dug-out rather than the Queen's one. At the time of Cowboy's departure, most Queen's fans would gladly have had the opportunity to shake him warmly by the hand and wish him all the best in his new role. However, some disparaging remarks that have been attributed to him have not gone down well at Hampden, and an incident in injury time of this game would have resulted in Cowboy's throat, and not his hand, being warmly shaken had several incensed Queen's fans been able to get near him.

It was all pleasant enough at kick-off time with Queen's supporters able to forget the off-field incompetence of the last few days, instead being boosted by the news that John Gemmell and Stephen Moffat had been passed fit to play despite speculation in the morning press that both were extremely doubtful. The last encounter had started quietly but this time Queen's couldn't wait to get at their full time opponents as they knew that they were more than capable of outplaying them. And so it proved.

A corner was immediately forced and Tony Quinn's header back-in created an overhead kick opportunity for Johnny Whelan, but he miscued and it slipped harmlessly past. Then John Gemmell flicked on a long Colin Stewart kick-out and Tony Quinn's shot on the turn was deflected for another corner. Again Jimmy Allan's delivery was to the back post and this time Richard Sinclair knocked it back but somehow Willie Martin prodded the ball past a post from just three yards out.

Willie did a lot better in the 8th minute though when he ran through the middle to fire in a powerful shot which rebounded off Coyle's legs and away to safety. Willie was again on target in the 17th minute when Jimmy Allan sped away from the halfway line at great pace to leave Queen's with a three on two advantage. A pass to the right to John Gemmell was the better but harder option, and he elected to make the easy pass to Willie Martin on his left, but the angle was wider and Coyle was well positioned to save Willie's powerful first time shot.

Stephen Moffat then saw his back-header from a Stephen Canning cross saved before Jimmy Allan found Johnny Whelan on the left wing in the 29th minute. The midfielder burst between two defenders and, although he looked to have fouled one of them in the process, he was allowed to continue but he snatched his shot wide of the near post from just 10 yards out.

Right on the half hour mark Jimmy Allan somehow missed the best chance of the game when a John Gemmell header left him with the ball sitting perfectly for him right in front of goal. Perhaps he was caught in two minds as whether to place it or blast it, but in any event he did neither and merely scuffed it wide of the target.

Incredibly, virtually all the play up to this point had been played in the Morton half, and there was this nagging doubt in the back of Queen's fans' minds that instead of being three up the players might again find themselves caught by a sucker punch. Morton's first effort came courtesy of a shot from Marco Maisano, but it was easily saved by Stewart.

Jimmy Allan was then deservedly booked for a trip on Collins out on the left touchline, but how the Morton right wing back escaped without censure for his subsequent verbal assault and threatening attitude towards Allan was merely one example of some mystifying refereeing decisions which affected both teams throughout the game.

One that he did get right though was the booking of John Maisano for a late tackle on Stephen Canning in the 33rd minute. A minute later Canning miss-hit a shot from the edge of the area right into the pass of Tony Quinn, but the midfielder's attempt at a measured sidefoot shot again slid harmlessly off target. John Gemmell then tried to repeat his Hampden demonstration of powerful shooting from direct free kicks, but his latest effort was a wild sclaff which soared as high as it was wide.

At the other end McGregor got in a free header from a corner but it was straight at Colin Stewart. As Queen's began to tire late in the half, Morton stepped up a gear and Stewart did well to save from a Williams shot before McDonald blasted over from a good position. As Tony Quinn attempted to stem the growing tide, he was booked for one foul too many for Iain Frickleton's liking.

With the last few seconds of the half ticking away, John Maisano shot wildly over the Queen's bar whilst Johnny Whelan did likewise at the other end as he latched onto a blocked Willie Martin shot following a Richard Sinclair cut-back.

The start of the second half saw both teams struggle to gain any kind of superiority, but there was a good shout for Bottiglieri to be sent off for pulling back John Gemmell as the big striker threatened to force his way into the Morton area. A lenient Frickleton only saw fit to wave a yellow card in the left wing back's direction.

Strangely enough, the free kick on the edge of the Morton area was to ultimately provide the home side with the lead. Gemmell's shot rebounded off the wall and Stephen Moffat gathered it with his back to goal some 40 yards out. On this occasion, Moffat's attempt at clever play got him into trouble as he was quickly surrounded by Morton midfielders who easily robbed him before speeding over the halfway line in a classic counter-attack. Some superb one-touch passing that Queen's strikers could only envy ripped asunder the outnumbered defenders to leave predator supreme Alex Williams right in front of goal to side-foot the ball past the completely exposed Colin Stewart.

Could Queen's respond in the same manner as they had done at Hampden? Willie Martin evidently thought so and his low 61st minute shot produced a good diving save from Coyle. However, this time Morton were better prepared for any onslaught and they swamped the midfield to deny Whelan and Quinn any space to support their forwards. Indeed, the next opportunity fell to John Maisano whose dipping shot only just cleared Colin Stewart's bar.

Then in the 79th minute, a superb 40 yard shot came out of nowhere from Stephen Canning and although it beat Coyle all ends up, the ball crashed back off the Morton 'keeper's crossbar. Although it came back to Canning who had followed his own effort up, the youngster's attempt at the rebound was snatched and flew over the bar. After that piece of misfortune, it was hard to see where a Queen's equaliser might emanate from but, in strange twist of fate, the normally reliable Coyle was a saint turned sinner.

There seemed little danger when Johnny Whelan chased a hopeful long ball into the area, but Coyle dashed like a madman from his line thereby allowing Whelan the opportunity to gently prod the ball towards the bye-line secure in the knowledge that the inevitable challenge would follow with Coyle unable to stop his momentum. Morton supporters can be as angry as they want about the fact that Whelan most definitely played for the penalty, but the truth is that Johnny merely took advantage of Coyle's stupidity and, had the keeper remained on his line, it is unlikely that Whelan could have done much with defenders closing him down and there was little by way of support from Queen's players.

Although it was hard to spot a yellow card being waved at Coyle, it did seem as if his name had been entered into Frickleton's notebook, and it was quickly joined there by that of Collins for over-protesting about the award. When all the fuss had died down, Stephen Moffat calmly stepped up to send Coyle the wrong way by slipping the ball neatly to the 'keeper's right hand side.

As had also happened following Queen's equaliser at Hampden, Morton again lost the plot and a repeat of four bookings in the last ten minutes of a game must be a worrying statistic for their fans who once more saw their team's frailties exposed. McGregor could have received a straight red for his disgraceful challenge on Allan Dunning which sent the Queen's sub flying through the air in some pain.

Then substitute Bannerman was booked for diving and, with the game entering injury time, the same player decided to seek retribution for what he obviously perceived to be an injustice in the receipt of his yellow card. As he chased down a long ball that was being safely shepherded back to Colin Stewart by Stevie Fallon, Bannerman had a sly dig at Fallon's left cheek with his elbow causing the Queen's sweeper some pain as he went to ground. With Frickleton having missed the incident, and it being on the blind side of the far side assistant, Colin Stewart quickly threw the ball out for a throw in so that Fallon could quickly receive treatment. No doubt there were thoughts from those viewing the game through blue and white spectacles that Fallon was play-acting to waste time, but why should he? Morton had not been in the least bit threatening and the delay would merely be taken account of anyway.

What then followed was nothing short of disgraceful, and it was even more disappointing that the villain in chief was none other than John McCormack. He has shouted long and loud about how Queen's have provided him with his best moment in the game, but all that seems too quickly forgotten now, and those same Queen's fans who wished him another championship success with Morton this season will now be praying that it doesn't come to pass. As Fallon was led to the side of the field, Cowboy instructed his players not to return the ball to Colin Stewart, instead preferring to swap integrity and any sense of fair play in the hope that his new charges could snatch an undeserved late winner.

Fortunately, referee Frickleton chose not to allow Morton that opportunity and the final whistle quickly followed before the crescendo of boos from Queen's fans had even had the chance to die down. Following Cowboy's departure from Queen's, who by the way did nothing to hold him to his contract when they could have done, the Club President remarked that "John McCormack will always be a welcome visitor here at Hampden". Noting this unsavoury incident, hopefully the red carpet will remain locked away when Morton return there in March.

Anyway, next Saturday Queen's travel to Coatbridge to face new League leaders Albion Rovers (doesn't sound right, does it?) and, following this excellent display, they should do so in confidence. Paul Martin is doing an excellent job of getting each member of the team to give their all for the Club. What a shame that he is unable to exert his influence off the field too!

 

ENTERTAINMENT VALUE : 4/5           STAR SPIDER : Damiano Agostini (astonishly brilliant!)

QUEEN’S PARK : Colin Stewart, Richard Sinclair, Stephen Canning, Damiano Agostini, Steven Moffat, Stevie Fallon, Willie Martin, Johnny Whelan, John Gemmell (Allan Dunning - 63), Tony Quinn, Jimmy Allan

Subs (not used) : Tony Mitchell (GK), Ross Clarke, Brendan Crozier, John Gallagher

Scorer(s) : Moffat (pen - 81)

Booked : Allan (31 - trip), Quinn (42 - persistent fouling)

GREENOCK MORTON  : Craig Coyle, Derek Collins, Emilio Bottiglieri, David McGregor, Paul Gaughan, Marco Maisano, Stuart McDonald (Scott Bannerman - 59), John Maisano, Alex Williams, Warren Hawke, Jani Uotinen

Subs (not used) : David McGurn (GK), Colin Reilly, Anton Smith, Kevin Struthers

Scorer(s) : Williams (57 mins)

Booked : J. Maisano (33 - trip), Bottliglieri (56 - pulling jersey), Coyle (81 - trip), Collins (81 - dissent), McGregor (86 - dangerous tackle), Bannerman (90 - unsporting behaviour)

REFEREE :  Iain Frickleton ** (* = inept, ** = poor, *** = mediocre, **** = good, ***** = excellent)