Spiders Prove Themselves To Be Camera-Shy Again

great determination
By The Spider
January 13 2003

Saturday, 11th January, 2003 Queen's Park 1 Gretna 2 (Bells Scottish League - Third Division)

In the build up to this game, it had not gone unnoticed that Gretna were on something of a good run themselves having won their two previous away games without conceding a goal. Sadly Queen's failed to heed those warnings and paid for their complacency by going two goals behind before shaking off their lethargy.

Once again there was little by way of action to report on, the first noteworthy incident occurring as late as the 16th minute when Hore's cross from the right was deflected just out of Skinner's reach at the back post. Hore moved across to the left touchline to take the resulting corner which he swung right in on top of Tony Mitchell who was standing right on the line in the middle of his goal. It should have been a straightforward clutch or punch, but sadly Tony allowed the ball to squirm from his grasp where predator eternal Mark Dobie was on hand to fire the ball into the roof of the net from barely a yard out.

Mitchell was given an opportunity to regain his confidence a minute later when Skinner's header provided him with an easy save.

Queen's continued to look very suspect from crosses, and Dobie rose above Damiano Agostini in the 22nd minute but his header lacked direction and flew well wide. A couple of minutes later, Hore swung in another dangerous corner from the left and again Tony Mitchell was found wanting as he flapped at the ball as it just missed everyone at the far post.

Queen's were completely out of the game at this point and went further behind in the 26th minute. As Hore sped into the box, he overran the ball straight to Damiano Agostini but then took advantage of an ill judged motion of his left foot by Richard Sinclair to fall theatrically in the box. It was one of those incidents where the referee could genuinely have called it either way (an attempted little trip by Sinclair or a blatant dive after losing control of the ball) and, without the benefit of Sunday afternoon TV replay's, Kevin Toner called it as he saw it leaving Mark Dobie to step up to score his second. He nearly missed it though as Tony Mitchell correctly guessed to go to his left, and the Queen's 'keeper was very unlucky to see the ball ricochet off his left elbow and into the other side of the net.

Tony Mitchell was quickly called into action again in the 28th minute when he saved low to his left from Cleeland's drive. The game now went into snooze mode and the only thing that woke people up in time for the half time break was the sight of Tony Mitchell again grasping air as a 44th minute left wing corner from Hore once again caused havoc in the Queen's six yard box.

They say that lightning doesn't strike twice, but that theory was disproved during the interval when for the second week in a row the referee was replaced by his far side assistant. This time it was Thomas Robertson who took over from Kevin Toner whilst Alan Cunningham was dragged by Willie Neil from the comfort of his seat in the stand. You would get long odds on it happening once but for it to happen in consecutive games is almost equivalent to the odds of being an outright winner in the national lottery.

When Queen's lined up for the second half the supporters were boosted by the news that Paul Martin had once again not been slow to react to the obvious and the substitutions of Dunning for Gemmell and Fisher for Gallagher was probably what most of them would have chosen to do themselves. How refreshing to have a (temporary) coach who simply takes off those players who are having bad games without over-concerning himself with any positional changes which may have to ensue.

There certainly was a noticeable improvement and Gretna began to be forced deeper and deeper into their own half. Ross Clarke curled a direct free kick narrowly wide in the 50th minute before, five minutes later, the side produced some neat passing play for the first time. Willie Martin played the ball out to Chris Fisher wide on the left, a quick shimmy took Chris to the bye-line but once again no-one was on hand to tuck the ball away. However, it did find it's way through to Allan Dunning who set up a chance for Richard Sinclair after tying poor Skelton in knots with four exquisite turns. Sadly Sinclair's left foot shot missed the target. Still, this was much more encouraging stuff.

Thanks to the eagle eye of new far side assistant Cunningham, replacement referee Robertson was able to book Willie Martin and Tommy Turner for their part in some off the ball shenanigans in the 66th minute as the pair jostled for position whilst waiting for a Queen's free kick to be taken. They were joined by Ross Clarke a couple of minutes later who blotted his copybook by stupidly kicking the ball at an opponent well after a free kick had been awarded against Queen's.

Dobie could, and should, have had his hat trick in the 69th minute when he almost completely missed the ball on the left side of the area to send the ball barely trickling over the byeline several yards wide of goal.

Queen's took heart from this let-off and deservedly pulled one back in the 79th minute. Chris Fisher pulled opponents towards him before releasing a pass to the supporting Stephen Moffat (could solve the left wingback problem but unfortunately that would create another in central defence) who looked up before flighting a great outswinging cross to the back post where Johnny Whelan charged in to repeat his feat of the previous Saturday and net with a close range header.

Having been so much out of the game up till that point, amazingly Queen's could have found themselves level just a couple of minutes later. Hopefully David Menelaws has not caught the malady which seems to afflict most of our strikers when presented with clear cut chances, and it is far too early to tell, but his miss from close range (a weak shot which allowed Mathieson to save relatively easily) after Allan Dunning's persistence in hounding Skelton had created the chance is not encouraging.

Queen's had a final chance in the last minute when Danny Ferry elected to chip a ball from the edge of the box (it went over the bar) when many in the same position would have played the percentage shot and smacked it hard and low into the crowded six yard box in the hope of a favourable ricochet.

What made this particular defeat all the more galling, apart from the loss of the undefeated record against Gretna, was replacement referee Robertson's inability to add on sufficient time (only 52 seconds!) for the various injuries and Gretna's blatant time-wasting. No excuses, Gretna were well worthy of their win, but how disappointing to see their unsporting tactics pay-off without Queen's being afforded the opportunity that an extra couple of minutes may have brought them. Whatever team is guilty of time-wasting, whether it be Queen's or otherwise, it would soon stop it if referees were instructed (and teams told about it in advance) to add on an extra two minutes for each minute of time wasted in normal time.

A number of players need to have a good look at themselves before the 'Rovers cup tie on Tuesday night or a quick exit from the competition will surely follow. Tony Mitchell badly needs to come to terms with the fact that he is our no.1 'keeper and has to act with the authority that his position demands. John Gemmell should declare himself unfit if he's not yet ready to give his all whilst John Gallagher, well let's be kind and say that his best days appear to be behind him if his last few appearances are an indication of what's to come.

Queen's are not a good enough side to win games with so many players putting in under-par performances and you really have to feel sorry for those few players like Ross Clarke who worked hard throughout the 90 minutes for no reward. Johnny Whelan certainly came to the fore during the second half, but he gave Clarke little assistance during the first forty five minutes during which time the game was lost. At a home game to only have two shots on target throughout is really not acceptable.

Whether with or without a new man in charge at Coatbridge, a big improvement will be demanded by those supporters who could rightly have expected more of their favourites during this game when, again, the big turnout and those who watched the TV highlights must wonder whether the last two games are indicative of our true standards. In truth they are not, and Tuesday would be a good time to remind all and sundry that we are capable of much better.

ENTERTAINMENT VALUE : 2/5           STAR SPIDER : Ross Clarke (played well in both halves)

QUEEN’S PARK : Tony Mitchell, Richard Sinclair, Danny Ferry, Stephen Moffat, Damiano Agostini, Stevie Fallon, Willie Martin (David Menelaws - 74), Johnny Whelan, John Gemmell (Allan Dunning - 46), Ross Clarke, John Gallagher (Chris Fisher - 46)

Subs (not used) : Chris Lamb (GK), Gordon Lappin

Scorer(s) : Whelan (79 mins)

Booked : Martin (66 - off the ball incident), Clarke (68 - ungentlemanly conduct)

GRETNA  : David Mathieson, Kyle May, Gavin Skelton, Tommy Turner, Ronnie McQuilter, Mark Cleeland, Stephen Skinner, Davie Irons, Mark Dobie, John Hore (Brian Fairbairn - 59), Matt Henney (Michael Galloway - 69)

Subs (not used) : Craig Summersgill (GK), Keith Knox, Ryan McGuffie

Scorer(s) : Dobie (17 & 26 mins)

Booked : Turner (66 - off the ball incident)

REFEREE :  Kevin Toner (replaced at half time by Thomas Robertson) both ** (* = inept, ** = poor, *** = mediocre, **** = good, ***** = excellent)