Allan & Martin's Laugh-In Takes Queen's Through

leaves on a high
By The Spider
January 16 2003

Tuesday, 14th January, 2003 Albion Rovers 0 Queen's Park 2 (Scottish Cup - Second Round Replay)

Certain games linger long in the memory of Queen's Park fans (e.g. the 3-2 away win against Clyde in 1993), and this another which can be added to the select bunch. On a night where gale force winds made it very difficult for both sides, Queen's were hoping that they could repeat their recent League victory at this venue, whilst 'Rovers were clearly looking for revenge and fielded a big physical side to make full use of the conditions.

Queen's brought in Gordon Lappin for Richard Sinclair who was ill, but Jimmy Allan was back in place of John Gallagher which was exactly the news that the travelling faithful had been hoping to hear. The Spiders had the benefit of much of the strong winds during the first half, but it was 'Rovers who were first to threaten in the 7th minute when they earned a corner after an almighty scramble in the Queen's goalmouth. Cormack sent a diving header wide when the resultant cross came in.

Willie Martin then led a Queen's attack down the right after being put in the clear by a great pass from Gordon Lappin. However, Willie's cross was fluffed by John Gemmell who had attempted an ambitious volley.

As play flowed from end to end, Tony Mitchell had to dive full length in the 17th minute to punch away a dangerous cross before Queen's took the lead a minute later. Collecting a loose ball on the edge of the 'Rovers area, Jimmy Allan was given far too much room to turn before he fired in a low left foot shot which Shearer appeared to have well covered. However, a combination of poor judgement and a bad bounce saw the ball slipped over his forearm and into the back of the net. Not one that Shearer will want to tell his training buddies at Parkhead about, but Queen's fans were overjoyed at his blunder. Indeed, one patron of this site was so overcome that he felt an instant need to share his feelings with 'Rovers boss Peter Hetherston, but perhaps not in a manner which upon reflection he would have been necessarily proud of.

Allan nearly caught the "dodgy 'keeper" out a second time right on the half hour mark when his wicked inswinging right wing corner struck the crossbar before rebounding to safety. As 'Rovers began to grow frustrated, Diack got himself booked five minutes later for a dangerous challenge which left Ross Clarke hirpling for a few minutes.

John Gemmell had a good opportunity to extend Queen's lead in the 37th minute but his first touch didn't take him past the onrushing Shearer who was able to effect a simple enough tackle to clear the danger.

Then, in a nasty incident out on the left touchline, Paterson blatantly scythed down Jimmy Allan as the Queen's winger cut inside and, to make matters worse, Hetherston stepped out of his dugout onto the touchline to inflame visiting supporters with his almost comical attempt to convince referee Andrew Hunter that Allan had dived. Fortunately, the match official was on top of his game and calmly booked the home right wingback before severely lecturing "Silky" (as in his choice of underwear?) for his own indiscretion.

Right on the stroke of half time Bradford tried to curl the ball home from the edge of the area, but the wind took his left foot effort well wide of Tony Mitchell's right hand post. It was also a shame to see Chris Silvestro limp off at half time, though Tony Quinn certainly wouldn't have been shedding any tears at the midfielder's misfortune whilst he himself hobbled down from the stand on crutches before heading for his half time cuppa.

Delighted as they were to see their favourites ahead at the interval, the more seasoned visiting fans still felt a certain trepidation about what lay ahead as it was pretty obvious that everything would be thrown at Tony Mitchell and his defenders during the second half. And so it came to pass........

Strangely, 'Rovers elected not to bring on Kevin McAllister at half time and the anticipated onslaught didn't immediately materialise. Tony Mitchell had to make a diving save at the feet of Bradford seconds after the resumption, but then The Spiders actually began to look quite comfortable, even though getting out of their own half in numbers was proving difficult.

A great run from Jimmy Allan in the 51st minute saw him ghost past three defenders as he made his way up the left wing before delivering a decent cross which was cleared before John Gemmell could attack it. At the other end Tony Mitchell again did well by making a great point blank reaction save at his near post from Paterson

Right on the hour mark, McAllister finally made his entrance and immediately Queen's came under severe pressure. A howitzer of a shot whizzed past Mitchell's right hand post in the 62nd minute before Tony came to the rescue again a minute later by making a vital diving save on his line. Within seconds the beleaguered Queen's 'keeper was earning his corn again by diving to his right to clutch a header on the line as 'Rovers began to turn the screw with Queen's midfield nowhere to be seen during this brief spell.

Willie Martin saw Shearer save a left foot effort in the 70th minute and then Stephen Moffat again tested the home 'keeper with a header from an Allan corner.

A through ball from McAllister put Diack clean through but his shot into the side-netting was a poor return for McAllister's invention. As Jimmy Allan threatened to break clear down the left wing in the 77th minute, centre half Cormack deliberately tripped him from behind and became the next home player to be shown a yellow card.

John Gemmell headed wide from a free kick in the 78th minute before Jimmy Allan himself got booked in the 83rd minute for one foul too many for Mr. Hunter's liking. It was still anyone's game at this point but it was virtually put beyond doubt by Queen's a minute later. Danny Ferry played a quality pass through the inside left channel to Willie Martin who neatly side-stepped his marker before slipping the ball past Shearer. It was one that Willie just daren't have missed as he had two team-mates to his right who could have put the ball into the empty net had he squared it two either of them.

Danny Ferry was somewhat harshly booked for accidental obstruction a minute later, before Queen's made two late substitutions to help wind down the few remaining minutes where the only threat was a Bradford free kick which went over the bar.

This was a great team effort where Mitchell, Lappin, Agostini and Moffat were superb, but even they couldn't top the performance from Stevie Fallon who, along with Stephen Moffat and Jimmy Allan, is going to create great competition for the end of season Player's awards.

Paul Martin could not have asked for a better send-off before handing over to new coach Kenny Brannigan who would do well to simply send out the same side on Saturday in his managerial debut at home to East Stirlingshire, and leave them to record the convincing victory that will now be expected after this excellent battling display.

It's now been almost 20 years to the day since Kenny made his first team debut (a 1-0 win against Airdrie of all teams) and hopefully he will get a good reception from everyone at Hampden as he opens up a new chapter in his own and the Club's history.

ENTERTAINMENT VALUE : 4/5           STAR SPIDER : Stevie Fallon (inspirational)

QUEEN’S PARK : Tony Mitchell, Gordon Lappin, Danny Ferry, Stephen Moffat, Damiano Agostini, Stevie Fallon, Willie Martin, Johnny Whelan, John Gemmell (David Menelaws - 88), Ross Clarke, Jimmy Allan (Chris Fisher - 87)

Subs (not used) : Chris Lamb (GK), Craig Taggart, Stuart Kettlewell

Scorer(s) : Allan (18 mins), Martin (84 mins)

Booked : Allan (83 - persistent fouling), Ferry (85 - obstruction)

ALBION ROVERS  : Scott Shearer, Andy Paterson, Jerard Stirling (Charles McLean - 73), Jordan Smith (Kevin McAllister - 60), Peter Cormack (Jim Dick - 83), Todd Lumsden, Jim Mercer, Chris Silvestro, John Bradford, Iain Diack, John McCaig

Subs (not used) : Chris Fahey (GK), Mark Weir

Scorer(s) : none

Booked : Diack (35 - dangerous challenge), Paterson (40 - late challenge), Cormack (83 - trip)

REFEREE :  Andrew Hunter **** (* = inept, ** = poor, *** = mediocre, **** = good, ***** = excellent)