Outcome Never In Doubt

Ross Clark(qpfc.com)
By The Spider
September 26 2003

Tuesday, 23rd September, 2003 Queen's Park 1 Livingston 3 (C I S League Cup - Second Round)

After the momentous victory at Inverness, a trip which few Premier League sides would have wished to have made in this competition, Queen's were hoping for another opportunity to increase their new found "giant-killing" status and the home tie at Livingston presented them with just that. However, even the most optimistic Queen's supporter must surely have seen the writing on the wall for his side within the first couple of minutes of this game.

The sheer pace of O'Brien took him straight through the heart of the Queen's defence but, with only Derek Scrimgour to beat, the midfielder blazed wildly over the bar. Seconds later, another burst through the middle saw Scrimgour get to the ball first and he was fortunate to gather the ball at the second attempt. Queen's continued to be hemmed into their own half by a slick Livingston outfit and they only narrowly avoided going behind in the seventh minute. Makel fired in a vicious direct free kick which Scrimgour managed to touch onto his crossbar, before the rebound was headed clear for a corner.

It really was only a matter of time before the deadlock was broken, and again the Queen's defence was posted missing in the ninth minute when Lee Makel was put clean through on Scrimgour before being brought down as he went round the Queen's 'keeper. Despite Scrimgour's protests, it was a clear penalty and the midfielder scored easily from the spot. Seconds later, Makel was clean through again, but this time he shot wide after dummying Scrimgour.

Left back McAllister then tried his luck from long range and his low left foot effort skidded narrowly wide of the far post.

At this stage it looked as if the visitors were going to be capable of running up a cricket score but, to their eternal credit, Queen's managed to turn the tide and began to make a contest of it. Paul Harvey's 18th minute direct free kick straight at McKenzie was only merely a gesture as opposed to a threat, but at least it signalled the fact that Livingston's dominance was beginning to wain a tad.

Pasquinelli earned himself the game's only booking in the 21st minute after he chopped down Ally Graham in frustration at the big striker's ability to out-muscle him, before the home side enjoyed their best spell of the game. Ally Graham was proving to be much more than mere nuisance value although he should have done better than shoot straight at McKenzie in the 25th minute after winning a 50/50 challenge for a high ball with Rubio.

A minute later and the crowd were treated to another example of scintillating pace, only this time it came in the form of Ross Clark who earned rapturous applause following a great solo run which saw him dribble past three opponents before being eventually crowded out in the Livingston area. Soon afterwards, Ally Graham was given another chance, but his shot was blocked at close range.

For a further ten minutes play was mostly confined to the midfield as the battle for supremacy was fought. Unsurprisingly, Livingston emerged with the upper hand and it took a quite fantastic low save from Derek Scrimgour to keep out a powerful drive from Fernandez. However, the on-loan Celtic striker was able to run into the area a minute later and his cut back made it simplicity itself for Francisco Quino to sidefoot the ball into the empty net from close range.

Two down at half time, there realistically was no way back for The Spiders, but that certainly didn't prevent them from having a go.

Stevie McAuley brought out a good save from McKenzie in the 47th minute after an Ally Graham pass created the opening, but then Livingston were soon back on the attack and Derek Scrimgour looked relieved to see a Quino deflection from a Fernandez shot whistle inches past his near post. McNamee then linked up with his attackers and Scrimgour saved his low shot well.

McNamee went close again in the 52nd minute, heading narrowly past from a Quino cross. Ten minutes past before the visitors were able to break through again, and this time it was Ipoua who sliced wide from a tight angle after being put through by Fernandez. Ross Clark offered some token resistance three minutes later, but his long range left foot shot sailed harmlessly well over the bar.

Substitute Ipoua, something of an Emile Heskey build, was really causing problems with his strength and pace, but fortunately his shooting didn't match his other abilities and he too blazed over from outside the penalty area. In the 78th minute, as Queen's visibly began to tire, a measured lob from McGovern went narrowly over the bar. Seconds later though, a third goal was added as Ipoua was brought down just inside the box, and again Lee Makel made a very competent job of tucking the spot kick past Scrimgour.

Again Queen's tried to respond and McKenzie was called into action again to save a header from Ally Graham. Livingston substitute Lilley should have scored in the 84th minute after Ipoua had nodded a header into his path, but the former Dundee Utd. striker fired wildly over the bar. McNamee seemed determined to get on the scoresheet, and only the agility of Derek Scrimgour denied him, the Queen's 'keeper diving bravely at the wing-back's feet as McNamee tried to take the ball around him.

With two minutes remaining, Queen's looked to have missed their last chance of an equaliser when Stevie McAuley hooked the ball over the bar on the turn, however Ross Clark popped up inside the penalty area in the last minute to curl a shot round McKenzie after Stevie Reilly had shown good awareness to lay the ball back into Clark's path.

Every Queen's player gave of his best against superior opposition and, in such circumstances, you really can't ask for much more than that.

This Saturday, The Spiders head through to Falkirk to take on East Stirlingshire. On paper it looks like a cert for an away win but sadly games aren't played on paper so the unpredictability of Queen's could see anything happen. Anything other than a victory for the Hampden side would be a major setback in their progress though.

ENTERTAINMENT VALUE : 4/5           STAR SPIDER : Ross Clark (immense throughout)

QUEEN’S PARK : Derek Scrimgour, Ross Clark, Stevie Reilly, Stephen Moffat, Richard Sinclair, Stevie Fallon, Stephen Canning, Paul Harvey (Paddy Gallagher - 75), Ally Graham, Jonny Whelan (David McCallum - 64), Steven McAuley

Subs (not used) : Brian McCue (GK), John Thompson, David Menelaws

Scorer(s) : Clark (90 mins)

Booked : none

LIVINGSTON : Roddy McKenzie, David McNamee, Jamie McAllister, Oscar Rubio, Manu Dorado, Fransisco Quino (Guy Ipoua - 57), David Fernandez (Derek Lilley - 73), Lee Makel, Fernando Pasquinelli (Jon McGovern - 57), Brian Kerr, Burton O'Brien

Subs (not used) : Kevin Montgomerie (GK), Scott McLaughlin

Scorer(s) : Makel (pens - 9 mins & 78 mins)

Booked : Pasquinelli (21 - late challenge)

REFEREE :  John Underhill **** (* = inept, ** = poor, *** = mediocre, **** = good, ***** = excellent)