At Last, Something To Cheer About!
Graham (qpfc.com)
By The Spider
December 8 2003
Saturday, 6th December, 2003 Queen's Park 3 East Stirlingshire 0 (Bells Scottish League - Third Division)
For most sides, a home game against East Stirlingshire would be something to look forward to with plenty of goals likely and three points guaranteed. Not so for Queen's Park though who suffered the embarrassment of being the only side to lose to 'Shire in the League last season, and twice at Hampden at that!
One of those games was Kenny Brannigan's first game in charge and therefore there would have been nobody keener than him to lay those particular ghosts to rest.
There was plenty of action in the opening minutes. Queen's, playing with three up front, carved open the visitor's defence and right sided striker Frankie Carroll (ignore the no.3 shirt he was wearing) volleyed a Stevie Canning cross narrowly over in the 4th minute. 'Shire's response was immediate and Livingstone came equally close with his header from a great cross by Leishman.
However, Queen's took the lead with their very next attack, and the goal was fortuitous to say the least when Ally Graham tried a first timer from 25 yards which took a cruel deflection to wrongfoot Connelly and trickled just inside his left hand post.
Boosted by this good fortune, Queen's would have been expected to go for the jugular, but it was 'Shire who briefly took control and Leishman was unlucky in the 12th minute to see his curling shot slip inches past Scrimgour's left hand post. Then, two minutes later, McGhee sent his free header from six yards out wide of the target.
The visitors defence were struggling against the sheer physique of Ally Graham, so much so that the big striker was able to chest down a deep cross from Danny Ferry that a defender immediately in front of him had been unable to reach with his head, and fire in a fierce shot which Connelly did well to block at his near post.
The visiting 'keeper could do nothing in the 32nd minute though when Stevie McAuley latched onto a great nod down from his tall striking partner to lash the ball high past Connelly from six yards out. Again 'Shire came straight back at The Spiders, and a McGhee sizzler whistled just past Scrimgour's right upright.
The first booking of the second half came in the opening minute when Maughan exchanged handbags with Frankie Carroll before the pair were separated by referee McDonald who showed good common sense to send both players away after a stern talking to. He rightly booked Ross Clark though (where have we heard that before?) who showed the utmost stupidity by throwing the ball at Maughan who was walking away from the incident at the time. Lucky for Ross that he doesn't get any wages at Hampden, or he would undoubtedly have found himself a few bob short following his unnecessary intervention.
The game was completely finished in the 53rd minute when big Ally Graham again soared majestically like an eagle to flick a Scrimgour kick-out beyond the square 'Shire defence and into the path of Stevie McAuley who didn't need a second invitation before clinically firing the ball beyond Connelly's outstretched hands for his second goal of the afternoon.
'Shire's resistance crumbled at this point and 64th minute headers from Jonny Whelan and then Stuart Kettlewell were both well saved by Connolly. The last 25 minutes were something of a non-event, and Ally Graham's 88th minute lob which went narrowly over was all that either side could muster during that period.
So, a nice straightforward victory for Queen's which takes some of the pressure off the side after a string of unconvincing performances and results to match. Next Saturday the Spiders head for Peterhead where a much sterner test will face them.
ENTERTAINMENT VALUE : 4/5
STAR SPIDERS : Stevie Fallon & Ally Graham (both were a class above the rest)
QUEEN’S PARK : Derek Scrimgour, Danny Ferry, Frankie Carroll (Paddy Gallagher - 61), Stephen Canning, Damiano Agostini (John Thompson - 76), Stevie Fallon, Ross Clark (Stuart Kettlewell - 59), Paul Harvey, Ally Graham, Jonny Whelan, Stevie McAuley
Subs (not used) : David Crawford (GK), Derek Carcary
Scorer(s) : Graham (6), McAuley (32 & 53)
Booked :
EAST STIRLINGSHIRE : John Connelly, Roddy Maughan, Steven Oates, Robert Hare (Jamie McKay - 66), Craig McLaren, Graeme McGhee, Scott Livingstone, Sean McAuley, Derek Ure (Gerry Boyle - 66), Stuart Kelly, Jordan Leishman (Stuart Irvine - 46)
Subs (not used) : Chris Todd (G/K), Ctaig Reid
Scorer(s) : none
Booked : none
REFEREE : D. McDonald **** (* = inept, ** = poor, *** = mediocre, **** = good, ***** = excellent)