A Victory For Tactics
Canning (qpfc.com)
By The Spider
March 1 2004
Saturday, 28th February, 2004 Queen's Park 1 Peterhead 0 (Bells Scottish League - Third Division)
For those fans used
to seeing Queen’s having a real go at their opponents for the full 90 minutes with
plenty of meaty tackles thrown in for good measure, this match must have come as something
of a culture shock.
Coach Kenny
Brannigan, now minus the services of two of his best players because neither Stephen
Moffat nor Stevie Fallon want to play for him anymore, appears to have now realised that
results are paramount if he is to win over the remaining doubters amidst his flock, with
other senior players also rumoured to be considering their position.
With Allan Dunning
at right wing back, Stevie Reilly in central defence and Ross Clark & Stephen Canning
restored to their preferred central midfield positions, it was a new look QP side that
took the field against Peterhead.
With Derek Carcary
in lively form up front, KB’s charges made an early breakthrough when the youngster
sped down the right wing in only the 3rd minute before delivering a dangerous
low cross along the six yard box which the unfortunate Daryn Smith only succeeded in diverting into his own net, as he sought to
prevent the ball from reaching Ally Graham behind him.
Peterhead showed
little interest in attempting to quickly reduce the deficit, and it was the home side that
continued to make the running. David McCallum sent an angled drive narrowly over, and then
Derek Carcary showed extraordinary close control keepy-up style in the visitors’
penalty area before thrashing the ball into the side netting.
It wasn’t
until the 18th minute that Peterhead posed their first real threat when Martin
Bavidge glanced a header narrowly past Derek Scrimgour’s left hand post.
Just before the
half hour mark, Iain Good was booked for pulling back Carcary as he burst past the former
Spider.
The next scoring
opportunity fell to Jonny Whelan in the 33rd minute when Mathers spilled a
corner at the Scouser’s feet, but the ‘keeper then redeemed himself by blocking
Jonny’s first shot and then smothering his second.
Three minutes
later, Roddie went on a great run down the left wing leaving three defenders trailing in
his wake before sending over a dangerous cross which David Stewart volleyed away at full
stretch when facing his own goal and with Bavidge waiting to pounce behind him.
Immediately afterwards, referee Sproule finally lost patience with the niggling Robertson
and showed him a yellow card for tripping Ross Clark who was clearly relishing being back
in the thick of the action in midfield.
As halftime
approached, Peterhead finally sprang to life and began to play like a side that were still
very much in the promotion race. A Johnston diving header from a corner went narrowly past
before a Roddie header was cleared off the line, as was the rebound off his back from the
attempted clearance.
Whilst it was good
for home fans to be able to cheer their favourites in at half time a goal to the good, in
truth it had been a poor half with Queen’s mostly content to sit back, and Peterhead
lacking the ability to do anything about it.
In the 49th
minute, Ally Graham was booked for a hefty shoulder charge as he chased after the ball,
and then Derek Scrimgour comfortably held a powerful drive from Bavidge. The same player
then glanced a header narrowly past, but the fact that there was almost 20 minutes between
the two events shows how little goalmouth action there was. Indeed, the normally
attack-minded Jonny Whelan was playing a very defensive game, seemingly under instruction
not to venture too far up the park, although he did send a fantastic cross along the
six-yard box in the 71st minute. Sadly, there were no takers and the chance was
wasted.
It was now very
clearly a game of cat and mouse. Queen’s were content to leave Graham and Carcary
isolated up front, and it was therefore unusual to see attacking players like Canning,
Clark and Whelan content to sit back near the half way line as Carcary in particular
looked in vain for someone to lay the ball off to. For their part, Peterhead were totally
lacking in the ability to get behind the home defence, and so the game had degenerated
into a spell where both defences were trading clearances, with Queen’s particularly
guilty of booting the ball aimlessly up the park rather than attempt to mount a
counter-attack.
Roddie was given an
opening in the 73rd minute, but his header was weak and Scrimgour saved easily.
A minute later, the same player was booked for a foul on Allan Dunning.
There were a couple
of near things in the last couple of minutes, one at either end. Firstly, Derek Carcary
was put through by Ross Clark, but his shot was too weak to beat Mathers. Then, with a
minute remaining, a Roddie direct free kick curled inches over the top with Scrimgour
struggling to cover it.
So, Queen’s
gained their first home win (East Stirlingshire apart) since the emphatic home win over
Elgin in August. Surely a cause for celebration then, but the manner of the victory raises
old questions about whether a win is more important that an entertaining performance.
On Tuesday evening,
The Spiders visit Firs Park for the re-arranged game against East Stirlingshire before it’s
Elgin City’s turn to make the long journey south to Hampden on Saturday. Both of
these matches are games which Queen’s could reasonably be expected to win, unlike
this latest encounter, so it will be interesting to see whether Kenny Brannigan will
instruct his midfield to shake off the shackles so evident in this victory, or whether
another dour tactical encounter will prevail.
ENTERTAINMENT VALUE : 2/5
STAR SPIDER : Danny Ferry (as good as Stevie Fallon at his best)
QUEEN’S PARK : Derek Scrimgour, Danny Ferry, David McCallum, Allan Dunning, David Stewart (Damiano Agostini – 75), Ross Clark, Stephen Canning (Stuart Kettlewell – 75), Stevie Reilly, Ally Graham (Martin Bonnar – 87), Jonny Whelan, Derek Carcary
Subs (not used) : Brian McCue (G/K), Paul Harvey
Scorer(s) : o.g. (65)
Booked : Graham (49 – over-vigorous shoulder charge)
PETERHEAD : Paul Mathers, Jamie Buchan, Iain Good, Robbie Raeside, Mark Perry, Rob Duncan, Scott Robertson, Daryn Smith (Stuart Mackay – 84), Martin Bavidge, Martin Johnston, Andy Roddie
Subs (not used) Ross Buchanan (G/K), Kris Brash, Kevin Tindal, Richard Shand
Scorer(s) : none
Booked : Good (29 – deliberate foul), Robertson (37 – persistent fouling), Roddie (74 – late tackle)
REFEREE : Martin Sproule **** (* = inept, ** = poor, *** = mediocre, **** = good, ***** = excellent)