Stalemate At Balmoor

Reilly (qpfc.com)
By The Spider
April 27 2004

Saturday, 24th April, 2004 Peterhead 1 Queen's Park 1 (Bells Scottish League – Third Division)

There was nothing at stake for either team, hence the rather disappointing turnout, although Queen’s did take the field to an appreciable backing from a larger than might have been anticipated travelling support.

Bavidge was looking energetic early on and, having successfully turned Stevie Reilly in the 2^nd minute, he fired straight at Derek Scrimgour.

Against far larger opponents, Stephen Canning surprisingly got his head to an outswinging David McCallum free kick, and his effort floated narrowly over the postage stamp corner. Peterhead immediately responded and Bavidge’s left foot shot on the turn fairly whizzed past Scrimgour’s far post.

David McCallum fired a speculative shot towards Mather’s near post, but the ‘keeper was alert to it and his early clearance was collected by Bavidge who was halted in his tracks by a great saving tackle from Stevie Reilly.

Johnston was next to have a go, but Scrimgour easily held his long-range effort.

Having earlier demonstrated his ability to get on the end of a David McCallum free kick, Stephen Canning caused alarm when he made a near post run for another one in the 14^th minute, and his header was blocked by Good’s hand. It was a clear penalty spotted both by referee Winter and the stand side assistant, and after Good was booked Stevie Reilly stepped up to make his usual competent job of slotting it away to low Mather’s right.

Bavidge continued to trouble the visitor’s defence, and his shot on the run went narrowly over Scrimgour’s bar.

In the 21^st minute, Paul Harvey connected well with a volley which Mather’s saved well as it bounced awkwardly in front of him.

Then Robertson’s shot deflected kindly into Scrimgour’s arms before Johnston sliced a shot well wide. A minute later, Gibson became the first player to be booked following a “studs up” challenge on McCallum.

Whilst lacking the pace of Scottish U-18 absentee Derek Carcary, Stephen Canning has looked lively up front in recent weeks, and again he caused the home defence all sorts of problems just after the half hour mark when he wriggled free of his markers on the right wing to fire over a driven cross which Jonny Whelan was inches away from prodding into the net.

Peterhead then had a spell of good pressure that began with a long-range shot over the bar from Smith. Then, Stevie Reilly limped off after tweaking his hamstring, being replaced by long-term absentee Tony Quinn with Jonny Whelan moving back into defence.

The change was soon followed by a dipping header from Johnston from a left wing cross which only just cleared Derek Scrimgour’s crossbar, and it was then Raeside’s turn to shoot over. However, the half ended with a visionary through ball from Paul Harvey just being nicked off Frankie Carroll’s toes by Mathers.

Neither side made any substitutions during the interval and, despite the re-shuffle caused by Reilly’s injury, Queen’s were now coping well with what little Peterhead were throwing at them.

A shot from Gibson bounced awkwardly in front of Derek Scrimgour in the 51^st minute, but the Queen’s ‘keeper dealt with it well, albeit at the second attempt.

Tony Quinn was deservedly booked for a late challenge three minutes later, understandable considering he has been out of first team football for so long.

Another superb through ball from Paul Harvey, very much what was expected of this creative player when he joined Queen’s (where were you Neil Chisholm?), allowed Stephen Canning a brief glimpse of goal and his first time shot dipped narrowly over the bar. Stuart Kettlewell did likewise seconds later.

It was all looking so comfortable for Queen’s but then, as so often happens, a simple error ruined al the hard work that had gone before. Kenny Brannigan had been screaming for several minutes that too much football was being played from the back, but Richard Sinclair failed to heed his coach’s warning and instead of a playing safety first clearance for a throw in, he attempted a headed pass-back to Derek Scrimgour against the wind. Needless to say, the ball held up nicely for the pursuing Stewart who got to it a split-second before the Queen’s ‘keeper.

Whilst there was no need for Stewart’s mid-air contortions which would have earned high marks from the judges at a gymnastics competition, for all Scrimgour’s protestations during the administering of his yellow card, it was a fair shout for a penalty which Martin Johnston slotted low to Scrimgour’s right as the ‘keeper dived to the opposite corner.

Now, instead of being in control of a subdued Peterhead side, Queen’s were up against it as the home crowd woke from their slumbers and began to generate some vocal support.

Fortunately Queen’s, well marshalled by Jonny Whelan at the back, were in no mood to give away any further easy goals, and instead they took the fight back up to the other end of the field where the battling Frankie Carroll did well to win possession against three defenders, only to send his shot on the turn over from the edge of the area.

Martin Bonnar was next to be booked in the 69^th minute when he clattered into Stewart from behind, much to the pleasure of the large travelling support who had disliked the substitute’s flamboyance when winning his penalty.

A minute later, Duncan had a good scoring opportunity, but spurned it as he dragged his first time shot wide. The best chance of the game then fell to Raeside when a Johnston shot deflected kindly towards him right in front of goal, but thankfully for Queen’s the defender’s point blank instinctive volley somehow went over the bar.

In the 74^th minute, Richard Sinclair became the fourth Queen’s player to be booked when he conceded a direct free kick at the edge of the area, but the wall stood firm and the danger was cleared.

Those missed opportunities seemed to knock the heart out of the home side, and the game deteriorated into a series of long distance clearances from the defences of both sides. Queen’s might have stolen it in the last minute when a rasping netbound drive from Stuart Kettlewell was deflected for a corner, but in all truth neither side deserved to lose and a share of the spoils was probably a fair outcome.

Next Saturday, Albion Rovers visit Hampden and they will be looking to test the home defence having knocked eight past East Stirling at the weekend. As usual, the key to Queen’s success or otherwise will be whether they can take control of the midfield, and cut out the supply of crosses to Yardley and Mercer, neither of whom are otherwise noted for their mobility. Whether this game comes a little too soon for Tony Quinn remains to be seen, but even without that particular grudge factor, an intriguing game lies in prospect.

ENTERTAINMENT VALUE : 3/5

STAR SPIDER :  Paul Harvey (by far his best game in a Q.P. jersey)

QUEEN’S PARK : Derek Scrimgour, Damiano Agostini, David McCallum, Martin Bonnar, Richard Sinclair, Paul Harvey, Stuart Kettlewell, Stevie Reilly (Tony Quinn – 36), Frankie Carroll (David Weatherston – 76), Jonny Whelan, Stephen Canning

Subs (not used) : Brian McCue (G/K), Allan Dunning, David Stewart

Scorer(s) : Reilly (pen - 14)

Booked : Quinn (54 – late challenge), Scrimgour (63 – dissent), Bonnar (69 – late challenge), Sinclair (74 – late challenge)

PETERHEAD : Paul Mathers, Daryn Smith (Duncan Stewart - 57), Iain Good, Robbie Raeside, Mark Perry, Keith Gibson, Scott Robertson, Jamie Buchan, Martin Bavidge, Martin Johnston, Robert Duncan

Subs (not used) : Ross Buchanan (G/K), Kristopher Brash, Kevin Tindal, Daniel Milne

Scorer(s) : Johnston (pen – 63)

Booked : Good (14 – deliberate handball), Gibson (26 – dangerous challenge)

REFEREE :  Brian Winter ****   (* = inept, ** = poor, *** = mediocre, **** = good, ***** = excellent)