Will We Ever See Their Likes Again?
Ferry (qpfc.com)
By The Spider
May 17 2004
Saturday, 15th May, 2004 Queen's Park 1 Gretna 1 (Bells Scottish League - Third Division)
Any fears that
either side might play this game at typical end of season pace were quickly dispelled as
Queen’s got off to their customary “up and at ‘em” Hampden start.
Gretna too were very much “up for it”, no doubt partly due to the desire to
avenge earlier promotion-destroying results, augmented by the motivation of earning new
contracts for the following season
Hard working
Frankie Carroll was first to have a go in the 2nd minute when he sent a
long-range bobbler straight at Summersgill. Two minutes later, the ‘keeper
comfortably dealt with a snapshot from Jonny Whelan.
The lush new
surface was certainly not conducive to firing in low shots as it quickly took the pace off
them, as evidenced by Spence’s 6th minute effort that failed to trouble
Derek Scrimgour.
Damiano Agostini
has previously come close to opening his Queen’s account on a few occasions, but none
closer than his 10th minute pile-driver from a Whelan head-flick which dipped
off the underside of the bar and away. Gretna almost took immediate advantage of their
let-off as they quickly sped up to the other end where Baldacchino released Cohen whose
low shot narrowly evaded Scrimgour’s back post.
Queen’s again
came close in the 13th minute when Summersgill failed to gather a high ball
from Richard Sinclair whilst under pressure from Jonny Whelan, and Frankie Carroll’s
first time effort from the spilled ball was blocked on its way to the empty net.
A minute later
things were evened up on the “bad luck old bean” front when a measured curler
from Spence rebounded off Derek Scrimgour’s crossbar with the Queen’s ‘keeper
nowhere near it.
Encouraged by this
progress, Gretna now enjoyed a good spell of pressure which began in the 16th
minute when Eccles headed narrowly over at the back post from a searching Baldacchino
cross.
“Big-name”
signing Townsley then sent a half volley over the bar and followed this with a wasted
direct free kick in similar fashion. Derek Scrimgour then made a fine near post save from
Eccles’ first time effort from Spence’s knockdown.
Jonny Whelan was
demonstrating his usual commitment, but too much so in referee Murray’s eyes who
booked the Scouser in the 33rd minute for a late tackle on Spence who was
receiving more than his fair share of hefty challenges.
Somewhat against
the run of play, Queen’s took the lead two minutes later and whilst the finish was
fortuitous, the build-up play was deserving of the final outcome. In a quick breakaway
from deep in their own half, Frankie Carroll fed the ball out to Derek Carcary on the
right wing who made good ground before slipping the ball back inside to his striking
partner. Frankie kept the move going by sweeping the ball out to Paul Harvey just inside
the Gretna area. Paul touched the ball back to the supporting David McCallum who struck it first time towards Summersgill only for the ball
to take a cruel deflection off a defender and slip past the stranded ‘keeper at his
near post.
Queen’s took
great heart from this piece of good fortune and set about increasing their lead before
half time. With two minutes to go before the interval, Paul Harvey played a great one-two
with Stephen Canning on the right wing before he sent over a measured ball to the near
post, which Derek Carcary headed narrowly past.
Another neat
interchange involving Stephen Canning, this time with Derek Carcary, saw the young Queen’s
prodigy speed towards Summersgill. With Frankie Carroll to his left looking for a pass,
the remaining defender tried to block off that route giving young Derek plenty of time to
pick his spot. Unfortunately, although the ‘keeper went the wrong way, the ball
cannoned back off his legs and away to safety.
After the break
Queen’s kept up the pressure and Jonny Whelan intercepted a low shot from Stephen
Canning only to toe-poke it over the bar with the goal at his mercy.
Sadly, the
remainder of the game failed to live up to the excitement of the first half, and goalmouth
incidents were few and far between. Stephen Canning had a couple of decent half chances,
but unlike his unofficial goal of the season at Elgin the previous Saturday, his volleys
were not cleanly struck and spiralled off target.
Baldacchino should
have equalised in the 62nd minute, but he swiped wildly at the ball and sent it
well wide of goal.
Stuart Kettlewell
has been settling well into a right wing back role of late, and a superb tackle in his own
half won the ball cleanly to set up a quick counter-attack with Queen’s enjoying an
extra man’s advantage. Stuart fed Stephen Canning who, as always, was breaking
quickly in midfield, and he then exchanged a few passes with Frankie Carroll who should
have done much better than shoot over when Stephen Canning back-heeled the ball along the
six yard box to him.
Gretna stepped up
the pace during the last 10 minutes in order to avoid heading home empty handed, and
Townsley made a good run across the edge of the Queen’s penalty area only to drag his
shot wide of Scrimgour’s right hand post.
Jonny Whelan then
brought a smile to everyone’s faces when he successfully made a five-yard pass with
his head whilst lying flat out on the new turf at the time!
It looked as if
Queen’s might just hold on for a home win as rare during Kenny Brannigan’s reign
as one for East Stirlingshire during that same period, but an umpteenth hopeful cross from
Baldacchino finally found a head in front of goal and poor marking left Brian Wake with the easiest of tasks to glide the ball past Brian McCue
who was being given a deserved 45 minutes of first team experience.
Things could have
been even worse as Wake then headed over from a last minute corner, but although Gretna
enjoyed a lot of the play, Queen’s had created the better chances and a win would not
have flattered them.
So, as is usual at
the end of each season, the usual rumours now abound about which players are least likely
to return to Hampden the following next season. Normally such speculation centres over
players destined for bigger and better things, like Derek Carcary for example, but more
worringly this time most gossip relates to the alleged intent of the more established
players.
Whether players
like Danny Ferry and Jonny Whelan choose to re-sign remains to be seen, but if they don’t
then a significant contributory factor in their decisions is likely to be their
relationship with coach Kenny Brannigan who is already allegedly responsible for the
mid-season departures of Stephen Moffat, Stevie Fallon and Stevie McAuley.
Of course, if even
better players are attracted to the club during the summer, some perhaps on loan via the
old-pals act that exists with Ian McCall, then departed players will become distant
memories like so many before them, as such is the nature of things at this special Club.
Kenny Brannigan is also especially fortunate to have a conveyor belt of young talent
emerging from the U-19 team, and if the right blend of youth and experience can be brought
together, then next season could be one to look forward to.
However, those same
circumstances could place an ever-greater strain on our coach who has yet to win over many
fans, as the expectations for next season will undoubtedly be higher as a result of the
U-19’s cup exploits this season.
Only time, and this
website of course, will tell. Enjoy your summer!
ENTERTAINMENT VALUE : 3/5
STAR SPIDER : Ross Clark (strolled through the game)
QUEEN’S PARK : Derek Scrimgour (Brian McCue – 46), Stuart Kettlewell, David McCallum, Damiano Agostini, Richard Sinclair (David Stewart – 61), Ross Clark, Paul Harvey (Martin Bonnar – 53), Stephen Canning, Frankie Carroll, Jonny Whelan, Derek Carcary
Subs (not used) : Tony Quinn, David Weatherston
Scorer(s) : McCallum (35)
Booked : Whelan (33 – late challenge)
GRETNA : Craig Summersgill, Ryan McGuffie, Gavin Skelton, Colin Spence (Wayne Gordon – 60), Kyle May, David Holdsworth, Ryan Baldacchino, Mike Galloway, Gary Cohen (Brian Wake – 39), Derek Townsley, Mark Eccles (Richard Prokas – 81)
Subs (not used) : David Mathieson (G/K), Martin Bell
Scorer(s) : Wake (87)
Booked : none
REFEREE : Callum Murray * (* = inept, ** = poor, *** = mediocre, **** = good, ***** = excellent)