Good Things Come To Those Who Wait
Carroll (qpfc.com)
By The Spider
August 15 2004
Saturday, 7th August, 2004 Queen's Park 3 Cowdenbeath 2 Bells Scottish League - Third Division) (Picture from qpfc.com) Q.P. played some very good football in this game, and the early signs are that this could be a much better season than last.
Anyone reading
their Sunday papers who concluded that Queen’s were fortunate to win this game could
not have been left with an impression which was further from the truth. From start to
finish, the Spiders were the better side which was no mean feat as there were a few brief
spells where Cowdenbeath showed that they are a very good side indeed when going forward
at pace.
Kenny Brannigan has
impressed upon his charges the need to make Hampden a venue which becomes less of a good
day out for opposing teams and more of a place where they will have to fight tooth and
nail if they are to get the better of his totally committed charges. Right from the start
they refused to let Cowden settle on the ball and tore into them with some relish.
Ally Graham created
the first scoring opportunity by nodding the ball down for Ross Clark who shot wide from
the edge of the area. Then Frankie Carroll chested the ball back to the supporting Paul
Harvey who forced Carlin into action from 40 yards out.
An early shot off
target followed quickly by one on target. A minute later they went one better by going a
goal ahead. Shaun Molloy launched a long free kick from near the left touchline, and with
the Cowden defence closely marking Ally Graham, Frankie Carroll was left unmarked 10 yards out as the ball soared all the way
through to him leaving him free to head the ball over the exposed Carlin into the far
corner.
Frankie then tried
his luck from 30 yards out which forced Carlin to make a fine save.
Cowden gradually
came more into the game, but they could make no impact on Queen’s defence at all
which made it all the more frustrating when they were gifted a completely undeserved
equaliser in the 26th minute. There seemed little danger when an aimless hoof
was aimed in the direction of the Queen’s penalty area, but sadly Brian McCue came
out for the ball without alerting the retreating Stevie Reilly whose back-header floated over the custodian and into the
empty net.
Encouraged by this
piece of good fortune, the visitors visibly grew in confidence and, after Ally Graham was
booked for dissent, Gilfillan fired in a low shot which forced Brian McCue into a good
save.
The remainder of
the first half deteriorated into a dour midfield tussle, so it was something of a relief
when referee Collum signalled for the interval to allow both sides to regroup.
Once again Queen’s
emerged looking for an early breakthrough, and a header from Ally Graham to Ross Clark was
in turn headed onto Frankie Carroll who just couldn’t get enough power on the ball to
lift it over Carlin who saved at full stretch.
Refusing to be
discouraged, Frankie then sent a searching crossfield pass to David Clarke before
embarking on a 40 yard sprint to position himself deep inside the Cowden penalty area to
receive Clarke’s immaculate return ball. It could have been a goal to remember but,
by being at full pace, Frankie had no option but to hit the ball first time and the ball
squirmed inches past Carlin’s right hand post.
Gilfillan was
looking the visitors’ most dangerous player, and his 52nd minute header
from a free kick that also went narrowly wide was a timely reminder of the need to keep
things tight at the back.
A minute later
Shaun Molloy showed that he could have the ability to grab the occasional goal this season
when his 25-yard volley sped narrowly past Carlin’s right post.
Stevie Reilly
picked up a yellow card shortly afterwards when he was spotted tugging on Buchanan’s
jersey at the edge of Queen’s penalty area.
Gilfillan again
came close on the hour mark when he fired a free kick just wide. His team-mate Ritchie
then became the first visiting player to be booked a minute later, referee Collum finally
losing patience with the midfielder after his umpteenth foul, this latest one being a trip
on Carroll.
Bryan Gilfillan
finally got onto the scoresheet when the home defence went completely to sleep, and he was
left entirely unmarked to clinically shoot beyond Brian McCue into the far corner.
Queen’s tried
hard to get back on level terms, but for the second week in a row they were thwarted by
the crossbar which fairly rattled following a direct free kick from Ross Clark.
As the game entered
the last 10 minutes, Kenny Brannigan beckoned to Stuart Kettlewell to get ready to come
on, and this seemed to have a galvanising effect on the others. Neither Ally Graham nor
Paul Harvey have won over all sections of the Q.P. support during their time at Hampden,
but both stood up to be counted on this occasion, with Harvey in particular lifting the
pace of the Queen’s game to the extent that it became one-way traffic in the
direction of the Cowden goalmouth.
Ally Graham headed
a free kick narrowly wide, Tommy Sloan shot just over the bar and Kelly was cautioned for
obstruction on David McCallum as the pressure on the visitors grew. Brian Blair was then
booked for dissent as Queen’s frustration also grew, and Campbell joined them for a
trip on Tommy Sloan.
Justice was done
from the resultant free kick though. Both Cowdenbeath’s goals had come as the result
of some comical defending, so it was only fit and proper that Queen’s should equalise
in similar circumstances when David McCallum took
advantage of a shoddy defensive wall to place the ball low into the unguarded near post.
It was the kind of goal you might expect to see from a right-footed player so quite how
McCallum was able to achieve it with his favoured left foot will leave Carlin having
nightmares about it for weeks to come.
The draw would
still have been kind to the visitors, but more than welcome to Queen’s a couple of
minutes earlier. It was therefore something of a bonus when, completely out of the blue,
the Spiders found themselves back in front a minute later.
Again, it was down
to some comical defending. A hopeful ball was launched into the heart of the Cowden area,
but ‘keeper Carlin failed to communicate effectively with his defence that he was
coming out for a simple catch, and the ball was only half cleared by Ritchie to the edge
of the area where Frankie Carroll was just able to
get enough on it to send it all the way back into the empty net to cue some of the most
exuberant celebrations seen at a Queen’s home game for some seasons.
Cowden looked
visibly stunned and were unable to provide any late threat. Queen’s have therefore
got off to the best possible start with back to back home wins, and particularly
encouraging for fans and players alike must be the fact that both victories have been
achieved despite being behind in the closing stages.
It matters not that
Queen’s are some way short of being promotion contenders at this stage, but neither
do they look like a team who will finish near the bottom of the table either. Apparently
KB is confident that he can add another couple of players to the squad during the next
couple of weeks, and if can secure the services of a good right wing-back (Danny Ferry or
Richard Sinclair would do nicely) and another striker (pending Derek Carcary’s
position being clarified), then who’s to say what could be achieved.
This Wednesday
though it’s yet another competition, this time Stirling Albion providing the
opposition at Forthbank for a League Cup tie. The outcome of this match matters less than
the previous two, which were both against Third Division opponents. That is the standard
by which this present side needs to be judged, and whilst it would be nice to progress
further, it is the result at Elgin next Saturday which will have the greater bearing on
the Club’s fortunes this season.
A win in midweek
would still be nice though!
ENTERTAINMENT VALUE : 4/5
STAR SPIDER(S) : Frankie Carroll (worked like a Trojan throughout and unlucky not to have a hat trick to his credit)
QUEEN’S PARK : Brian McCue, Brian Blair, David McCallum, Gavin Rushford, Stevie Reilly, Shaun Molloy, Ross Clark, Paul Harvey, Ally Graham, Frankie Carroll (Alan Trouten – 77), David Clarke (Tommy Sloan – 68)
Subs (not used) : Steven McGovern (G/K), Stuart Kettlewell, Damiano Agostini
Scorer(s) : Carroll (8, 88), McCallum (87)
Booked : Graham (29 – dissent), Reilly (59 – professional foul), Blair (84 – dissent)
COWDENBEATH : Andy Carlin, Calvin Shand, Andy Campbell, Bryan Gilfillan, John McKeown, Innes Ritchie, Iain Mauchlen, Paul McHale, Craig Scott (Liam Buchanan – 52), David Mowat (Ryan McCallum – 72), John-Paul Burns (John-Paul Kelly – 37)
Subs (not used) : Stephan Gollasch (G/K), Chris Gray
Scorer(s) :
Reilly (o.g. – 26), Gilfillan (62)
Booked : Ritchie (61 – repetitive fouling), Kelly (83 – obstruction), Campbell (86 – late challenge)
REFEREE : William Collum **** (* = inept, ** = poor, *** = mediocre, **** = good, ***** = excellent)