Ally Turns The Clocks Back Early

Graham (qpfc.com)
By The Spider
September 27 2004

Saturday, 25th September, 2004 East Fife 1 Queen's Park 4 (Bells Scottish League – Third Division) (picture from qpfc.com) British Summer Time ends next month but Ally Graham chose this game to turn the clocks back to remind us of his early years.

With Elgin City unlikely to return from Gretna with all three points, Queen’s were provided with their second opportunity of the season to go third in the table. This time, unlike the disappointing performance at Hampden against Montrose, The Spiders were in no mood to let the chance slip by, and they returned home with another impressive away victory.

Given the squad strength of Gretna, and unless Peterhead have their usual post-Xmas slump, it is far too early to consider Billy Stark’s charges as promotion candidates, so fans should simply sit back and enjoy what’s on offer for as long as it lasts.

East Fife gave David Crawford something of a fright in the 3^rd minute when Brash’s direct free kick deflected off Colquhoun’s head, but fortunately the young ‘keeper was able to adjust his stance to grab the ball in mid-flight.

Ally Graham has been Queen’s provider-in-chief this season, so it was no surprise when his knock-down created an opening for Ross Clark, nor was it a surprise when the energetic midfielder blasted the ball over the bar whilst at full tilt. There can be few midfielders who work harder at getting into scoring positions, so it’s a shame that he doesn’t take his fair share of the chances presented to him thereby gaining just reward for his efforts.

Brian Blair is another who should be getting onto the score-sheet more often, and perhaps all he needs is the boost of confidence that scoring his first goal for Queen’s would bring. With 11 minutes played, Alan Trouten played a measured through ball into the elegant midfielder’s path, but Morrison was quickly off his line to make a point blank save. A minute later, another visiting midfielder, Stuart Kettlewell, showed his willingness to have a go too, but Morrison comfortably held the bouncing shot.

The dangerous Fairbairn sent over an inviting cross from the right, but Byle’s header went wide of David Crawford’s right hand post.

Renwick kicked off a spate of bookings in the 23^rd minute by complaining too loudly about referee Mike Ritchie’s decision to award a foul against him, and then both Frankie Carroll and Brash were also shown yellow cards following an off the ball incident which was spotted by the stand-side assistant. Brash was a lucky man to remain on the park having kicked out at Carroll, but then again so too was Frankie soon afterwards for elbowing a defender in the chest in an off the ball tussle 10 minutes later. Frankie thrives on aggression, but unless he learns to control it a little bit better, some more intelligent defenders than East Fife have to offer could use his tenacity to their advantage.

Queen’s produced some great counter-attacking play in the 31^st minute when Ross Clark found Frankie Carroll who switched play to Stuart Kettlewell whose shot was deflected for a corner.

The opener was only delayed by a further three minutes though. Again it was a head-flick from Ally Graham that created the opening, but once again Ross Clark demonstrated his uncanny ability to take the most difficult of the various chances which come his way by cracking home a dipping first time shot from a ridiculously tight angle which flew over Morrison and into the postage stamp corner. It would normally be a likely candidate for “goal of the season”, but Ross has already got his wonder strike at Stirling earmarked for that award!

Ally Graham continued to play the provider’s role to perfection when he took some great touches before playing a superbly judged crossfield pass to Alan Trouten whose first touch took the ball a couple of feet too far, and allowed Morrison to come out to block the shot at close range. Young Trouten was then booked a couple of minutes later for a slightly late challenge on Brash.

As the interval approached, David Crawford kept Queen’s in front with a point blank wonder save from Colquhoun who, alongside Fairbairn, was unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box as he struck a first time shot from a left wing cross from Brash.

Immediately after the break, the young ‘keeper was again the saviour when he made another close range save, this time from Colquhoun’s low left foot strike. It was a key moment in the game as Queen’s extended their lead immediately afterwards. From David Crawford’s long clearance, Alan Trouten was awarded a free kick out on the right touchline, which gave David McCallum the chance to swing his trusty left peg at it. Most Queen’s fans had a fair idea of where the ball was likely to go, but the East Fife defence were left looking bemused as Ally Graham made his usual near post run to meet the cross perfectly and glance the ball beyond the exposed Morrison.

A couple of minutes later, Kelly was booked for dissent as frustration in the home ranks grew. It became rage in the 58^th minute when Queen’s earned another free kick, this time out on the left. David McCallum positioned himself to take it and the rest is history as they say. Ally Graham made another near post run, the defence didn’t match it, and a furious Morrison was once again left looking totally embarrassed as another well-placed header slipped past him.

By now Queen’s well and truly had the bit between their teeth and it was four a few minutes later. A shot from Brian Blair was blocked and Ally Graham quickly wheeled round to curl a right foot shot from the edge of the area into the top corner and beyond Morrison’s despairing dive. A hat trick at any stage of a player’s career is a memorable moment, let alone one in less than twenty minutes, so this must have been an especially sweet moment for a player considered to be in the twilight of his career.

Queen’s lived dangerously again three minutes later when a real stramash in the six-yard box ended with David Crawford booting the ball away to safety.

Ally Graham drove another right foot shot narrowly over before Brash did likewise with his left foot at the other end. David Crawford then saved well from Brash, and again from Fairbairn.

Paul Harvey fed fellow sub Shaun Molloy out on the left touchline, and the lanky defender showed great skill to cut between two opponents before firing a fierce shot towards the far post that Morrison did well to beat away.

Nobody was trying harder than Ross Clark to satisfy the demands of the tremendous visiting support that they be rewarded with a 5^th goal in consecutive games, which coincidentally would have been the 5^th goal conceded by the home side in the same circumstances. Firstly Ross had a powerful left foot shot deflected for a corner from which he sent a right foot shot narrowly wide. Then Morrison saved another left foot effort from the same player, followed by a Brian Blair near post header, and then Ross saw the ‘keeper brilliantly tip over his last minute overhead kick from the edge of the six yard box.

Sadly, the edge was taken off a great team performance when a misplaced header from Damiano Agostini fell kindly for the giant figure of Steven Tarditti whose first time right foot shot whizzed past the stranded David Crawford albeit with the help of the ‘keeper’s left hand post.

East Fife are nobody’s mugs, and themselves are capable of a mid-table finish once they get their defensive frailties sorted out, so it’s very much to Queen’s credit that they should take all three points by such a convincing margin.

Next week’s match against undefeated Peterhead now promises to be an absolute cracker, and if Queen’s can put a dent in that record, particularly with Gretna uncertain to take all three points at Stenhousemuir, it would give Queen’s some considerable momentum to carry with them into the second quarter’s fixtures which begin the week after next.

ENTERTAINMENT VALUE :  4/5

STAR SPIDER(S) :  Ally Graham (a great all round performance)

QUEEN’S PARK :  David Crawford, Alan Trouten, Damiano Agostini, Gavin Rushford Richard Sinclair (Shaun Molloy – 54), David McCallum (Paul Harvey – 74), Stuart Kettlewell (Mark Ferry – 51), Ross Clark, Ally Graham, Frankie Carroll, Brian Blair

Subs (not used) :  Stevie McGovern (G/K), Brian Felvus

Scorer(s) : Clark (34), Graham (46, 58, 65)

Booked : Carroll (30 – aggressive behaviour), Trouten (40 – late challenge)

EAST FIFE : Scott Morrison, Michael Renwick, Kris Brash, Craig Lumsden, Samuel Linton, Leslie Byle, James Herkes, Gary Kelly, Brian Fairbairn, Derek Colquhoun (Steven Tarditti – 67), Kevin Steele (Robert Crawford – 82)

Subs (not used) :  Robbie Logie (G/K), Fraser Duncan, James McKenzie

Scorer(s) :   Tarditti (90)

Booked : Renwick (23 – dissent), Brash (30 – aggressive behaviour), Kelly (48 – dissent)

REFEREE : Mike Ritchie  **  (* = inept, ** = poor, *** = mediocre, **** = good, ***** = excellent)