Last Gasp Gemmell Kills Off Binos' Promotion Hopes

leapt like a salmon
By The Spider
April 13 2003

Saturday, 12th April, 2003 Queen's Park 3 Stirling Albion 3 (Bells Scottish League - Third Division)

Kenny Brannigan had to make one enforced change from the side that comfortably disposed of East Stirlingshire last Saturday; Allan Dunning coming in at right wing-back whilst Danny Ferry moved over to left wing-back, a position he has yet to play well at, to replace the injured David McCallum. Stephen Canning returned to the squad to occupy a seat on the subs bench.

In the 3rd minute Dunning proved adept at long range passing when he sent David Menelaws clear on the right wing and Stuart Kettlewell's header at the back post was saved by Hogarth. Immediately the ball was cleared down the Stirling right wing and in behind Danny Ferry where Crilly took the ball into the Queen's area before squaring to Steve Kerrigan who only had to tap the ball into the empty net.

Stirling nearly added to their account a few minutes later, but Smith headed a corner over the bar. Jonny Whelan then did likewise in the 12th minute when he attacked a Danny Ferry left wing corner well only to get underneath the ball in his attempt to get in front of his marker six yards out.

The same could not be said of Ian Morris though and he extended the visitors' lead in the 19th minute by rising high at the far post to head a Smith right wing cross home after Dunn had laid the ball back.

Richard Sinclair sent a rising drive over from the edge of the Stirling are as Queen's were stung into action, but Stirling's defence looked strong and chances were few and far between. Dunn earned himself a booking in the 34th minute for a two footed tackle, before Queen's somewhat surprisingly given their lack of penetration got themselves back into the game a minute later. The Stirling defence erred badly in failing to clear a Danny Ferry left wing corner and Richard Sinclair showed a good predatory instinct to turn quickly a send a low right foot shot past Hogarth from 10 yards out.

Whilst Allan Dunning was looking ineffective as a defender, he certainly looked promising going forward and a fine run up the right touchline in the 40th minute was brought to an abrupt halt by the shoulder of seasoned pro Rowe who had coldly calculated that a booking would be a worthwhile penalty for knocking the stuffing out of Dunning who had already shown the big defender a clean pair of heels on that same right flank. Referee Fyfe was quick to oblige with a yellow card whereas some might have flashed a darker shade given the deliberate intent of Rowe's illegal intervention.

Neither side made any changes at half time which was particularly strange from a Q.P. viewpoint given Dunning's defensive vulnerabilities, not surprising considering that he is a forward, but more for not restoring Danny Ferry to the right hand side that he flourishes on. No doubt KB had justifiable concerns over the trickery and pace of Dunn on the Stirling right wing and was seeking to counter them, but he was not short of options in that area as Paddy Gallagher is equally fast or the introduction of Jamie White could have allowed Richard Sinclair to take on that task, as indeed he did so well at Berwick earlier in the season.

Anyway, the Queen's boss decided to persevere with his experimental formation and Stirling once more set about exploiting it. Crilly forced Cairns to make a good clutch from a direct free kick before the same player brought out an even better reaction save, albeit at the third attempt right on the line, from the Queen's keeper in the 51st minute with a cracking volley from a Whelan headed clearance. However, for all that Danny Ferry's reluctance to cross with his left foot curtails his attacking skills on the left, he still gives his usual 100% effort as he demonstrated just a minute later when he sprinted to the back post to get on the end of a deep cross from Ross Clark, but he couldn't direct his header beyond Hogarth who had positioned himself well.

The ability of Stirling to play the ball in behind Queen's was highlighted in the 63rd minute when they ripped the home defence apart. Kerrigan's first attempt crashed off the underside of the bar and there was no-one near Dunn when he hit the rebound goalwards. Although Mark Cairns did well in the sense that he blocked the initial effort on the line, the 'keeper will be disappointed that he could only direct his save straight back into the path of Robert Dunn who netted at his second attempt.

By now it was clear things were not improving and, to his credit, Kenny Brannigan finally made the obvious change to replace Allan Dunning and to restore Ferry to his favoured right sided role. He did so by bringing on Willie Martin as a third striker and getting Ross Clark to drop back to a deeper role on the left side. It was a brave move but initially it had little effect other than to quicken the pace of the game.

John Gemmell stupidly got himself booked in the 67th minute for dissent which was at least the 4th time during the game that he had voiced his opinion in referee Fyfe's direction. Damiano Agostini joined him six minutes later, in his case for a tackle from behind, so no complaint there either.

Ross Clark had a half chance in the 77th minute, but to his own clear disgust he mishit his 25 yard effort which bobbled harmlessly past Hogarth's right hand post. Either side of this Stirling replaced their two main strikers with a couple of youngsters no doubt believing that the game was well won, but this was a bad mistake as Mallan and Kerrigan had been doing an excellent job of holding the ball up front, and now clearances would just be coming straight back down the park from whence they came.

Also, during the last few week's, Queen's have been extremely unfortunate as far as rebounds from the woodwork are concerned but, as Stirling were just about to find out, these things do tend to balance themselves out over the course of a season. A good move originating in the left hand side of the Stirling penalty area saw John Gemmell square the ball to Willie Martin and, although his fellow striker looked to have taken a bad first touch, he reacted well to push the ball wide to the ever-supporting Jonny Whelan who swivelled to crack the ball past Hogarth from 10 yards via the near post to give the Spiders eight minutes to grab an equaliser.

With only a minute of normal time remaining, it looked as if Damiano Agostini had blown the best chance of the game when he hammered a right foot shot well over the bar from close range to scorn the opportunity of scoring his first goal for the Club in more than 50 appearances. However, Queen's refused to accept that defeat was inevitable and kept plugging away despite Stirling's best efforts to kill the game. With referee Fyfe poised to blow for full time, left winger Morris stupidly kicked the ball away at a throw-in in a blatant attempt to waste time and not only earned himself an unnecessary booking, but also probably persuaded Fyfe to add on an extra minute for additional punishment.

Whether he did or not, we'll never know, but in any event we were in the 47th minute of the second half when Danny Ferry swung over a great deep outswinging cross from the right touchline. It was just begging for someone like John Gemmell to attack it and the big striker was quick to accept the invitation by rising above everyone to guide the ball back across Hogarth and in-off the far post.

No sooner had the pandemonium died down and play resumed than the final whistle sounded. Although the result still leaves KB without his first home win which was denied him in identical circumstances by Albion Rovers, he will at least be delighted by the fighting spirit which clawed the draw from the jaws of defeat. Talking of Albion Rovers, just how much would Queen's delight in some pay-back next Saturday when they have the opportunity to wreck the 'Rovers promotion charge? Be there to witness for yourselves!

ENTERTAINMENT VALUE : 4/5           STAR SPIDER : Jonny Whelan (a driving force throughout)

QUEEN’S PARK : Mark Cairns, Danny Ferry, Allan Dunning (Willie Martin - 66), Richard Sinclair, Damiano Agostini, Stevie Fallon, Ross Clark, Jonny Whelan, John Gemmell, Stuart Kettlewell, David Menelaws

Subs (not used) : Tony Mitchell (GK), Paddy Gallagher, Jamie White, Stephen Canning

Scorer(s) : Sinclair (35 mins), Whelan (82 mins), Gemmell (90 mins)

Booked : Gemmell (67 - dissent), Agostini (73 - tackle from behind)

STIRLING ALBION  : Myles Hogarth, Paul Nugent, Andy Smith, Mark McNally, George Rowe, Paul Hay, Robert Dunn, Mark Crilly, Stevie Mallan (Steven Nicholas - 72), Steve Kerrigan (Darren Cummings - 80), Ian Morris

Subs (not used) : Anton Nugent (GK), Fraser Duncan, Dougie Wilson

Scorer(s) : Kerrigan (3 mins), Morris (19 mins), Dunn (63 mins)

Booked : Dunn (34 - two footed tackle), Rowe (40 - deliberate obstruction), Morris (90 - time-wasting)

REFEREE : Ian Fyfe **** (* = inept, ** = poor, *** = mediocre, **** = good, ***** = excellent)