Share Of The Points Poor Reward For Hard Labour
Canning (qpfc.com)
By The Spider
April 15 2004
Saturday, 10th April, 2004 Montrose 1 Queen's Park 1 (Bells Scottish League – Third Division)
To the casual
observer, this was a meaningless end of season fixture, but for Queen’s a victory
would have kept alive their hopes of finishing the campaign in the top half of the league.
It was therefore
something of a shock to The Spiders’ ambitions when they went behind after only two
minutes play. Craig Smart, perhaps the best player
on the park, posed warning with a volley straight at Derek Scrimgour, but seconds later he
scored the most farcical goal of the season when he hit a trundler from 25 yards which
Ross Clark was about to clear when he got a loud shout to leave it from Derek Scrimgour
behind him. Ross therefore pulled out of his clearance but, inexplicably, the Queen’s
keeper failed to gather the ball and it trickled over the line behind him.
Smart decided to
try his luck again a few minutes later, but this time his weak shot was safely held to the
ironic cheers of the few home fans.
Queen’s had a
good shout for a penalty in the 8th minute when a header from David McCallum
struck a defender’s arm, but in all fairness it was ball to arm rather than the other
way about as the defender had his back to the ball at the time.
Martin Bonnar saw
his snap-shot saved in the 24th minute, but generally Queen’s were finding
it difficult to break down a resolute home defence who looked very dangerous on the
counter-attack.
Stephen Canning
shot wide with a difficult volley, and then Michie shot straight at Derek Scrimgour from a
good position.
Right on the half
hour mark, Stephen Canning turned quickly but Butter was well placed to save the close
range shot. Canning then set up his striking partner, but Butter again looked comfortable
as he dealt with Derek Carcary’s shot.
Allan Dunning was
causing the home defence problems on the right flank, and one typical marauding run was
abruptly brought to a halt by Budd who clipped the wing-back’s heels from behind.
Martin Bonnar
brought Butter into action in the 34th minute, and Stephen Canning ended the
half by hooking the ball over the bar as Queen’s continued to press to get back on
level terms.
The pattern
continued in the second half and Derek Carcary shot narrowly wide in the 49th
minute.
Montrose stepped up
a gear after this though, and neither side was able to make any headway until the 63rd
minute when Wood was sent through the middle but shot wide of Scrimgour’s far post.
That sparked a
brief flurry of activity and two minutes later Derek Carcary sent a hook shot over Butter
but it landed on the roof of the net. David Stewart was then badly exposed for his lack of
pace by Michie, but Scrimgour brilliantly tipped the striker’s high shot inches over
the bar.
A minute later,
David Stewart was quite rightly booked for a late challenge on Michie at the halfway line
which looked entirely designed to slow the striker down a bit.
As the game entered
its final ten minutes Queen’s had won the midfield battle, and Montrose were now
running on empty. Butter saved a low shot from Frankie Carroll, but Michie still looked
dangerous on the break and he nearly added a second in the 82nd minute when he
fired wide after his initial effort had been blocked.
However, with less
than four minutes remaining, Queen’s finally got the goal that their endeavours so
richly deserved. David McCallum received the ball in a good position in the left side of
the Montrose area, but instead of shooting he cleverly disguised a floated chip across the
six yard box where it was met on the run by Derek Carcary whose downwards header gave Butter no chance.
There was now only
going to be one winner if another goal was scored, and Queen’s hungrily went after
it. A shot from Stephen Canning was deflected into the grateful arms of Butter, and the
overworked home ‘keeper again saved his side in the last minute when he saved a shot
from Derek Carcary.
Sadly, on this
occasion, the final whistle came just too soon and, whilst grateful for a point at the
end, in the final analysis Kenny Brannigan’s side can feel hard done by at not
gaining the full three points.
Fans can be pleased
at the way the team fought back to dominate the game for long spells, and hopefully Queen’s
will continue to play a pressing game when they next take the lead rather than the
defensive formations adopted in recent games.
Whilst the
substitution of Ross Clark was forced by injury, KB also deserves a pat on the back for
making the right substitutions at the right time, rather than some of the strange ones
witnessed in recent months.
One concern though
is the continued inability of Allan Dunning to look lively after half time, as by now his
fitness should be improving rather than remaining static at a level below that of his
team-mates. Hopefully there is a simple enough explanation, but until Allan regains full
fitness, Queen’s are only seeing the tip of the iceberg as far as his unique
dribbling skills are concerned.
This Saturday,
Queen’s entertain high scoring championship challengers Stranraer, and it will indeed
be a tall order for The Spiders to halt their progress towards the title.
ENTERTAINMENT VALUE : 3/5
STAR SPIDER : Stephen Canning (an outstanding performance)
QUEEN’S PARK : Derek Scrimgour, Martin Bonnar, David McCallum, Allan Dunning (Jonny Whelan – 56), David Stewart, Ross Clark (Richard Sinclair – 16), Paul Harvey (Frankie Carroll – 71), Stevie Reilly, Derek Carcary, Stephen Canning, Stuart Kettlewell
Subs (not used) : Brian McCue (G/K), David Weatherston
Scorer(s) : Carcary (86)
Booked : Stewart (68 – late tackle)
MONTROSE : Jim Butter, Greig Smith, Stuart Ferguson, Alan Budd, John McQuillan, Steve Kerrigan, Kevin Webster, Craig Smart, Scott Michie (Robbie Henderson – 83), Martin Wood, Douglas Coulston (Graeme Sharp – 64)
Subs (not used) : Michael Hankinson (G/K), Euan Hall, Darren Spink
Scorer(s) : Smart (2)
Booked : Budd (32 – deliberate trip)
REFEREE : Steven Duff **** (* = inept, ** = poor, *** = mediocre, **** = good, ***** = excellent)