Queen’s Lack Punch Up Front!
Brannigan
By The Spider
August 17 2004
Saturday, 14th August, 2004 Elgin City 1 Queen's Park 0 (Bells Scottish League – Third Division) This was not Queen's finest hour, and the Club now have some difficult decisions to make within a relatively short space of time.
With Frankie
Carroll, Tommy Sloan and Derek Carcary all unavailable through injury, it was clear that
Queen’s attacking resources were going to be stretched to the limit. Coach Kenny
Brannigan was widely expected to adjust accordingly to only play with two up front, but he
bravely elected to start with three forwards, Ally Graham being flanked on either side by
David Weatherston and David Clarke.
Goalkeeper Stevie
McGovern was handed his debut, and whilst there were only the three starting changes from
the opening League match, it was virtually all change on the bench where Alan Trouten had
David Crawford, Martin Bonnar, Richard Sinclair and Bryan Felvus for company.
Last season the
much maligned Paul Harvey was sinner-in-chief as Queen’s under-achieved, but this
time around the midfield maestro has been in fine early form, and has displayed a much
greater level of consistency.
A minute later a
fine David Weatherston low cross ran along the 6 yard box, but neither of his striking
colleagues were on hand to take advantage.
Shaun Molloy
offered Queen’s some respite when he sent a low cross cum shot towards the back post
where it was nearly turned in by David Clarke who just couldn’t get enough on the
ball as he stretched for it.
Seconds before the
half hour mark the home side went ahead. A long free kick from the right was met on the
other side of Queen’s penalty area by Andy Roddie
whose low header seemed to catch Stevie McGovern by surprise as he could only get a weak
left hand to the ball as it rolled back across him towards his left hand post.
Shortly afterwards,
Ross Clark sent David Weatherston clear on the right with a delightful through ball, and
although the youngster’s low shot beat the advancing Renton, Cumming got back in time
to clear the ball off the line.
In the 36th
minute Roddie fired in a wicked direct free kick which curled inches wide of Stevie
McGovern’s left hand post. Minutes later the same player tried his luck in a similar
fashion from the identical spot, but this time the ball dipped just over the bar.
With neither side
having made any changes during the interval, Stevie Reilly added yet another yellow card
to his collection shortly after the break, this time for repetitive fouling.
There then followed
an incident which could have severe repercussions for all concerned. Former Motherwell
winger David Clarke has failed to impress in any of his competitive first team appearances
to date, so it was no surprise when Kenny Brannigan substituted him following yet another
ineffectual display. What was a surprise was the display of petulance shown by Clarke as
he left the field, only to kick a water bottle away in frustration.
That little show of
frustration could have been dealt with in the privacy of the dressing room immediately
after the game, but instead it served as a catalyst for a chain of events which few if any
Queen’s supporters will ever have witnessed, nor indeed will ever hope to do so
again. Whether it was due to the heat, or simply from having his authority publicly
challenged, but Kenny Brannigan quite simply lost it.
As Clarke slumped
dejectedly onto his seat in the see-through dug-out, KB appeared to shake him warmly by
the throat which resulted in Bobby Dickson entering the fray to drag the coach away. A
Queen’s fan, thought to be a player’s father, who had been standing in the
enclosure behind the dug-out, then came down to the other side of the dug-out to
make a legitimate complaint to Dr. Alan Hutchison (who has a potential conflict of interest in this instance as a member of the backroom staff, but who is also a committee member) about the man-handling of one of the players.
Perhaps trying to
avoid his loyalties being divided, “the Doc” gave the impression that it had
nothing to do with him, which no doubt concerned the supporter even more. The escalation
continued unabated as, at this point, KB became unnecessarily involved in the incident
once more resulting in punches being thrown.
Any hope that the
whole sorry affair could have been glossed over disappeared at this point as the 30
seconds of madness had taken place in full view of the
Whilst a temporary
cease-fire of hostilities was being negotiated, the game continued without interruption.
Ally Graham hooked
over with his weaker right foot from 10 yards out, but then it was Elgin’s turn to
threaten when, following a quick breakaway, Nelson fired in a shot which bobbled narrowly
wide of the target.
With just over
quarter of an hour remaining, Paul Harvey had a good run in on goal, but
As Paul Harvey
became increasingly influential, Black felt it necessary to resort to illegal tactics to
try to slow him down, and the home player was deservedly booked for his late tackle.
Queen’s had a
late flurry when Stevie Reilly headed over at the back post from a left wing free kick,
before a Ross Clark “equaliser” was chalked off after Ally Graham had been
adjudged to have fouled Dickson when in the process of knocking the ball down for
To add to the
agony, Martin Bonnar wasted precious seconds in the last minute by getting himself booked
for a late tackle out on the far touchline.
So Queen’s
lost three points, but have they also lost much, much more?
For now let us
assume that there is no to be no future involvement from either the police or the SFL over
the “Elgingate” affair. That would at least leave things as the subject of an
internal enquiry by the Queen’s Committee who now need to act both swiftly and
decisively to restore the Club’s good name which, judging by the comments of several
fringe members of the Elgin playing staff overheard by all in their vicinity in the main
stand during the latter part of the second half, has already been considerably tarnished.
It is not
inconceivable that Kenny Brannigan could find himself the subject of disciplinary
proceedings which could result in a temporary suspension pending an official investigation
as to his conduct or, if the evidence of independent witnesses corroborates the supporter’s
story KB could find himself to be the first managerial casualty of the new season. This is
not the first occasion that the Queen’s coach has been invited to leave a club
following violent conduct, and if history is to repeat itself it would be a sad end to his
connection with the Club that first introduced him to senior football.
It is also rather
sad that events off the park should take precedence over those on it, as much good work
appears to have been done over the close season and who knows what effect a major upheaval
could have after only the second league game.
This Saturday
Albion Rovers visit Hampden, and whilst most eyes are usually focused on the identities of
the starting XI as they take the field, on this occasion it may well be just who follows
them out that captures more of supporters’ attention.
ENTERTAINMENT VALUE : 3/5
STAR SPIDER(S) : Paul Harvey (ran the midfield for most of the game)
QUEEN’S PARK : Stevie McGovern, Brian Blair. Damiano Agostini, Gavin Rushford, Stevie Reilly, Shaun Molloy, Ross Clark, Paul Harvey, Ally Graham, David Weatherston (Martin Bonnar – 75), David Clarke (Bryan Felvus – 55)
Subs (not used) : David Crawford (G/K), Alan Trouten, Richard Sinclair
Scorer(s) : None
Booked : Reilly (48 – repetitive fouling), Bonnar (89 – late tackle)
ELGIN CITY : Keiron Renton, Stuart Cumming, Allan Dempsie, Paul Kaczan, Hugh Dickson, Stephen Black, Willie Martin, Adam Nelson, Alex Bone, Phillip Reid (Fraser Bremner – 88), Andy Roddie
Subs (not used) : Martin Piries (G/K), Iain Vigurs, Garry Wood, Jason McDonald
Scorer(s) :
Roddie (29)
Booked : Reid (54 – late challenge), Black (79 – late tackle)
REFEREE : Craig Mackay *** (* = inept, ** = poor, *** = mediocre, **** = good, ***** = excellent)