Rushford (qpfc.com)

Last week Queen’s deservedly earned lots of kudos for some superb play despite losing to Elgin, so the hope this week was that they could maintain their high standards but also get the desired result. Coach Billy Stark was all set to stick by the same starting XI but Ally Graham put paid to those plans by not arriving at Central Park until well after kick-off! Bryan Felvus was handed the number 9 jersey, and with it his first start.

Back in February Queens had scored a very early goal at this ground and returned home on the end of a sound thrashing, so when Frankie Carroll clinically fired home an astute through ball from Stuart Kettlewell in only the 2^nd minute, hopes were high that there would be no repeat.

The mistake last time had been to allow the home side to take a firm grip of the game instead of pressing home the early advantage, so this time it was good to see The Spiders press hard for a second goal. David McCallum fired narrowly wide with a volley from a well-rehearsed Paul Harvey corner, and then a great ball from Damiano Agostini found Ross Clark who cut in from the left touchline to fire a low right foot sizzler inches past the far post.

A 23^rd minute pinpoint free kick from David McCallum was headed back across the six yard box by Stuart Kettlewell but Bryan Felvus’s first touch was poor and allowed Carlin to grab the ball off his toes. A minute later Paul Harvey was involved in some tremendous midfield play before Bryan Felvus continued the move by threading a great ball out to Stuart Kettlewell on the right. The return ball was immediate but somehow Frankie Carroll contrived to slice his volley wide of Carlin’s right hand post from only six yards out.

Like Elgin the week beforehand, Cowdenbeath were being hemmed into their own half and a Ross Clark strike from the edge of the area dipped just over the bar. Then Bryan Felvus fired in a very powerful drive from 30 yards which, fortunately for Carlin, went straight at him

By now Queen’s should have been at least three up, but their supporters have seen this situation unfold many times before, so it could hardly have come as a surprise when Cowden equalised in the 34^th minute. If there is one area that Queen’s look suspect in then it is a lack of a tall central defender, something the home side did not lack. One of their giant pairing, McKeown, headed a free kick into the path of Dene Shields who hammered the ball into the roof of the net from close range.

If being level at this stage was disappointing, then going behind just two minutes later was excruciatingly unjust. Again it came from a free kick and this time it was Darren Gribben who benefited from a flick-on before side-footing the ball past David Crawford from 10 yards out.

In the 42^nd minute Dene Shields became the first player to be booked when he caught David McCallum very late on the stand side touchline. Mark Ferry was given a sight of goal two minutes later when a loose ball fell kindly for him, but his shot went straight at Carlin. David Crawford then did very well right on the stroke of half time to cut out a low right wing cross from Shields with Gribben waiting to pounce.

Cowden started the second half with some purpose, and David Crawford made a superb diving save to clutch a bullet diving header from Gavin Rushford who was attempting to put a cross out for a corner.

Some good build up play created another opening for Mark Ferry in the 52^nd minute, but his netbound shot was blocked. From another accurate right wing corner by Paul Harvey, David McCallum was again left free to volley at goal, but this time his superbly struck shot rebounded off Carlin’s right hand post and away to safety.

Queen’s were handed a distinct advantage a minute later when Shields was sent off after receiving his second yellow card for a stupid deliberate hand ball at the halfway line. This came seconds after Ally Graham had replaced Bryan Felvus, and the big striker was next to threaten for Queen’s when his left foot shot deflected kindly into Carlin’s arms.

Then Gribben made a great solo burst in from the left touchline, but his low shot across David Crawford just evaded the ‘keeper’s left hand post.

Stuart Kettlewell was booked in the 61^st minute following a marginally late challenge on Carlin as the pair slid in for a loose ball in the Cowden area. Queen’s now definitely had the upper hand again, and they created a series of good scoring opportunities.

Carlin saved an Ally Graham right foot shot, but then could only watch as Frankie Carroll headed a Paul Harvey free kick over the bar, which was quickly followed by shots from Alan Trouten and Paul Harvey that did likewise.

Campbell was next to enter Mr. Muir’s book for threatening behaviour towards David McCallum, before Alan Trouten stabbed a left foot shot wide of the target when right in front of goal.

With five minutes remaining, Damiano Agostini was booked for a late tackle on the nippy Buchanan, and then it was Kelly’s turn to have his name taken for body-checking Paul Harvey. After dusting himself down, Harvey sent his direct free kick inches wide of Carlin’s right hand post.

A lot of simmering tension finally exploded in injury time when McGregor went over the top of the ball when competing for a 50/50 ball with Damiano Agostini who reacted badly to the challenge by squaring up to his opponent before falling to the ground in some pain. Players from both sides became involved in something of a melee, and Stuart Kettlewell and Mauchlen became involved in their own sideshow event.

Once the dust had settled, referee Muir took the appropriate action which, whilst technically quite correct, was particularly unfortunate for Queen’s. McGregor was booked for his original dangerous tackle, as was Damiano Agostini for his initial retaliation. Agostini, clearly in some pain, was stretchered off perhaps even unaware of having received his second yellow card. Then, before allowing Queen’s to take their free kick, and having consulted with his stand side assistant, further yellow cards were shown to Mauchlen and Kettlewell resulting in Queen’s suddenly now being down to only nine men.

There was still time for one last effort from Queen’s, but again Carlin was in the right place to stop a shot from Alan Trouten.

Despite this second undeserved defeat in a row, Queen’s remain in 4^th place in the League, but they have now allowed Elgin to open up a five-point gap above them, whilst both Montrose and Cowdenbeath now join them on the 14 points mark with Stenhousemuir only a point further behind.

Indeed, with high scoring Gretna eager to gain revenge for their only defeat of the season thus far, unless Queen’s can start turning their superior outfield play into goals, there is every chance that by this time next week they could be languishing in the bottom half of the table. Were that to be the case, then there is the likelihood that already disappointingly low attendances could drop even further.

ENTERTAINMENT VALUE :  3/5

STAR SPIDER(S) :  Paul Harvey (ran the show in midfield)

QUEEN’S PARK : David Crawford, Alan Trouten, David McCallum, Gavin Rushford, Damiano Agostini, Paul Harvey, Stuart Kettlewell, Ross Clark, Bryan Felvus (Ally Graham – 53), Frankie Carroll, Mark Ferry

Subs (not used) :  Stevie McGovern (G/K), Brian Blair, Shaun Molloy, Richard Sinclair

Scorer(s) : Carroll (2)

Booked : Kettlewell (61 – late challenge & 90 – aggressive behaviour), Agostini (85 – late tackle & 90 - retaliation)

COWDENBEATH : Andy Carlin, Andy Campbell, David Williams, David Mowat, John McKeown, Innes Ritchie, John-Paul Kelly (Darren McGregor – 89), Gary Fusco, Dene Shields, Darren Gribben (Liam Buchanan – 69), Iain Mauchlen

Subs (not used) :  Scott Findlay (G/K), Calvin Shand, Darren Miller

Scorer(s) :   Shields (34), Gribben (36)

Booked : Shields (42 – late tackle & 53 – deliberate handball), Campbell (79 – aggressive behaviour), Kelly (87 – deliberate obstruction), McGregor (90 – dangerous challenge)

REFEREE : Alan Muir ***  (* = inept, ** = poor, *** = mediocre, **** = good, ***** = excellent)

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