Tony Quinn

The demeanour of the two sides prior to kick-off could not have been more contrasting. 'Rovers, looking for their 6th consecutive game without defeat under new coach Jimmy Lindsay, sent out an unchanged side from the one which convincingly (in the scoreline at least) defeated Queen's at Hampden just 10 days previously. The home side's confidence would not have been justified in the injury/illness ravaged away dressing room where a patchwork side was being assembled, but in its place there was definite evidence of a strong determination to gain revenge judging by the faces of the Queen's side as they lined up for kick-off.

Andy McGinty, Richard Sinclair, Bryan Felvus and Ross Clark were all missing from the previous encounter, but in their places Billy Stark forged cold steel in the form of Gavin Rushford, Jonny Whelan, Stuart Kettlewell and Tony Quinn to ensure that 'Rovers would not have things all their own way on the physical side of things this time.

Had Frankie Carroll shown a little bit more composure at the start of the game, Queen's could (and should) have been a goal to the good when the little striker bore down on goal with only Fahey to beat, but instead Frankie fired over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

David Crawford enjoyed an easy save in the 3rd minute as he sought to prove that his recent errors in judgement were merely a blip during a fine season.

An 11th minute pin-point right wing cross from Danny Ferry allowed Mark Ferry to power a downwards header goalwards, but Fahey grabbed the ball on the line for a fine save. The 'keeper again had to look lively two minutes later when comeback man Tony Quinn, making his first competitive start since the first of his two leg breaks 26 months ago at this very ground, fired a dipping shot straight at Fahey. The 'keeper was nowhere to be seen though in the 21st minute when Quinno's dipping volley came crashing off the bar, although Fahey recovered just in time to spectacularly hitch-kick Shaun Molloy's headed rebound off the line.

Veteran (though not quite gnarled yet) Jonny Whelan wanted a piece of the action too, and his near post header floated over the bar.

Queen's fans know only too well by now that their favourites are most vulnerable after a sustained period of pressure without scoring, and the old story was nearly retold seconds later when Wilson latched onto a long clearance from Fahey to bullet a shot towards the bottom corner only for David Crawford to make a great reaction save to his right to push the ball round the post. From the resultant corner, half the crowd groaned whilst the other half let out a big sigh of relief as Black's header flew inches over the bar.

It was very much a repeat of the previous game as Queen's tried to move the ball from side to side to stretch 'Rovers' lumbering giants, whilst the home side showed even less willingness than Saturday to push forward in numbers, and all too often the wasted good possession with long punts up the park which Johnny "Mercer's in my pocket" Whelan dealt with admirably.

As the significant half hour mark passed without Queen's conceding against the run of play, things looked promising although the award of a free kick 25 yards out three minutes later was a cause of great concern given Stirling's ability with a dead ball. Fortunately on this occasion, his direct effort curled harmlessly past David Crawford's left hand post.

Queen's responded with a great move up the right flank which ended with Mark Ferry's first time low drive whizzing narrowly past Fahey's right hand post.

'Rovers could have taken the lead right on half time, but David Crawford came to his side's rescue with a brilliant reflex save to push away Bradford's point blank header.

Shortly after the interval during which the home side changed their central defensive partnership, DC was again the hero when he thwarted Bradford at his near post.

It was a crucial save as it provided the platform which Queen's were now able to build their convincing victory upon. Totally dominating in terms of outfield play, if not in clear cut chances, at last Queen's discovered the killer touch which has eluded them in several games this season where they have enjoyed by far the greater possession.

The opener was sweet. Alan Trouten played a telling pass through to Paul Harvey who was now enjoying a more advanced role, and a perfect first time lay off allowed Mark Ferry to latch onto the ball without breaking his stride to place the ball low beyond Fahey's outstretched left hand from 25 yards.

It was just the boost that Queen's needed, and five minutes later Paul Harvey nearly caught out Fahey with a deceptive shot from a tight angle which bounced off the junction of post and bar before going out for a goal kick.

By this time the home side were being run ragged as time after time they fruitlessly tried to regain possession, but there was always the danger that from one of their aerial bombardments, the ball might fall kindly to one of their players. Indeed, that was very nearly the case in the 63rd minute when a shot from Mercer rebounded into the path of Wilson, but David Crawford did the business once again by flinging himself to his right to grab the striker's powerful low shot on the line.

That was a turning point, as Queen's drew further encouragement from that let off to really turn on the style. Paul Harvey demonstrated immense vision when 15 yards from goal to dink a short pass in front of Fahey when others would have panicked into attempting a speculative shot, but Frankie Carroll had read the script and darted in to nick the ball past the exposed 'keeper from close range.

A minute later and the game was finished as a contest when Frankie Carroll played a pass out to Mark Ferry on the left touchline before running to the edge of the six yard box to majestically sweep the return ball home.

It was all getting a bit much now for Wilson, and the home forward was booked in the 75th minute for kicking the ball away.

Things couldn't be much better from a Queen's perspective at this point, as they had now clawed back the margin of the recent home defeat. But no-one had allowed for the genius of Paul Harvey who took a right wing cross in his stride on the edge of the 'Rover's penalty area, played "keepy-up" twice, and then sent an outrageous chip over a bewildered Fahey into the far top corner from an acute angle. Genius is not a word to be used lightly, but there are few players capable of that level of skill (touch, balance and execution) in today's game, and "Harv" must now stand a good chance of collecting this site's "Goal Of The Season" award at the end of the season, bearing in mind that his direct free kick at Montrose was probably already a prime contender.

Tony Quinn has never been though of as a playmaker, but he showed a lot of good vision throughout this game in addition to his closing down abilities, and none more so than with his 82nd minute chip over the 'Rover's defence to allow Paul Harvey to volley the ball at Fahey who was glad to finally be able to make a save again.

Frankie Carroll should have made it five with four minutes remaining when Paul Harvey dummied a pass from Tony Livingston to confuse 'Rover's static defenders, but the prolific striker stumbled slightly as he rounded Fahey to miss the chance of securing his first hat trick, let alone his 16th goal of the season. Hopefully he can put that right on Saturday when Stenhousemuir are the visitors to Hampden seeking to avoid their 3rd defeat of the season there.

There were no failures whatsoever in Billy Stark's side, although he must have been particularly proud of the contributions made by Jonny Whelan, Tony Quinn, Paul Harvey and Frankie Carroll. However, just edging them out for "Man Of The Match" in this writer's view is David Crawford who not only made the aforementioned crucial saves, but also cleanly took dangerous crosses and showed good awareness with accurate long throws to start counter-attacks.

Stark now has something of a dilemma on his hands, because it is unlikely that he believes this line-up to be his best side. If fit, should the likes of Richard Sinclair and Ally Graham be restored, or should he leave well alone and send out an unchanged side? Who'd be a manager?

ENTERTAINMENT VALUE :  5/5

STAR SPIDER(S) :  David Crawford (flawless performance)

QUEEN’S PARK : David Crawford, Alan Trouten, Shaun Molloy  (Tony Livingston - 79), Gavin Rushford, Jonny Whelan, Paul Harvey, Stuart Kettlewell (Brian Blair - 79), Tony Quinn, Danny Ferry, Frankie Carroll, Mark Ferry

Subs (not used) :  Alexander Cowie (G/K), Ross Clark, Bryan Felvus

Scorer(s) : M. Ferry (55), Carroll (70, 71), Harvey (78)

Booked : none

ALBION ROVERS : Chris Fahey, Scott Friel, Sean McInulty (Gary Fleming - 70), Danny Black (Marc McKenzie - 46), Ricky Patrick (Wayne Gordon - 46), Kerr Potter, Chris Silvestro, Jered Stirling, John Bradford, Lee Wilson, Jim Mercer

Subs (not used) : Mark Peat (G/K), Neil Wallace

Scorer(s) :   none

Booked : Wilson (75 - unsporting behaviour)

REFEREE : William Collum ****   (* = inept, ** = poor, *** = mediocre, **** = good, ***** = excellent)

View a Printer Friendly version of this Story.

Bookmark or share this story with:

• Digg
• Delicious
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Stumbleupon