Reilly (qpfc.com)

This is a game that Queen's should have been highly motivated to win. Apart from the chance to lift themselves back into the top half of the table, there was also the small matter of gaining revenge for the inglorious defeat at Firs Park in January.

Right from kick-off, Queen's harried their opponents all over the pitch, none more so than Frankie Carroll and his new striking partner, debutante Richard Bowers, who ran themselves ragged for the cause.

It was virtually one way traffic for most of the game, and the only mystery is how Queen's didn't end up with at least six goals for their efforts. An exaggeration? Judge for yourselves!

Paul Harvey began the procession with a low first timer in the 2nd minute which went narrowly wide.Then Mark Ferry curled a shot just wide of the top corner before Ross Clark headed over from a Shaun Molloy cross. Goal no.1 should have come in the 9th minute when a close range shot from Richard Bowers came back of Jackson's right hand post following Tony Quinn's headflick from a Paul Harvey corner.

Tony Quinn sent a close range header narrowly over from a Paul Harvey free kick before McGroarty became the first player to be booked following a deliberate trip on Tony Quinn in the 14th minute.

Harvey and then Ross each sent volleys well wide of the home goal as 'Shire attempted to justify their attendance, but play was soon back at the other end with a surging run from Shaun Molloy ending in the wing-back's powerful low shot bobbling wide of Jackson's far post.

New boy Bowers sent a speculative long range shot dipping narrowly over Jackson's bar in the 20th minute, but the 'Shire 'keeper had no chance whatsoever when Tony Quinn rifled a shot into the top left hand corner following a short pass from Mark Ferry.

Ross Clark shot straight at Jackson a minute after that before 'Shire were nearly made to pay for being over adventurous. Stevie Reilly, back in the side after a long lay off (his come-back was delayed by three minutes as he was "sent off" immediately before kick-off to exchange his short sleeved no. 5 shirt for a no. 4 one), made a great diving block at the edge of his own area to stop a thunderbolt from Tyrell, and from the rebound, Frankie Carroll played a long ball over the top for Ross Clark to run onto, but his final effort was deflected narrowly over the bar.

Then Mark Ferry saw one shot saved and another clear the bar before another break-away from a Stevie Reilly tackle saw Tony Quinn and Paul Harvey combine to set up Mark Ferry, but with only Jackson to beat, his low left foot drive sizzled inches wide of the near post.

What should have been goal no.3 came in the 38th minute when another break-away sent Richard Bowers clear, and as Jackson ran out to meet him the youngster coolly lobbed him only to be cruelly robbed as the ball bounced short of the line before bouncing over the junction of bar and post.

A minute later the youngster had another chance, only to shoot wide.

The 4th golden opportunity for Queen's yielded their 2nd score just two minutes after the interval. Paul Harvey and Mark Ferry combined superbly at a corner to leave the former free to run along the bye line before firing in a shot-cum-cross which Jackson had no option other than to push out to the lurking Richard Bowers who quickly fired the ball into the roof of the net.

Then Ross Clark accepted a lay off from Frankie Carroll, only to shoot straight at Jackson. The chances were coming quickly now, and Frankie Carroll's lob beat Jackson only to land on top of the net, before the 'keeper did well to fling himself to his left to save a first time effort from Paul Harvey.

Ross Clark sent a screamer narrowly past before 'Shire should have pulled one back in the 56th minute when Donaldson volleyed wide when right in front of goal. It was an embarrassing miss which the striker tried to disguise by complaining that he had been nudged by Stevie Reilly as he was about to pull the trigger. Aw diddums!

Stevie Reilly saw a fine header saved, and then the overworked Jackson again came to his side's rescue when he saved well from Mark Ferry, albeit at the second attempt.

Shortly after the hour mark, right wing-back Harvey was booked for a deliberate foul on his Spiders' namesake before Paul dusted himself down to fire the free kick into the side netting with Jackson stranded at the other side of his goal.

Queen's subs now wanted a share of the goalmouth action, and Alan Trouten sent a trickler across Jackson, but narrowly wide, before Tony Livingston sent a long range effort narrowly wide.

Rae did likewise for the visitors before Bower's pace again took him one on one with Jackson who dived bravely at the youngster's legs to deny him once more. Alan Trouten was looking keen to get on the scoresheet, and from a Tony Quinn lay off, his netbound shot was deflected narrowly wide.

As the game entered the closing seconds, what should have been goal no.5 came when an Ally Graham header beat Jackson all ends up only to come back off the bar, and the 'keeper was a relieved man when Ally sent the rebound tamely back into his waiting arms.

There was just time for McGhee to be booked for dissent, before Frankie Carroll had the 6th dream of a chance only to fire his low shot off the post, with the follow up attempt from Ally Graham being blocked and Paul Harvey's final effort going just wide.

This was a thoroughly entertaining performance from Queen's who, inspired by Paul Harvey and Richard Bowers, ripped a sorry looking 'Shire to shreds. However, for once, the master class came from Tony Quinn who hardly wasted a ball all game, and whose awareness of those around him was a joy to watch at times as he volleyed passes that others would have simply been content to clear.

Whilst not blessed with an embarrassment of riches, Billy Stark's squad now has some real depth to it, and if he is able to replace any key players who may leave during the summer (Crawford, Trouten, Mark Ferry and Carroll seem likely targets), then he may still have enough resources at his disposal for what could be the most keenly contested campaign for several years.

However, there remains much to play for, and whilst 5th place would be more than acceptable, 3rd place is still a realistic target for the five sides who will also have next season very much on their minds.

Next Saturday there's the long trip to Peterhead who now have nothing bar pride left to play for, and if Queen's can get off to a good start, they may find it a lot easier than it would have been against a team that still had 2nd place to earn. Same again please!

ENTERTAINMENT VALUE :  4/5

STAR SPIDER(S) :  Tony Quinn (excellent use of the ball and a cracking goal as well)

QUEEN’S PARK : David Crawford, Danny Ferry, Shaun Molloy (Alan Trouten - 66), Stevie Reilly, Richard Sinclair, Paul Harvey, Ross Clark (Tony Livingston – 73), Tony Quinn, Mark Ferry, Frankie Carroll, Richard Bowers (Ally Graham – 79)

Subs (not used) :  Alex Cowie (G/K), Gavin Rushford

Scorer(s) : Quinn (21), Bowers (47)

Booked : none

EAST STIRLINGSHIRE : Derek Jackson, David Harvey, Graham McGhee, Johnny Walker, Mark Tyrell, Carl Thywissen (Derek Rae - 63), Paul Ross (Jamie Mackay - 48), Chris McGroarty, Ross Donaldson (Grant Findlay - 78), Derek Ure, Scott Livingstone

Subs (not used) : Tony Mitchell (G/K), Gordon Parks

Scorer(s) :  none

Booked : McGroarty (14 - professional foul), Harvey (62 - professional foul), McGhee (90 - dissent)

REFEREE :  Cammie Melville ****  (* = inept, ** = poor, *** = mediocre, **** = good, ***** = excellent)

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