Crawford (qpfc.com)

Following the fine display the previous Saturday against East Stirlingshire, coach Billy Stark resisted the temptation to make changes for what looked a far harder task up at Peterhead, the only alteration being Alan Trouten replacing Shaun Molloy at left wing-back.

Queen's were pressed back during the early stages, although the defence was looking secure as they limited the home side to long range opportunities. The first of these came in the 7th minute when Buchan posted warning of his shooting power by firing in a dipping shot from 30 yards which David Crawford did very well to tip over his crossbar.

The next chance came on the quarter of an hour mark when a direct free kick from Tully whizzed narrowly wide.

However, in the 24th minute and against the run of play, the Spiders took the lead. Some good play up the right flank seemed to have come to nothing, but a slack clearance was pounced on by Mark Ferry who rifled an excellent first time low shot into the bottom right corner for his 7th strike of an excellent first (and last?) season with the club.

Neither defence was overly troubled during the next 10 minutes, but then the game burst into life. An excellent left foot drive from Tony Quinn was superbly tipped over the bar by Thomson at his postage stamp corner, and then the 'keeper made a good low save from a snapshot from Mark Ferry.

Last week's debutant Richard Bowers was already hirpling severely from a previous foul, which wasn't given, and had come over to the stand side touchline to await his substitution until the ball went out of play. The last thing he needed at that moment was for the ball to come his way, but it duly did so he shielded it on the left wing hoping to win a throw in. What happened next was like a trip back in time for some of our more senior supporters.

Like this writer, they can probably picture the horror tackles from halcyon days. Peter Storrie on Colin Stein at Wembley, Graeme Souness on George McCluskey, the one perpetrated by the Uruguayan centre half on wee Gordon Strachan, or indeed any from several by Norman Hunter. Yes, this was one from the archives as Tully went straight through Bowers from behind in a vicious and cynical fashion, and there was little alternative but for referee Steve Finnie to immediately brandish a red card as poor Bowers writhed about in agony at the edge of the pitch.

Bryan Felvus seemed a logical and sensible replacement but, not for the first time, Billy Stark made a rather puzzling substitution by bringing on Tony Livingston to play at right wing-back, with Ross Clark going up front to join Frankie Carroll.

Instead of going for the jugular to press home the advantage, the line-up now looked a very cautious one, and the danger was that Peterhead who had played with 10 men for much of the game the previous week as well would gain in confidence from our lack of threat up front.

Paul Harvey saw a low first timer saved, but the home side were now the ones starting to do the pressing, and Queen's simply couldn't keep hold of the ball as they tried to adjust to the change in personnel and positions.

Stevie Reilly was booked for a late tackle on Michie, but the half ended with Mark Ferry having another half chance, but his attempted long range left foot lob over a stranded Thomson drifted wide.

Queen's had looked decidedly uninspiring for much of the first half, so the hope was that some half time tinkering would see the Spiders take the initiative early upon the resumption.

Au contraire!

Hagen managed to get goalside of a ball-watching Tony Livingston, and it needed a good firm right hand at full stretch from David Crawford to tip the winger's low shot past the left hand post.

Then half time substitute Raeside rose completely unmarked to glance a header onto the base of the other post before DC did well to close down Michie who was clean through on goal.

Queen's were being run ragged at this point, and Gibson fired a low first time effort narrowly past.

The Spiders just could not get going, and their balance and shape was completely wrong with too many players around the ball when in possession at the halfway line, with no-one out wide to give them an outlet.

Something needed to be done to change things, but with an hour played the equaliser that was coming finally arrived when Jamie Buchan was first to a loose ball on the edge of the Queen's area to drive a shot beyond DC into the far corner.

Ironically, Ross Clark made his first contribution in his forward role a minute later when he head-flicked the ball on for Frankie Carroll to run onto, but Thomson made a brilliant close range reaction save to divert the ball for a corner.

Queen's now made the change that their play had been crying out for, with Tony Livingston switched over to an advanced left midfield role with Ross Clark restored to his right midfield role with Danny Ferry covering behind him.

The change opened up the game for Queen's, and Alan Trouten was the first beneficiary as he surged forward skipping past two opponents before being sent crashing to the turf by a deliberate trip from Hegarty, who had previously done likewise to Bowers, only to get away with it. This time he got his just deserts and was booked for his indiscretion.

Paul Harvey has taken several free kicks from a left sided position in recent weeks, each time finding the side-netting with the 'keeper stranded at the other post. This time however, he got it right, only to be denied by a great diving save from Thomson who pushed the ball off the line at the base of his right hand post.

The dangerous Michie was denied by David Crawford who managed to block his attempted chip before Queen's, now enjoying far more space to play in following the belated positional change, had an amazing opportunity to regain the lead. A wayward Peterhead pass out of defence was intercepted, and the visitors found themselves with four players against one in their favour. Mark Ferry prodded the ball to his left to put Tony Livingston through on goal, but the youngster was denied by another excellent save from Thomson.

The game could have gone either way at this stage, and after a trundler of a practice shot which was easily saved, David Crawford made perhaps his best save of the season in the 84th minute when he flung himself to his left to touch away a rocket of a shot from Gibson who could not have caught the ball any better in a hundred attempts.

As one would expect, Queen's finished the stronger of the two sides during the last five minutes, and former Spider Good was booked for hauling back Frankie Carroll as the Queen's striker ghosted past him. From the free kick, the ball was squared to Danny Ferry who beat a man before curling the ball towards the far corner. As Thomson moved to cover it, Mark Ferry rose in front of him to head the ball towards the unguarded side of the goal, only to get too much on it and send it over the bar when the faintest touch was all that was required.

The last chance of an overall even match fell to Tony Quinn, but his first time effort went over the bar.

Before the game, Queen's may well have been glad of the point, and yet ended up being disappointed by the failure to grab two more.

Next week, East Fife visit Hampden, and anything less than a win will severely jeopardise the Spiders' hopes of finishing the season strongly to grab that much cherished third spot.

ENTERTAINMENT VALUE :  3/5

STAR SPIDER(S) :  David Crawford (saved the day with a fantastic save)

QUEEN’S PARK : David Crawford, Danny Ferry, Alan Trouten, Stevie Reilly, Richard Sinclair, Paul Harvey, Ross Clark (Stephen Canning – 77), Tony Quinn, Mark Ferry, Frankie Carroll, Richard Bowers (Tony Livingston – 39)

Subs (not used) :  Alex Cowie (G/K), Andy McGinty, Bryan Felvus

Scorer(s) : M. Ferry (24)

Booked : Reilly (42 - late challenge)

PETERHEAD : Barry Thomson, Craig Tully, Allan Youngson (Robbie Raeside - 46), Iain Good, Mark Perry, Keith Gibson, Chris Hegarty, Jamie Buchan, Scott Michie, Robert Linn (Martin Bavidge - 77), David Hagen (Douglas Cameron - 80)

Subs (not used) : John Farquhar (G/K), Colin Robertson

Scorer(s) : Buchan (60)

Booked : Hegarty (68 - professional foul), Good (85 - professional foul)

REFEREE :  Steve Finnie **  (* = inept, ** = poor, *** = mediocre, **** = good, ***** = excellent)

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