By The Spider
September 28 2003

Saturday, 26th April, 2003 Elgin City 0 Queen's Park 0 (Bells Scottish League - Third Division)

David Robertson, the former Scottish Internationalist of Aberdeen, Rangers & Leeds fame, has got a lot to answer for! Perhaps an admirer of the minimalist style of football as so recently demonstrated by Boavista, the new Elgin boss put out a team which looked determined to simply sit in their own half for much of the game, and then try to sneak one at the other end.

Those comments appear a bit harsh perhaps? Well, you may also wish to consider the following points too:

• Queen's have not exactly been terrorising opposition defences at home or away this season
• Elgin needed to win this game to stand a realistic chance of finishing in 7th place in the league as opposed to their present 9th
• the previous Saturday, also at home, Elgin had overwhelmed East Stirlingshire by 3-0 so they must have been extremely confident going into this game

It has to be said that Queen's were entirely blameless for this being such an appalling game to watch because they were entirely committed to attacking at every opportunity and, even when down to 10 men, they still had Elgin hemmed into their own half.

Coach Kenny Brannigan's starting line-up showed two changes from last Saturday's defeat at Cliftonhill, both of them being enforced. Stephen Canning replaced the injured David McCallum at left wing-back whilst Willie Martin was given a run-out in suspended Stuart Kettlewell's midfield position.

With Mark Cairns a virtual spectator for much of the game, being played on a very dry and bumpy pitch, it was left to Queen's to try to find a way past an uncompromising Elgin defence, but one which was being superbly marshalled by David Mackay who was easily the home side's most accomplished player. One advantage of Elgin's defending in depth was that it allowed Queen's to build up their attacks from the back, and a great move in the 8th minute saw most of the team have some involvement before Willie Martin brought out the first save of the game from Pirie with a header.

In the 19th minute, former Spider John Gallagher earned himself the first yellow card of a tousy contest when he felled David Menelaws with a strong tackle from behind, so he could have no complaints about his punishment.

Whilst nearly every Queen's assault on the Elgin goal was being repulsed, the home side had to wait until the 32nd minute before earning their first scoring opportunity of the afternoon, a direct free kick which failed to hit the target, but it had at least allowed Mark Cairns to feel involved in the game by lining up his defensive wall.

Just before half time, Stevie Fallon feinted to go down the left wing before neatly bringing the ball back onto his favoured right foot which delivered an immaculate floated cross just beyond the last Elgin defender to place it right onto the head of Jonny Whelan. It looked a certain goal, by this time the cultured Queen's midfielder's effort lacked it's usual accuracy and his header across Pirie towards the far corner dipped just over the crossbar.

In the 55th minute another pinpoint ball from Fallon found Willie martin whose knockdown to David Menelaws was then laid back into the path of the supporting Stephen Canning whose powerful drive flashed narrowly wide of Pirie's right hand post.

A couple of minutes later, Love was booked for a trip from behind on Willie Martin as the Queen's "midfielder" threatened to break clear just inside his opponents' half.

Then a quick throw in from John Gemmell in the 63rd minute caught the Elgin defence napping, but Whelan's quick hooked shot failed to concern Pirie as it sped wide of target. Seconds later and substitute Bremner became the 3rd errant home player when he too was booked for a late challenge on Willie Martin who, while not impressing KB with his defensive positioning at times, did look to be very much in the mood when going forwards.

As Queen's stepped up the pressure, Damiano Agostini came close to scoring his first (and long overdue!) goal for the Club when he burst through the Elgin defence only to find his netbound effort blocked at the last second. From the resultant corner, David Menelaws headed wide from a good position.

The game finally and suddenly burst into life in the 72nd minute. The normally impeccable Stevie Fallon for once failed to control a long ball which broke sideways to his left to the unmarked and very pacy Bremner who immediately set off for goal some 40 yards out. No slouch himself, Fallon arrived at an interception point just too late and had to make an instant decision whether to allow Bremner to run in on goal or not. Whether Agostini or Canning could have got back in time is highly debatable, so when Fallon did clip Bremner's heels in what looked to be a calculated move on his part, there was little doubt that his immediate dismissal would be the price for his indiscretion. Naturally, there were those who howled for leniency on Fallon's behalf, but the player himself was experienced enough to know what was coming, and his scowl as he left the field was only because he knew that it was his error which now threatened to give Elgin the upper hand.

Love fired in a powerful shot from the direct free kick that followed, but Mark Cairns dealt with it comfortably. With quarter of an hour remaining, could Queen's hang on? No need, as they simply rolled up their sleeves and set about Elgin with renewed relish. A Ross Clark drive was held well by Pirie, and then Johnny Whelan earned himself a booking for a clip on Steele's heels at the halfway line.

With five minutes remaining, the game enjoyed its most entertaining spell. Danny Ferry fed David Menelaws inside the Elgin area and somehow the striker wriggled free of two challenges before clipping a shot across Pirie which the big 'keeper did superbly well to tip beyond his far post for a corner.

An incredible effort from the halfway line from Love then had Cairns scrambling back towards his line well beaten by the quick piece of thinking, but the ball fell inches beyond the 'keeper's left hand post who was nearly cruelly punished for his lack of concentration.

Up to this point referee Brian Winter, taking in his second Queen's game in consecutive weeks, had had a reasonable game (by his poor standards!), but he totally lost the plot in the 86th minute! Danny Ferry was wrestled to the ground by Steele right in front of the hapless whistler, who waved play on in the belief that Queen's had gained an advantage when the ball broke to Whelan. But Whelan had a man right behind him who challenged immediately, and so Queen's should have been awarded the free kick for the foul on Ferry barely a second beforehand. Play was stopped for a foul on an Elgin player seconds later and referee Winter was immediately surrounded by several players who were quick to voice their justifiable protests. Unable to explain his actions to their liking, Winter took the easy option and booked the nearest, Willie Martin (although it could just have easily been Damiano Agostini) in a bid to restore order.

As the seconds ticked away, Stephen Canning had a go from long range, but Pirie was well positioned to save.

Next Saturday sees Montrose visit Hampden for the last home game of the season, and surely this time Kenny Brannigan will get the home victory he now so desperately craves.

ENTERTAINMENT VALUE : 1/5           STAR SPIDER : Jonny Whelan (getting back to his dominant best)

QUEEN’S PARK : Mark Cairns, Danny Ferry, Stephen Canning, Richard Sinclair, Damiano Agostini, Stevie Fallon, Ross Clark, Jonny Whelan, John Gemmell, Willie Martin, David Menelaws

Subs (not used) : Tony Mitchell (GK), Jamie White, Paddy Gallagher, Ross Conlin, Allan Dunning

Scorer(s) : none

Booked : Whelan (77 - trip from behind), Martin (86 - dissent)             Sent-Off : Fallon (72 - professional foul)

ELGIN CITY : Martin Pirie, Graeme Grant, John Gallagher, David Hind, David Mackay, Craig Tully, Michael sanderson (Fraser Bremner - 51), Chris Love, Ryan McMullan (Michael McGregor - 89), Kevin Steele, Michael Teasdale

Subs (not used) : Peter Hamilton (GK), Russell McBride, Connor Campbell

Scorer(s) : none

Booked : John Gallagher (19 - tackle from behind), Love (57 - trip from behind), Bremner (63 - late challenge)

REFEREE : Ian Frickleton *** (* = inept, ** = poor, *** = mediocre, **** = good, ***** = excellent)