By The Spider
January 19 2004

Saturday, 17th January, 2004 Gretna 0 Queen's Park 1 (Bells Scottish League – Third Division)

Kenny Brannigan took some deserved flak for his starting line up against Stranraer, so all credit to him for spotting the main deficiencies and correcting them accordingly. More bite was needed in midfield, hence the inclusion of Ross Clark and Jonny Whelan, whilst Frankie Carroll and Derek Carcary provided some much needed movement up front. A big question mark still continues to hang over Paul Harvey as the "thread through an eye of a needle" passes KB promised have yet to materialise, and Tony Quinn's alternative style of play may yet dictate the boss's thinking in that area.

The game started in similar fashion to the previous Saturday with Queen's playing at a very high tempo, and again creating a couple of good openings in the first two minutes. The pacy Derek Carcary sent Frankie Carroll free on the left and when Frankie's low cross was stepped over by Paul Harvey, Ross Clark sent one of his typical hit and hope efforts miles over the bar. Young Carcary himself then came close with a close range shot which Mathieson did well to save.

Fortunately for Queen's, Ross Clark is equally capable of spooning the ball over the bar at the other end which is just as well because he had to do so right in front of his goal and only four yards out when defending a dangerous cross from Baldacchino who has just signed a three and a half year contract for the full time outfit following the end of his loan deal from Carlisle.

Gretna came closer still in the 9th minute when Skelton sweetly hit a short free kick only to see his shot deflect narrowly wide for a corner. Jonny Whelan showed the value of his presence two minutes later when he robbed an opponent in midfield and sent an early cross into the path of Frankie Carroll who directed his full stretch side-foot volley straight at Mathieson.

Holdsworth was looking a commanding figure at the back for the home side, and he showed his worth at the other end too when he got into good position only to see his free header confidently clutched by Derek Scrimgour.

Stevie Fallon then came close twice in quick succession, firstly forcing Mathieson to dive full length to his left to save Faldo's curler and then, three minutes later in the 19th minute, the big 'keeper showed great reflexes to tip a close range effort inches round the other post.

Baldacchino was a constant threat in the early stages and the winger nearly grabbed the opener in the 29th minute when a right wing cross was deflected over Derek Scrimgour, but somehow the Queen's 'keeper managed to twist acrobatically in mid-air to tip the ball over the bar from behind him. From the resultant corner Holdsworth came even closer than quarter of an hour previous when he again powered a header towards goal, only to hang his head in disappointment as it clipped the crossbar on its way over.

Then, as Gretna continued to dominate this portion of the game, Skelton headed just over at the back post before firing narrowly wide of Scrimgour's right hand post from just outside the area.

Having survived so many near things, Queen's then missed a golden opportunity of their own in the 38th minute when Derek Carcary almost completely missed a free header in front of goal only making minimal contact with the ball. Gretna immediately swept back down to the other end, and after Cohen had turned Damiano Agostini inside out on the right edge of the Queen's penalty area, Stevens was left with a completely open goal six yards out, but somehow he contrived to side-foot the ball over the bar. David Jackson eat your heart out!

Agostini was in the thick of the action at this stage and was deservedly booked a minute before half time for tripping an opponent from behind before, with the referee looking at his watch, big Di superbly judged a clearance right in front of his own goal by whacking the ball off Derek Scrimgour's left hand post and away to safety. So modest is the big man, he'll even try to convince you that he was attempting to put the ball out for a corner!

It had been an engrossing 45 minutes, but the game needed a goal if the momentum of that first period was to be sustained.

Within seconds of the re-start, Ross Clark again did superbly well to volley another Baldacchino cross over his own bar from four yards out. At the other end, Derek Carcary did very well to get between Mathieson and the ball, and the youngster could have earned a penalty when he went down in the box following a clumsy challenge from the 'keeper. However, the ball broke kindly to Frankie Carroll and, with two defenders on the line, it needed a lot more to beat them than the tentative stab that Frankie gave the ball, and the danger was easily cleared.

The wee man came much closer in the 50th minute though, his direct free kick curling inches wide of the postage stamp corner.

There was a moment of controversy in the 59th minute when stand side assistant referee Keith Sorbie raised his flag to draw referee Brian Winter's attention to an incident just outside Queen's area. Winter and both sets of players trooped back from Gretna's half whereupon, without further consultation between the officials, Stevie Fallon was booked (perhaps for dissent to Mr. Sorbie?) and a dangerous free kick awarded to the home side. Derek Scrimgour came to the rescue again to tip Baldacchino's powerful effort over the bar.

The best of the action was now sadly over, and neither side was nearly as creative as they had been earlier. Indeed, the next noteworthy incident was the booking of Holdsworth in the 85th minute for a quite shocking and crude tackle at the halfway line on Derek Carcary from behind, which was certainly worthy of a sending off in itself.

Two minutes later though came the goal that caused the Division's shock of the day. Stuart Kettlewell swung over a corner from the right, ironically very similar to earlier ones from Paul Harvey, and Stevie Reilly (who had been having a very quiet game by his standards) rose well to power a header beyond Mathieson which was missed by a defender at the 'keeper's left hand post as he tried to half volley it clear.

Things could have got even better with a minute remaining. Frankie Carroll used his body very well to get between Maddison and the ball inside the Gretna area, but the striker's quick shot on the turn flashed wide of Mathieson's left hand post.

So, a great three points for The Spiders, and this victory also takes them above Albion Rovers in the League table thereby providing another boost to the players' beleaguered morale. Hopefully Kenny Brannigan will stick by the same players for next week's home match against Montrose, and particularly to allow the blossoming Carroll/Carcary partnership another chance to flourish..

ENTERTAINMENT VALUE : 3/5

STAR SPIDER :  Frankie Carroll (plenty of contenders, but the wee man has probably never worked harder for the cause)

QUEEN’S PARK : Derek Scrimgour, Danny Ferry,  David Stewart, Ross Clark, Damiano Agostini, Stevie Fallon, Derek Carcary, Stevie Reilly, Frankie Carroll, Jonny Whelan, Paul Harvey (Stuart Kettlewell - 81)

Subs (not used) : David Crawford(G/K), David McCallum, Paddy Gallagher, Stevie McAuley

Scorer(s) : Reilly (87)

Booked : Agostini (44 - trip from behind), Fallon (59 - dissent)

GRETNA : David Mathieson, Mark Birch, Lee Maddison, Richard Prokas (Danny Lennon - 63), David Irons, David Holdsworth, Ryan Baldacchino, Mick Galloway, Ian Stevens (Martin Cameron - 63), Gary Cohen (Wayne Gordon - 72), Gavin Skelton

Subs (not used) : Craig Summersgill (G/K), Ryan McGuffie

Scorer(s) : none

Booked : Holdsworth (85 - tackle from behind)

REFEREE : Brian Winter ****  (* = inept, ** = poor, *** = mediocre, **** = good, ***** = excellent)