By The Spider
May 17 2004

Saturday, 15th May, 2004 Queen's Park 1 Gretna 1 (Bells Scottish League - Third Division)

Any fears that either side might play this game at typical end of season pace were quickly dispelled as Queen’s got off to their customary “up and at ‘em” Hampden start. Gretna too were very much “up for it”, no doubt partly due to the desire to avenge earlier promotion-destroying results, augmented by the motivation of earning new contracts for the following season

Hard working Frankie Carroll was first to have a go in the 2^nd minute when he sent a long-range bobbler straight at Summersgill. Two minutes later, the ‘keeper comfortably dealt with a snapshot from Jonny Whelan.

The lush new surface was certainly not conducive to firing in low shots as it quickly took the pace off them, as evidenced by Spence’s 6^th minute effort that failed to trouble Derek Scrimgour.

Damiano Agostini has previously come close to opening his Queen’s account on a few occasions, but none closer than his 10^th minute pile-driver from a Whelan head-flick which dipped off the underside of the bar and away. Gretna almost took immediate advantage of their let-off as they quickly sped up to the other end where Baldacchino released Cohen whose low shot narrowly evaded Scrimgour’s back post.

Queen’s again came close in the 13^th minute when Summersgill failed to gather a high ball from Richard Sinclair whilst under pressure from Jonny Whelan, and Frankie Carroll’s first time effort from the spilled ball was blocked on its way to the empty net.

A minute later things were evened up on the “bad luck old bean” front when a measured curler from Spence rebounded off Derek Scrimgour’s crossbar with the Queen’s ‘keeper nowhere near it.

Encouraged by this progress, Gretna now enjoyed a good spell of pressure which began in the 16^th minute when Eccles headed narrowly over at the back post from a searching Baldacchino cross.

“Big-name” signing Townsley then sent a half volley over the bar and followed this with a wasted direct free kick in similar fashion. Derek Scrimgour then made a fine near post save from Eccles’ first time effort from Spence’s knockdown.

Jonny Whelan was demonstrating his usual commitment, but too much so in referee Murray’s eyes who booked the Scouser in the 33^rd minute for a late tackle on Spence who was receiving more than his fair share of hefty challenges.

Somewhat against the run of play, Queen’s took the lead two minutes later and whilst the finish was fortuitous, the build-up play was deserving of the final outcome. In a quick breakaway from deep in their own half, Frankie Carroll fed the ball out to Derek Carcary on the right wing who made good ground before slipping the ball back inside to his striking partner. Frankie kept the move going by sweeping the ball out to Paul Harvey just inside the Gretna area. Paul touched the ball back to the supporting David McCallum who struck it first time towards Summersgill only for the ball to take a cruel deflection off a defender and slip past the stranded ‘keeper at his near post.

Queen’s took great heart from this piece of good fortune and set about increasing their lead before half time. With two minutes to go before the interval, Paul Harvey played a great one-two with Stephen Canning on the right wing before he sent over a measured ball to the near post, which Derek Carcary headed narrowly past.

Another neat interchange involving Stephen Canning, this time with Derek Carcary, saw the young Queen’s prodigy speed towards Summersgill. With Frankie Carroll to his left looking for a pass, the remaining defender tried to block off that route giving young Derek plenty of time to pick his spot. Unfortunately, although the ‘keeper went the wrong way, the ball cannoned back off his legs and away to safety.

After the break Queen’s kept up the pressure and Jonny Whelan intercepted a low shot from Stephen Canning only to toe-poke it over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

Sadly, the remainder of the game failed to live up to the excitement of the first half, and goalmouth incidents were few and far between. Stephen Canning had a couple of decent half chances, but unlike his unofficial goal of the season at Elgin the previous Saturday, his volleys were not cleanly struck and spiralled off target.

Baldacchino should have equalised in the 62^nd minute, but he swiped wildly at the ball and sent it well wide of goal.

Stuart Kettlewell has been settling well into a right wing back role of late, and a superb tackle in his own half won the ball cleanly to set up a quick counter-attack with Queen’s enjoying an extra man’s advantage. Stuart fed Stephen Canning who, as always, was breaking quickly in midfield, and he then exchanged a few passes with Frankie Carroll who should have done much better than shoot over when Stephen Canning back-heeled the ball along the six yard box to him.

Gretna stepped up the pace during the last 10 minutes in order to avoid heading home empty handed, and Townsley made a good run across the edge of the Queen’s penalty area only to drag his shot wide of Scrimgour’s right hand post.

Jonny Whelan then brought a smile to everyone’s faces when he successfully made a five-yard pass with his head whilst lying flat out on the new turf at the time!

It looked as if Queen’s might just hold on for a home win as rare during Kenny Brannigan’s reign as one for East Stirlingshire during that same period, but an umpteenth hopeful cross from Baldacchino finally found a head in front of goal and poor marking left Brian Wake with the easiest of tasks to glide the ball past Brian McCue who was being given a deserved 45 minutes of first team experience.

Things could have been even worse as Wake then headed over from a last minute corner, but although Gretna enjoyed a lot of the play, Queen’s had created the better chances and a win would not have flattered them.

So, as is usual at the end of each season, the usual rumours now abound about which players are least likely to return to Hampden the following next season. Normally such speculation centres over players destined for bigger and better things, like Derek Carcary for example, but more worringly this time most gossip relates to the alleged intent of the more established players.

Whether players like Danny Ferry and Jonny Whelan choose to re-sign remains to be seen, but if they don’t then a significant contributory factor in their decisions is likely to be their relationship with coach Kenny Brannigan who is already allegedly responsible for the mid-season departures of Stephen Moffat, Stevie Fallon and Stevie McAuley.

Of course, if even better players are attracted to the club during the summer, some perhaps on loan via the old-pals act that exists with Ian McCall, then departed players will become distant memories like so many before them, as such is the nature of things at this special Club. Kenny Brannigan is also especially fortunate to have a conveyor belt of young talent emerging from the U-19 team, and if the right blend of youth and experience can be brought together, then next season could be one to look forward to.

However, those same circumstances could place an ever-greater strain on our coach who has yet to win over many fans, as the expectations for next season will undoubtedly be higher as a result of the U-19’s cup exploits this season.

Only time, and this website of course, will tell. Enjoy your summer!

ENTERTAINMENT VALUE : 3/5

STAR SPIDER :  Ross Clark (strolled through the game)

QUEEN’S PARK : Derek Scrimgour (Brian McCue – 46), Stuart Kettlewell, David McCallum, Damiano Agostini, Richard Sinclair (David Stewart – 61), Ross Clark, Paul Harvey (Martin Bonnar – 53), Stephen Canning, Frankie Carroll, Jonny Whelan, Derek Carcary

Subs (not used) : Tony Quinn, David Weatherston

Scorer(s) : McCallum (35)

Booked : Whelan (33 – late challenge)

GRETNA : Craig Summersgill, Ryan McGuffie, Gavin Skelton, Colin Spence (Wayne Gordon – 60), Kyle May, David Holdsworth, Ryan Baldacchino, Mike Galloway, Gary Cohen (Brian Wake – 39), Derek Townsley, Mark Eccles (Richard Prokas – 81)

Subs (not used) : David Mathieson (G/K), Martin Bell

Scorer(s) : Wake (87)

Booked : none

REFEREE :  Callum Murray *  (* = inept, ** = poor, *** = mediocre, **** = good, ***** = excellent)