By The Spider
August 15 2004

Saturday, 31st July, 2004 Queen's Park 0 Stenhousemuir 0 (1-1 a.e.t.) (Queen’s Park won 4-2 on penalties) (Bells Challenge Cup – First Round) (Picture from qpfc.com)

First round Challenge Cup ties have usually lacked the bite of their League Cup or Scottish Cup cousins, but this match was certainly an exception. Throughout the game it was clear that neither side expected (nor gave) any quarter, so great credit must go to referee Eddie Smith for keeping the lid on a tempestuous affair that nearly boiled over on several occasions.

Coach Kenny Brannigan handed debuts to Gavin Rushford, Shaun Molloy, Brian Blair & David Clark whilst goalkeeper Brian McCue made his first start in only his second competitive appearance. Otherwise, the side was on similar lines to that from the end of last season, so at least some semblance of continuity was maintained.

Stenhousemuir controlled more of the play in the opening exchanges and were the first to show in the 9^th minute when Kerrigan headed a free kick wide of the target. Fallon then found himself at the edge of the Queen’s area with room to shoot, but his powerful effort was kindly deflected into the grateful arms of Brian McCue.

Stuart Kettlewell was felled in 19^th minute by a high challenge from McGrillen who was rightly booked for dangerous play.

It took Queen’s side the 23^rd minute to create their first opening, but Frankie Carroll mishit his shot on the turn from an Ally Graham knockdown and it bobbled weakly through to McCulloch.

Brian McCue was far too complacent a minute later when he fired a clearance against the on-rushing McGrillen, and he must have been a relieved man to turn to see the charge-down just clear his crossbar.

The visitors tore open the home defence just after half an hour’s play, and Rushford looked to be the last man when his scything tackle brought down Laughlin on the edge of his own area. Fortunately for him, he was given the benefit of the doubt by referee Smith who leniently waved a yellow card in Rushford’s direction. The resultant direct free kick was curled inches past McCue’s unguarded post by McBride.

A decent move by Queen’s saw Stuart Kettlewell cross from the right for Frankie Carroll whose header just cleared the bar.

Stenhousemuir should have taken the lead shortly before half time following poor defensive play by David McCallum, but somehow McGrillen failed to connect with Laughlin’s cutback across the face of the goal.

Queen’s looked far more adventurous following the break, and Brian Blair came close with a header from a David McCallum cross. Then McCallum himself nearly broke the deadlock as his deflected free kick crept inches past one post with McCulloch static at the other.

Gavin Rushford then made a great saving tackle on McGrillen up at the other end which allowed Queen’s to launch a quick counter attack which ended with David Clark disappointingly prodding the ball at McCulloch when right in front of goal.

Queen’s continued to look the more dangerous side and a Brian Blair shot on the turn had McCulloch scrambling across his goal-line before a lob from Ally Graham dipped just the wrong side of the bar with McCulloch well off his line following a challenge for a through ball with Frankie Carroll..

McInally earned himself a stupid booking in the 67^th minute when he needlessly barged into the back of Frankie Carroll after the visiting wingback had been awarded a throw-in.

Substitute Tommy Sloan could have made the perfect debut a minute after coming on, but his very first touch of the ball which beat the on-rushing McCulloch lacked sufficient pace and was easily cleared away by the retreating Fallon as it trickled goalwards.

McGrillen looked to be yards offside in the 75^th minute when the ball was played to him at the edge of the Queen’s area, but McCue rescued the situation by coming off his line quickly to block the forward’s shot on the turn.

There were less than 10 minutes of normal time remaining when Queen’s lost good possession near the halfway line which set up Stenhousemuir for a potentially dangerous breakaway. The move was abruptly halted by a crude tackle from behind by Ross Clark which arguably, with a less lenient referee, could have merited more than the yellow card that referee Smith saw fit to brandish.

Perhaps aggrieved by this, Lee Collins launched an over-the-top two-footed tackle on Stevie Reilly a minute later which was enough for Eddie Smith to promptly produce a red card at the first time of asking to reduce the visitors to 10 men.

Queen’s failed to take advantage of their numerical supremacy and it was left to David McCallum to produce a stunning 30 yard shot in the very last minute of normal time which beat McCulloch all ends up only to come crashing back off the fortunate ‘keeper’s crossbar. Stenny then nearly took full advantage of their lucky escape by racing up to the other end where Kerrigan’s close range overhead kick crept wide of McCue’s far post.

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So into extra time it was with both sides still very much in it. Ally Graham chested a cross down for Tommy Sloan in the 93^rd minute, but McCulloch held the latest new-boy’s shot under the bar.

A minute later the 10 men took the lead in controversial circumstances. A dangerous cross into the Queen’s area was missed by everyone, but eagle-eyed referee Smith blew for a penalty having adjudged Brian Blair to have shoved Steve Kerrigan as both players went for the ball. He may have been correct because there were only some token protests before Paul McGrillen slotted the award away to Brian McCue’s right.

A minute later and Stevie Reilly was booked for dissent as the pressure increased in the extremely hot conditions.

David McCallum sent a free kick wide in the 103^rd minute, and just after the re-start Ross Clark fired in a shot which was well saved by McCulloch.

With the visitors looking well capable of hanging on for the win, out of nowhere Queen’s got back on level terms. A poor cross into the box looked sure to be cleared to safety, but the never-say-die attitude of Ross Clark prevailed once more as he darted in to nick the ball away before being felled for a blatant penalty which referee Smith had no hesitation in immediately awarding. Stevie Reilly stepped up to do his usual competent job from the spot by blasting the ball to McCulloch’s right.

Before Queen’s had time to settle, they too were down to 10 men as Gavin Rushford showed his inexperience to needlessly commit a clumsy foul which merited his second yellow card of the afternoon. Then Stenny nearly took the lead when Brian McCue fumbled a direct free kick, but he at least remained alert enough to block the rebound.

With four minutes remaining Ross Clark joined Rushford for an early bath when he too committed a rash challenge to earn his second yellow card, thereby leaving Queen’s to try to hold on with just nine men.

A minute later visiting substitute Savage had his chance to be a hero, but he headed over the bar with the goal at his mercy. Then right at the death, Brian Blair did likewise when he nodded a David McCallum cross over from six yards out.

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Time then for the dreaded penalty shoot-out. McCulloch saved Stevie Reilly’s effort before McBride beat McCue to give the visitors an early advantage. Paul Harvey confidently netted and then McCue saved from Savage to restore parity once more. Brian Blair and Davidson maintained the status quo, but after David McCallum slotted away his kick, the self same piece of wood which had denied McCallum a 90^th minute winner came to Queen’s rescue as it denied Murphy’s blasted spot kick. It was then left to Tommy Sloan to emerge the Hampden hero as he confidently placed his kick past McCulloch to send Queen’s into the second round.

This was certainly not a vintage performance from Queen’s, but Kenny Brannigan will take great heart from his players’ fighting spirit which was enough to see them through, and only the churlish would deny that they were marginally the better team on the day.

Thoughts will now turn to the League campaign though, and whilst Gavin Rushford and Ross Clark will both miss the 2^nd round, the absence of direct red cards in either case should mean that they will be available for this Saturday’s opening League clash against Cowdenbeath at Hampden. It’s again unlikely to be pretty, but few Spiders’ fans are likely to care should their favourites emerge with all three points to get off to a good start.

ENTERTAINMENT VALUE : 3/5

STAR SPIDER(S) :  Shaun Molloy & Brian Blair (both these new-boys showed grit and determination throughout the entire 120 minutes)

QUEEN’S PARK :  Brian McCue, Stuart Kettlewell (Alan Trouten – 76), David McCallum, Gavin Rushford, Stevie Reilly, Shaun Molloy, Ross Clark, Brian Blair, Ally Graham, Frankie Carroll (Tommy Sloan – 69), David Clark (Paul Harvey – 60)

Subs (not used) :  Steven McGovern (G/K), Damiano Agostini

Scorer(s) : Reilly (pen – 108)

Booked : Rushford (31 – professional foul & 109 – late tackle), R. Clark (81 – professional foul & 116 – late tackle), Reilly (95 – dissent)

STENHOUSEMUIR :  Willie McCulloch, Stevie Fallon, David McInally, Paul Murphy, Anthony Smith (Ryan Davidson – 60), Robbie Henderson, Martin Laughlin (David Morrison – 86), Lee Collins, Steve Kerrigan (Joe Savage – 106), John-Paul McBride, Paul McGrillen

Subs (not used) :  David Orr (G/K), Keith Knox

Scorer(s) :   McGrillen (pen – 94)

Booked :  McGrillen (11 – dangerous challenge), McInally (aggressive behaviour – 67)

Straight Red Card : Collins (82 – deliberately dangerous challenge)

REFEREE : Eddie Smith ****  (* = inept, ** = poor, *** = mediocre, **** = good, ***** = excellent)