By The Spider
August 15 2004

Saturday, 7th August, 2004 Queen's Park 3 Cowdenbeath 2 Bells Scottish League - Third Division) (Picture from qpfc.com) Q.P. played some very good football in this game, and the early signs are that this could be a much better season than last.

Anyone reading their Sunday papers who concluded that Queen’s were fortunate to win this game could not have been left with an impression which was further from the truth. From start to finish, the Spiders were the better side which was no mean feat as there were a few brief spells where Cowdenbeath showed that they are a very good side indeed when going forward at pace.

Kenny Brannigan has impressed upon his charges the need to make Hampden a venue which becomes less of a good day out for opposing teams and more of a place where they will have to fight tooth and nail if they are to get the better of his totally committed charges. Right from the start they refused to let Cowden settle on the ball and tore into them with some relish.

Ally Graham created the first scoring opportunity by nodding the ball down for Ross Clark who shot wide from the edge of the area. Then Frankie Carroll chested the ball back to the supporting Paul Harvey who forced Carlin into action from 40 yards out.

An early shot off target followed quickly by one on target. A minute later they went one better by going a goal ahead. Shaun Molloy launched a long free kick from near the left touchline, and with the Cowden defence closely marking Ally Graham, Frankie Carroll was left unmarked 10 yards out as the ball soared all the way through to him leaving him free to head the ball over the exposed Carlin into the far corner.

Frankie then tried his luck from 30 yards out which forced Carlin to make a fine save.

Cowden gradually came more into the game, but they could make no impact on Queen’s defence at all which made it all the more frustrating when they were gifted a completely undeserved equaliser in the 26^th minute. There seemed little danger when an aimless hoof was aimed in the direction of the Queen’s penalty area, but sadly Brian McCue came out for the ball without alerting the retreating Stevie Reilly whose back-header floated over the custodian and into the empty net.

Encouraged by this piece of good fortune, the visitors visibly grew in confidence and, after Ally Graham was booked for dissent, Gilfillan fired in a low shot which forced Brian McCue into a good save.

The remainder of the first half deteriorated into a dour midfield tussle, so it was something of a relief when referee Collum signalled for the interval to allow both sides to regroup.

Once again Queen’s emerged looking for an early breakthrough, and a header from Ally Graham to Ross Clark was in turn headed onto Frankie Carroll who just couldn’t get enough power on the ball to lift it over Carlin who saved at full stretch.

Refusing to be discouraged, Frankie then sent a searching crossfield pass to David Clarke before embarking on a 40 yard sprint to position himself deep inside the Cowden penalty area to receive Clarke’s immaculate return ball. It could have been a goal to remember but, by being at full pace, Frankie had no option but to hit the ball first time and the ball squirmed inches past Carlin’s right hand post.

Gilfillan was looking the visitors’ most dangerous player, and his 52^nd minute header from a free kick that also went narrowly wide was a timely reminder of the need to keep things tight at the back.

A minute later Shaun Molloy showed that he could have the ability to grab the occasional goal this season when his 25-yard volley sped narrowly past Carlin’s right post.

Stevie Reilly picked up a yellow card shortly afterwards when he was spotted tugging on Buchanan’s jersey at the edge of Queen’s penalty area.

Gilfillan again came close on the hour mark when he fired a free kick just wide. His team-mate Ritchie then became the first visiting player to be booked a minute later, referee Collum finally losing patience with the midfielder after his umpteenth foul, this latest one being a trip on Carroll.

Bryan Gilfillan finally got onto the scoresheet when the home defence went completely to sleep, and he was left entirely unmarked to clinically shoot beyond Brian McCue into the far corner.

Queen’s tried hard to get back on level terms, but for the second week in a row they were thwarted by the crossbar which fairly rattled following a direct free kick from Ross Clark.

As the game entered the last 10 minutes, Kenny Brannigan beckoned to Stuart Kettlewell to get ready to come on, and this seemed to have a galvanising effect on the others. Neither Ally Graham nor Paul Harvey have won over all sections of the Q.P. support during their time at Hampden, but both stood up to be counted on this occasion, with Harvey in particular lifting the pace of the Queen’s game to the extent that it became one-way traffic in the direction of the Cowden goalmouth.

Ally Graham headed a free kick narrowly wide, Tommy Sloan shot just over the bar and Kelly was cautioned for obstruction on David McCallum as the pressure on the visitors grew. Brian Blair was then booked for dissent as Queen’s frustration also grew, and Campbell joined them for a trip on Tommy Sloan.

Justice was done from the resultant free kick though. Both Cowdenbeath’s goals had come as the result of some comical defending, so it was only fit and proper that Queen’s should equalise in similar circumstances when David McCallum took advantage of a shoddy defensive wall to place the ball low into the unguarded near post. It was the kind of goal you might expect to see from a right-footed player so quite how McCallum was able to achieve it with his favoured left foot will leave Carlin having nightmares about it for weeks to come.

The draw would still have been kind to the visitors, but more than welcome to Queen’s a couple of minutes earlier. It was therefore something of a bonus when, completely out of the blue, the Spiders found themselves back in front a minute later.

Again, it was down to some comical defending. A hopeful ball was launched into the heart of the Cowden area, but ‘keeper Carlin failed to communicate effectively with his defence that he was coming out for a simple catch, and the ball was only half cleared by Ritchie to the edge of the area where Frankie Carroll was just able to get enough on it to send it all the way back into the empty net to cue some of the most exuberant celebrations seen at a Queen’s home game for some seasons.

Cowden looked visibly stunned and were unable to provide any late threat. Queen’s have therefore got off to the best possible start with back to back home wins, and particularly encouraging for fans and players alike must be the fact that both victories have been achieved despite being behind in the closing stages.

It matters not that Queen’s are some way short of being promotion contenders at this stage, but neither do they look like a team who will finish near the bottom of the table either. Apparently KB is confident that he can add another couple of players to the squad during the next couple of weeks, and if can secure the services of a good right wing-back (Danny Ferry or Richard Sinclair would do nicely) and another striker (pending Derek Carcary’s position being clarified), then who’s to say what could be achieved.

This Wednesday though it’s yet another competition, this time Stirling Albion providing the opposition at Forthbank for a League Cup tie. The outcome of this match matters less than the previous two, which were both against Third Division opponents. That is the standard by which this present side needs to be judged, and whilst it would be nice to progress further, it is the result at Elgin next Saturday which will have the greater bearing on the Club’s fortunes this season.

A win in midweek would still be nice though!

ENTERTAINMENT VALUE : 4/5

STAR SPIDER(S) :  Frankie Carroll (worked like a Trojan throughout and unlucky not to have a hat trick to his credit)

QUEEN’S PARK :  Brian McCue, Brian Blair, David McCallum, Gavin Rushford, Stevie Reilly, Shaun Molloy, Ross Clark, Paul Harvey, Ally Graham, Frankie Carroll (Alan Trouten – 77), David Clarke (Tommy Sloan – 68)

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

Scorer(s) : Carroll (8, 88), McCallum (87)

Booked : Graham (29 – dissent), Reilly (59 – professional foul), Blair (84 – dissent)

COWDENBEATH :  Andy Carlin, Calvin Shand, Andy Campbell, Bryan Gilfillan, John McKeown, Innes Ritchie, Iain Mauchlen, Paul McHale, Craig Scott (Liam Buchanan – 52), David Mowat (Ryan McCallum – 72), John-Paul Burns (John-Paul Kelly – 37)

Subs (not used) :  Stephan Gollasch (G/K), Chris Gray

Scorer(s) :   Reilly (o.g. – 26), Gilfillan (62)

Booked : Ritchie (61 – repetitive fouling), Kelly (83 – obstruction), Campbell (86 – late challenge)

REFEREE : William Collum ****   (* = inept, ** = poor, *** = mediocre, **** = good, ***** = excellent)