By The Spider
October 4 2004

Saturday, 2nd October, 2004 Queen’s Park 1 Peterhead 2 (Bells Scottish League – Third Division) (Picture from qpfc.com) Peterhead won many admirers at Hampden on Saturday for their entertaining play which Queen's Park found hard to counteract.

By reaching 3^rd place in the League after eight games, Queen’s had already exceeded the pre-season expectations of most of their supporters, so to defeat the undefeated League leaders would have been some achievement.

Still, having inflicted the only League defeat that Gretna have experienced thus far this term, such a feat would not be beyond Queen’s if they were to fire on all cylinders. Sadly, Peterhead were in no mood to allow the home side to take the initiative, with Tully looking to get onto the score-sheet twice within the opening minutes.

First of all the wing-back sliced a shot wide from a quickly taken indirect free kick, and then David Crawford saved well from the same player’s deflected shot.

The opener was only delayed until the 9^th minute. Bavidge was the creator with a strong run down the left wing leaving Rushford trailing in his wake and, when a low cross came over, Damiano Agostini slipped on the greasy surface to leave the prolific Scott Michie with time and space to coolly side-foot the ball beyond David Crawford.

At this point things were looking bleak for Queen’s as the last thing they wanted to do was to allow Peterhead an early lead, but they quickly got themselves back on level terms to raise their supporters’ hopes once more. Mathers punched an inswinging Ross Clark left wing corner was punched off the line, and when the ball came back to Ross he laid it back to David McCallum who whipped in a delightful cross to Ally Graham whose header found Frankie Carroll on the six yard box who quickly swept the ball passed the startled Mathers.

For the next ten minutes, both sides managed to keep things tight, but then Peterhead created a great opening when Tully played a magnificent through ball to Bavidge who was unable to produce the side-footed finish to match the quality of the pass. Then Hagen headed over before Queen’s quickly broke away to allow Ross Clark to fire in a shot at Mathers from 25 yards out.

Ally Graham again set up Frankie Carroll, but this time Mathers was able to save the striker’s low shot.

Robertson nearly regained the lead for the visitors in the 33^rd minute when he latched onto Michie’s through ball, but David Crawford reacted magnificently to stick out his left foot to deflect the ball away. Then Bavidge fired in a powerful shot which the ‘keeper did well to tip over his crossbar.

Alan Trouten was unfortunate to see a well struck shot deflect narrowly wide of Mathers’ left hand post, and then Ally Graham’s right foot volley from a right wing cross from David McCallum slipped agonisingly just past the same post.

Bavidge was somehow prevented by Shaun Molloy from running clear of the Queen’s defence, and then David Crawford again came to Queen’s rescue by tipping over a Michie cross which looked to be creeping under the bar at the back post.

As half time approached, Buchan fired well over from the edge of the area, but it was Queen’s who then produced the move of the game. Ally Graham dummied the ball for Frankie Carroll who laid it back to Stuart Kettlewell who immediately fed it into the path of Ross Clark whose cross across the face of the goal was deflected at the near post for a corner. It was scintillating one-touch stuff that brought some rousing applause from the Queen’s supporters.

At this point Queen’s were giving a good account of themselves, and following the interval they began the second half well. Ally Graham headed a Ross Clark corner inches over the bar, Frankie Carroll sliced a shot wide from a good position, and then David McCallum sent a first time right foot shot over the bar.

Queen’s goal had an amazing escape in the 62^nd minute when Bavidge’s low shot deflected off Shaun Molloy to rebound off the inside of the David Crawford’s hand post and run along the line where the Queen’s ‘keeper gratefully pounced on it as Michie slid in looking to provide the finish.

Then Peterhead had a lucky escape when Mathers completely missed a cross and Raeside cleared Frankie Carroll’s flick off the visitors’ goal-line.

It was a crucial clearance, for four minutes later Peterhead scored the winning goal when Bavidge laid the ball back into the path of Jamie Buchan who struck an unsaveable low shot past David Crawford from 25 yards.

Shaun Molloy tried to fight back for Queen’s with a speculative left foot low shot from long range that fairly zipped past Mathers’ right hand post, but thereafter Peterhead were able to keep The Spiders at bay.

Alan Trouten was booked for a late challenge with two minutes remaining; as was Gibson a minute after that when he crudely blocked a run from Mark Ferry.

Although the result was disappointing for Queen’s, it was a brave performance from them against a side that are clearly destined for promotion if they continue to play the swift attacking football they demonstrated here.

All teams now enjoy a two week break before the 2^nd quarter of the season begins with Elgin making the long journey south to Hampden for a game where the winners will be guaranteed the prestige of 3^rd place.

ENTERTAINMENT VALUE :  3/5

STAR SPIDER(S) :  David Crawford (no chance with either goal)

QUEEN’S PARK :  David Crawford, Alan Trouten, Damiano Agostini, Gavin Rushford, Shaun Molloy, David McCallum, Stuart Kettlewell, Ross Clark (Brian Felvus – 77), Ally Graham, Frankie Carroll, Brian Blair (Mark Ferry – 58)

Subs (not used) :  Stevie McGovern (G/K), Tony Quinn, Paul Harvey

Scorer(s) : Carroll (11)

Booked : Trouten (88 – late challenge)

PETERHEAD : Paul Mathers, Craig Tully, Iain Good, Robbie Raeside, Mark Perry, Keith Gibson, Scott Robertson (Craig Campbell – 60), Jamie Buchan, Scott Michie (Alan Youngson – 87), Martin Bavidge, David Hagen

Subs (not used) :  Ross Buchanan (G/K), Clark Bain, Richard Shand

Scorer(s) :   Michie (9), Buchan (75)

Booked : Gibson (89 – deliberate obstruction)

REFEREE : Craig Thomson ****   (* = inept, ** = poor, *** = mediocre, **** = good, ***** = excellent)