| Queen's Park 1 Gretna 0 ( Ferry ) |
| After the euphoria of Tuesday evening, Hampden was back to its more traditional low key self as Queen's went diligently about their task and saw off Gretna by the only goal of a quiet game. It may have been that there was a certain amount of fatigue in the Queen's ranks after 8 games in the preceding 28 days, but the three points were extremely welcome, giving Queen's their first win of the league season and removing Gretna from the summit of the table. Two of the pre-deadline signings made by John McCormack, Brendan Crozier and Colin Stewart, went straight into the starting eleven, replacing Steven Canning and the injured Tony Mitchell respectively. Otherwise, it was the same team that had begun the previous two games, with Chris Fisher again having to settle for a bench seat. In the opening part of the game, Gretna demonstrated their abilities in passing the ball around comfortably. They had the first effort of the game, but Mark Dobie's shot posed no threat whatsoever. After 3 minutes, debutant Crozier picked up the ball on the edge of the area before firing in a shot that was blocked. But for the first 10 minutes, Gretna controlled most of the possession. The dangerous Skinner beat Ferry on a run down the right hand side of the home defence in 9 minutes, crossed for Dobie, and his header fell wide of goal. Queen's subsequently began to show themselves as more of an attacking force. Danny Ferry's positive play throughout was a feature of the game, and after Crozier had found space before laying the ball to Ferry on 12, the Queen's skipper played a lovely pass to Whelan. The Number 8 skipped inside, but his near post attempt lacked the power to seriously concern Mathieson. Within two minutes though, Queen's were in front. Ferry again showed his tenacity by gathering the ball in the middle of the park and playing the ball to Gemmell. He received the return in space down the left of Gretna's split-open defence, moved into the area, and played his shot low into the right hand corner of Mathieson's net. Ferry's ball winning skills had created a goal for Allan versus Brechin, and it was pleasing to see Danny grab a goal himself after his mistake had gifted Morton a goal the previous weekend. It also provided ammunition for those who feel that he should be played in a more advanced role on a regular basis. The goal inevitably sparked Gretna attempts to equalise, but they were rarely able to create genuine chances. Hore fired wide shortly after the goal, while Irons blasted high after collecting a rebound from a free kick. James Allan went close for Queen's on 22 minutes; he took a free kick quickly close to the left flank, played a one-two with Taggart and drove into the box before forcing Mathieson to tip a powerful hit away for a corner. Then on 31 minutes, Gemmell headed a Ferry free kick straight at the Gretna keeper. The game was being played at a fairly slow pace, which suited Queen's following the recent midweek exertions, but Gretna did not really look like a team who had won 3 consecutive games prior to this one. They were only able to give Colin Stewart a proper handling of the ball towards the end of the first half, and neither of the efforts was particularly noteworthy; a Skelton shot from the 18 yard line was saved at his near post by Stewart, although he was rather slow to go down, possibly a symptom of his lack of activity. That was on 36 minutes; 6 minutes later another shot by Davie Irons was caught by Stewart as he dived to his left. At half time, Queen's deserved their advantage, having had the better attempts at goal, albeit Gretna had secured a lot of the ball and at times had ran the show in the middle of the field, with Irons particularly influential. At half-time, Canning was brought on for Crozier, who had looked to have good ball control, although he had not featured all that prominently in the game. Then, a few minutes after the resumption, Taggart, struggling to run after taking a knock, was replaced by Chris Fisher. Fisher played in the centre, with James Allan continuing down the left wing. The opening part of the second half provided little for the fans to enthuse over. Steven Canning forced a corner 11 minutes in after Gretna handed the ball to him; his cross shot was deflected away, and Fisher's corner was parried clear by Mathieson. On the whole, Canning looked out of sorts playing down the right during the second half, and his deployment in this sort of role seems to be more to accomodate others than as an attempt to best use his undoubted abilities. Gretna's efforts on goal were restricted until now to long range hopefuls, with Irons firing off target for the umpteenth time on the hour mark. But they began to up the pace a little and put more pressure on the Queen's back line. Dobie slid a shot wide after Moffat had done well to prevent him from getting space. James Allan was then booked on 65 minutes after tripping Skinner, the one Gretna player who looked capable of outwitting opponents through his running. Ex- Queen's Parker Ryan McGuffie down the right flank certainly posed little threat. Within a minute however, Skinner had been replaced. After 70 minutes, Dobie turned well but was blocked and the ball ran away from Benjamin for a corner. Queen's were camped in their own half at this stage, but Gretna were still failing to make anything dangerous. John Gemmell was ploughing something of a lone furrow up front, but was putting in a power of work even if his ball control was occasionally suspect. With 13 minutes left Queen's broke up the park after Gretna gave the ball away in the centre of the field. Fisher moved forward with Allan moving free to his left. Fisher chose to go it alone, and the break of the ball got him past a defender before his shot was held by Mathieson. To be fair to Fisher, he probably sensed that Allan was tiring, and indeed the tricky winger was replaced by Richard Sinclair a minute later. On 81 minutes, it was Gretna's turn to break after Queen's were caught upfield following Gemmell's blocked free kick. Dobie ran forward and played Hore in, but the forward shot too soon and ambitiously, failing to catch Stewart off his line and the on-loan goalie held easily. Queen's were beginning to experience some shakier moments at the back as the tired legs began to show. With 5 minutes remaining, a Tommy Turner free kick was not properly cleared and the ball ran across the area as Hore tried in vain to make contact. 3 minutes later, Irons headed well over ( not again, surely ? ) under pressure from the defence that were determined not to cede a late equaliser. Queen's final effort at goal came from Danny Ferry, after Chris Fisher's corner from the left was unconvincingly cleared. Ferry's shot from the edge of the area flew off his boot and well wide. But the sweatiest moment was still to come for Queen's Park. Gretna found their best chance of the game in stoppage time, and it arrived thanks to an error by Richard Sinclair. His header back to Stewart was misplaced, and Hore stole in to nick the ball past the keeper. A goal looked certain, but that determination not to concede came to the fore as John Gallagher came in from nowhere to execute a brillant tackle, and the QP support breathed a huge sigh of relief. This was scarcely the most entertaining of encounters, but Queen's had defended solidly and allowed the Gretna strikeforce very little room to move. Matchwinner Danny Ferry was Queen's star man, not only for his goal, but for the sheer dynamism of his game. Colin Stewart will have far busier afternoons, but his re-signing by the club until January will surely prove a great bit of business. Not half as good a bit of business though, as Gretna being invited to join the league, after Queen's second win over them this season. And to think Queen's apparently voted for Airdrie United...? Queen's Park: Stewart, Ferry, J. Gallagher, Moffat, Agostini, Quinn, Taggart ( Fisher ), Whelan, Gemmell, Crozier ( Canning ), Allan ( Sinclair ). Goal: Ferry 14. Gretna: Mathieson, Hewson, Skelton, Turner, May, Henney ( Thwaites ), Skinner ( Benjamin ), Irons, Dobie, Hore, McGuffie. Attendance: 607. |