| Ayr United |
| 2 |
| Queen's Park |
| 3 |
| McLaren,Moore |
| Ayr United are hosts to our first away game of the season. A good result today would be a share of the spoils, but the three points are there to be won. After winning our last two competitive matches against Brechin and Alloa Billy Stark might consider very little change in the starting eleven. They are doing the job but two games with the same sixteen may be exhausting for the players. The seasiders Ayr will be looking to get points on the league table after an opening day two-nil defeat by recently relegated Ross County. A fourth minute early shot on goal was stopped by the Ayr goalkeeper but he couldn't get to the rebound from Andy Barrowman. The second goal came in the second half when Stewart Petrie smashed the ball into the net. This wasn't helped by a five-nil thrashing from First Division Livingston in a midweek CIS cup first round game at Almondvale. We got off to a brilliant start at the same time, - Ayr United didn't. This will no doubt mean that Neil Watt's side will be determined to get some sort of form from the match today. So did Stark send out the same sixteen for the third match in a row ? The line-up at Somerset Park changed slightly with Tony Quinn replacing Paul Ronald and Robert Dunn returning to the bench. The game started with Queen's getting the ball down onto the ground and spreading it about the park. Passing football is what we do best and it is arguably the best in the Division. The first goal of the match came after just twelve minutes and it was from the man wearing number ten for Ayr, Andy McLaren. He recieved a neat pass from Michael Moore and buried the ball past Mark Cairns. To be fair, the keeper couldn't really do anything to stop the ball going in ,and over the ninety minutes had one of his best games of the season so far. So the start we didn't want happened and for two minutes we suffered the pain of going down 1-0. But Stuart Kettlewell got on the end of Canning's well timed pass after a great move of passes in the box, and got the equaliser. A bust up in the box between Richard Sinclair and Ayr goalscorer Andy McLaren resulted in the two men ordered off the park. The reds came after Mark Cairns did well to get the ball in his hands in a jam packed penalty area, when McLaren came in quite late on Cairnsy. Sinclair wasn't having it and pushed the striker before McLaren forced hands to Sinclair's face in return. Referee Stevie O'Reilly called both players to him and showed the red card to Ayr's McLaren first then turned to Sinclair and indicated a throat gesture, meaning he was sent off for putting his hands on his throat which he clearly didn't do. Ten men per team and the game looked to have died down for most of the first half. Paul Paton continued his magnificent runs with the ball, Canning continued to get into good positions and Cairns continued to keep the ball out of the goal in what was a battle of a second half. 1-1 wasn't enough for us or the home side. Steven Canning chased the mind-less Eddie Forrest who lost the ball to the Queen's striker. He looked up for support and then his lobbing the keeper goal came again - this time a little more spectacular, the ball flying over Ayr keeper Mark McGeown and the Queen's fans celebrated as the scoreline now stood at Queen's Park two Ayr United one. The game was closing into the last five mintes or so when Ayr brought the game level again through East Fife style long balls and a cross eventually found the foot of Moore which found the net. Seven minutes plus stoppage time remained and the pressure piled on the Queen's back line. The 90 minutes were over and the referee now added on the injury time. The game looks to have a final result of 2-2 and a share of the spoils and I said earlier that a good result would be the point but not after the way we played today. Three points is what we deserved and that is exactly what we got. The Ayr United goalkeeper Mark McGeown came off his line to claim the ball but was challenged by Shaun Molloy. Canning then had a chance but it was almost all over until the ball landed at Alan Trouten's left boot and into the goal to give us the much deserved away win. The fans went mental and so did the players and Trouten's celebration was seen as too much for the referee Stevie O'Reilly, who had had a terrible display and booked Alan. No time on the clock left and full time - Queen's Park three Ayr United two. The talk of the social club was that of - is Sinclair suspended for three matches or just the one and will the players be knackered for Tuesday's Challenge Cup match after such an amazing performance on the Saturday? Queen's Park: Mark Cairns, Paul Paton, Mick Dunlop, Richard Sinclair, Damiano Agostini, Alan Trouten, Stuart Kettlewell, Paul Cairney (Shaun Molloy), Tony Quinn, Steven Canning, Mark Ferry (Stuart McGrady) Subs Not used: Alex Cowie, Richard Bowers, Robert Dunn, Bookings: Paul Paton, Alan Trouten, Tony Quinn, Stuart Kettlewell, Richard Sinclair(Sent off) Referee: Stevie O'Reilly Attendance: 1265 http://uk.youtube.com/profile?user=michaelismichael, has highlights of the match |
| Kettlewell,Canning,Trouten |