| Berwick Rangers |
| Queen's Park |
| 1 |
| 0 |
| (Hutchison) |
| Queen's play-off hopes might have finally died on this gloriously sunny day in England, but the renewed optimism that the last 2 games had brought wasn't wiped away. This had much to do with the fervour and passion of the support, who competed with and eventually outdid Berwick's fans over the 90 minutes even if their team couldn't quite do the same. The players tried their best, but too many had peaked against Stenhousemuir and Cowdenbeath and couldn't reach that level again. The refereeing of Mike Tumilty, who was very harsh in sending off two Queen's players, hardly helped, and the goal that won the game for Berwick came after Steven Reilly had already gone for 2 bookings. Paul Paton would join him in the closing minutes after a mistimed tackle was somehow viewed by Tumilty as an assault. Despite the win, Berwick were not able to catch Cowdenbeath, who clinched a goal-difference title win by seeing off Elgin, and as Arbroath were successful against East Stirling, in the end the result of this game wouldn't have a mattered a great deal. Still, although the season was undoubtedly a disappointing one, we saw enough to suggest that the next one will bring success to Hampden. Increasing our chances are the fact that a raft of key players have already joined up for next season, while Billy Stark is attempting to bring at least one old favourite back to the club. So, even if the dream didn't come true at Shielfield, at least the day did bring sunburn, hoarse voices, hooped shirts aplenty, bagpipes, and further evidence that Berwick remain the prime exponents of that art known to football fans the world over as 'title dodging'. Enjoy yourself this summer, and the Queen's Park Fansite will remain on duty during the close season to report on all the signing news. Who knows, we might even get a report direct from Germany when Queen's head there, post-World Cup, for their pre-season trip. Berwick Rangers: Gary O'Connor, David Murie, Mark McGarty, Grant McNicoll, Mark Cowan, Gordon Connelly, Kevin McLeish, Gavin Swanson (Sean Paliczka 81), Gareth Hutchison, Kevin Haynes (Stephen Manson 65), Ian Little. Substitutes not used: Robbie Horn, Scott Lucas, Alex Connon. Booked: Cowan, Haynes, McGarty, Murie. Sent-off: Cowan. Goal: Hutchison 60. Queen's Park: David Crawford, Paul Paton, Mick Dunlop, Steven Reilly, Richard Sinclair, Ross Clark, David Weatherston (Bryan Felvus 89), Tommy Murray (Jonny Whelan 50), Steven Canning, Paul Harvey, Mark Ferry. Substitutes not used: Alan Trouten, Damiano Agostini, Alexander Cowie. Booked: Canning, Reilly. Sent-off: Reilly, Paton. Referee: Mike Tumilty. Attendance: 1,015. |