cowdenbeath_queens

Cowdenbeath

Queen's Park

( Canning )

A routine enough win for Queen's, if such a thing exists; it'd be nice to think these sort of wins would be a feature of the coming months. Not always will we get heroic battles won, such as at Inverness, or maulings of our opponents, as against Elgin. But the scraping of narrow wins here and there is a sign of a true challenger. Queen's demonstrated in spells the kind of football they can play, with Graham a constant menace, Clark as energetic and competitive as ever, and Fallon assured in defence. Yes, Cowdenbeath should have been put to the sword sooner, but better this way than falling on it yourself; and despite some second-half pressure from the Fifers, Queen's were never in serious danger of losing their lead.
     Kenny Brannigan wisely stuck to the same starting eleven that defeated Inverness, not that he had too many options with the number of injuries sustained. This sort of continuity was comforting though, so surely a similar result could be obtained?
     The match started out with both sides content to lump upfield, feet or head, but Queen's soon began to play their best way, on the deck. Ross Clark dominated the midfield during the opening ten minutes, but will have been annoyed at his failure to score having had three shooting chances. He drove wide from the edge of the area after 4 minutes, then his pass was deflected through for McAuley to race clear of goalkeeper Carlin; from a tight angle the pacy forward tried to squeeze home but a defender managed to slide clear. From the resultant corner, Moffat crossed with precision and despite being in space Clark shot straight at Carlin.
     It was a promising opening from the visitors, who continued to probe. A slick move allowed Clark to break free, but he blasted wide from an excellent position.
     Derek Scrimgour nearlt embarassed himself after 14 minutes when his attempted clearance came off Brown's behind, but any danger was averted. Shortly after this a late tackle from Morris on Fallon was punished by a booking.
     It wasn't thrilling stuff but Queen's bright start had raised the hopes of the visiting fans, certainly as Cowdenbeath ( who I'd never seen play ) seemed like nothing special. A Brown volley was held by Scrimgour, then a contretemps involving Stephen McAuley and a ruck of Cowdenbeathians heated up the cool Fife air. In truth there was little to it; McAuley collapsed as if shot when grappling for a loose ball; an elbow may have struck him, accidentally if at all. McKeown got involved, McAuley reacted angrily and so Cowdenbeath's keeper intervened to drag him away by the neck. He escaped retribution from Mr. Brown; not so McAuley and McKeown.
     A couple of Graham knockdowns created chances for Stevie Canning, both of which were foiled, and in 42 minutes the game swung in Queen's Park's direction. Ian Morris's clumsy trip on Canning in the centre-circle certainly merited a foul, but whether it was a yellow card offence or not depended on how exaggerated Canning's fall was. The referee decided Morris had to go, and with the man advantage Queen's's latent superiority would now surely be emphasised. However Scrimgour needed to be alert just before half-time, tipping a bouncing shot clear with his upper body.
     You could smell a win for Queen's; a goal had to come. Sure enough, we weren't let down. Five minutes after the restart, following on the back of Clark's surge infield which ended in his effort being parried nervously away, Queen's went in front. Once more Ally Graham won the ball in the air, weighted his flicked header perfectly, and Steven Canning sent a rasping right-footed low volley past Carlin at his near post. A perfect goal.
     Stephen McAuley could then have sewn the game up but having had to check back six yards out, his shot was deflected narrowly past.
     Paul Harvey came on for Reilly, earlier booked and perhaps feared to get another. Queen's could have killed the game now, but betrayed some signs of nervousness in the remaining 40 minutes when really the game should have headed relentlessly in their favour.
     Not that Cowdenbeath were able to consistently threaten our defence, but the potential was always there as they made light of the difference in numbers. Still, it was Queen's who came closest, with hopeful lobs ( or miscued crosses ) from McAuley and Ferry pawed away by Carlin from under his bar. The best Cowdenbeath could offer came late. 89 minutes had passed when Shields was able to pull clear in the box, but Steven Moffat recovered professionally, block-tackling for a corner. Queen's kept possession for the short time remaining, Brannigan's use of Carcary - to run at a tiring defence late on - working well again, and it's a ploy that may well be in use for some time to come. A phenomenally quick player, Carcary has an uncanny ability to beat defenders and could just be the best young forward reared by Queen's in a long time.
     A game we really needed to win, and with that done, Queen's can realistically push for second spot in the coming weeks, with Montrose and East Stirling up next. There are still rough edges to be smoothed over, but Kenny Brannigan is creating something substantial at Hampden: he has a team always keen to play quality football and one well capable of doing so. In particular, he has Ross Clark who is rapidly becoming indispensable with this sort of outstanding form. Ally Graham has replaced John Gemmell and bettered him, being more subtle and mature, more of a giver than a taker. Steven Canning must impinge himself on games more often; he did today, and proved that he has one of the best shots in the division. Fallon swept up with his usual coolness, Scrimgour is a competent goalkeeper. It's a potentially strong team, but they must be more clinical in front of goal and learn how to shut out the opposition more effectively as a team.

Cowdenbeath: Andy Carlin, Calvin Shand ( Innes Ritchie 55 ), David McInally, Bryan Gilfillan, John McKeown, David Mowat ( Ross Matheson 79 ), Iain Mauchlen ( Kevin Gordon 79 ), Craig Winter, Graeme Brown, Dene Shields, Ian Morris. Substitutes not used: Steven Boyle, Allan Fleming.
Booked: Mauchlen, Morris, McKeown, McInally.
Sent-off: Morris ( 42 ) - second bookable offence.

Queen's Park: Derek Scrimgour, Danny Ferry, Steven Moffat, Steven Canning, Richard Sinclair, Steven Fallon, Ross Clark, Steven Reilly ( Paul Harvey 53 ), Ally Graham, Jonny Whelan, Stephen McAuley ( Derek Carcary 79 ). Substitutes not used: Allan Dunning, Paddy Gallagher, Brian McCue.
Booked: McAuley, Reilly, Whelan, Canning.
Goal: Steven Canning 50.

Attendance: 359.

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