Young Ross Conlin, who unknown to me at the time travelled up on the supporters' bus, was listed as a subsitute as Kenny Brannigan was forced to delve into the youths due to injuries and suspensions. Willie Martin was handed a deserved starting place, and Stevie Canning returned for his first start since 22nd February at Montrose.
Elgin have been struggling in the league throughout the season but with the promise engendered with the appointment of a new coach one would have been expected to see a little more adventurousness from the home team. As it was, they sat in from the beginning and allowed Queen's to take all of the early attacking initiatives. Damiano Agostini - who would have more shots in this game than he had probably managed in the rest of the season put together - volleyed over after 4 minutes after Canning's short corner. Five minutes later Willie Martin met David Menelaws's cross after good interchanging between the latter and Ferry but he failed to get any purchase on the header.
Entertainment was largely in famine-like supply during a tepid first period. Elgin's first near-chance came when McMullan just missed a cross, and shortly after former Hoop John Gallagher was booked after coming in late from behind on Willie Martin. John certainly hasn't lost any of his pace or timing since the move to Borough Briggs - I mean making it from Glasgow to Elgin for 3 o'clock every other Saturday ain't bad.
Menelaws then typified the classic spirit of the fiery wee guy after a suspected half-hearted elbow by Love - a brief confrontation followed, but nothing to get too animated about. Elgin's main threat to Queen's at this stage was certainly coming more from their strong-tackling than any skill or danger up front.
A Tully free-kick bounced wide with Cairns well-placed at his right-hand post after 32 minutes, and 9 minutes later Queen's had a penalty claim when John Gemmell appeared to be held when challenging for a cross, but with hindsight the big man may have been giving as good as he was getting.
With half-time looming Queen's best chance was created and squandered. Stevie Fallon floated over a measured cross from the left-wing to the back post for Whelan, and Johnny's header looped over the goalkeeper but cleared the bar too.
The impression gained thus far was that Queen's could quite possibly win this game if only they showed a little more verve and the front two timed their runs better against a well-marshalled back four. Canning nearly obliged, controlling the ball neatly and teeing up a volley which flashed just wide. Then Steele, Elgin's paciest player, went on a good run down the left wing before crossing for Teasdale but Fallon nicked in to expertly nick the ball away to safety.
Agostini came so close to scoring his first goal for the club after 64 minutes, but as he was poised to shoot an Elgin body blocked the path to goal. The most notable moment of the game occurred with 17 minutes left. A slip at the back allowed McMullan to break free, and as he raced away Fallon clumsily brought him crashing to the ground from behind. It's debatable as to whether or not this was a professional foul, and to be honest given my position I'd have to trust ( what! ) the referee's judgment. Winter showed the red card, the entire Queen's team protested even after Fallon had reached the dressing rooms, but at least a possible goal had been prevented. On the disciplinary side, it's remarkable to note the number of red cards collected recently by the team: 5 since Brannigan took charge, compared to 0 before that in the league. Cynics would suggest that this has much to do with Brannigan's preferred playing style, but those who actually watch the games know that three of these dismissals have been unjust and Queen's have hardly warped into a team of hatchet-throwers.
Queen's, who ironically had seemed to be gaining some ascendancy prior to the red-card, now actually increased their level of performance as the players fought all the harder, some probably enraged at what they perceived as injustice. Despite their man advantage, Elgin failed to make any headway and Queen's were winning the majority of the midfield battles. Clark fired a shot at Pirie after being set up by Menelaws, and Johnny Whelan collected a booking for a foul on Steele after a blunder by the referee had seen play not stopped despite a clear infringement against Queen's.
The players continued to huff and puff until the end but as always the decisive touch proved elusive. Quick thinking from Canning led to a free kick sending Martin clear, and his low cross was slid out for a corner. From the flag kick, Pirie grabbed the ball under pressure from Sinclair but dragged the Queen's defender to ground as well, yet no referee would ever give a penalty against a goalkeeper in such circumstances. Menelaws then squeezed his way through from the right but his shot was agonisingly tipped wide of goal by Pirie. And despite this commendable late push from Queen's, the game predictably ended without a goal.
Booked: Gallagher, Bremner.
Queen's Park: Cairns, Ferry, Canning, Sinclair, Agostini, Fallon, Clark, Whelan, Gemmell, Martin, Menelaws. Substitutes not used: White, Gallagher, Conlin, Dunning, Mitchell.
Booked: Whelan, Martin.
Sent-off: Fallon.
Attendance: 444.