Johnny's Whelan's sixth goal of the season salvaged a draw for Queen's a few minutes after half-time yesterday, Gregor McKechnie having netted with a soft goal in 34 minutes to make Queen's fans recall past goalkeeping horrors. Really, there were few notable moments during the 90 minutes, as Montrose showed everyone why they have been such a disappointment this season ( I had them down as promotion contenders ). Queen's enjoyed a slight advantage territorially, but it was hard to see them winning after getting themselves level again. Kenny Brannigan will surely demand better performances than this.
David Menelaws made his full debut, but struggled to make an impression, and was replaced by Chris Fisher. Damiano Agostini was unfortunate in collecting a cut to his face during the first half, and he was forced to leave the field, however the damage was slight enough for him to return. The presence of Jamie White in defence certainly made Queen's more commanding in the air than has often been the case recently.
21 Feb Montrose v. Queen's Park
The following is of course written on the assumption that Links Park will be playable. If it is, then Queen's will be aiming for their first win in seven attempts against Montrose, who have, like Stirling Albion, beaten the Spiders 1-0 in both of the previous meetings this season. Last season, the Angus ground was scarcely a Spiders' web either, with Queen's well-beaten, 3-1, in both matches. Willie Martin, who scored each of those goals, may return after appendicitis tomorrow, and his boundless energy and enthusiasm could prove invaluable at a venue where Queen's have often been lethargic in the past. Our last win here came on 15 April 2000, a week before we secured promotion, and goals from Mark Gallagher and Kevin Finlayson won us a vital three points. Winning tomorrow may not seem to be as important ( well, it isn't I suppose ), but to Kenny Brannigan it would be a real pleasure, not to say perhaps a relief. He has been frustrated by the two recent call-offs that have hindered his plans of finding his best starting XI, but seems to have decided to field David Menelaws from the start tomorrow - at last, the Englishman's full debut. Moffat and Quinn are still out, though Moffat's injury is a newly obtained back strain as opposed to the broken ankle which has now healed. Tomorrow's game may come too soon for Craig Taggart, but he seems to have found favour with the new coach anyway. Richard Sinclair will serve his one-match suspension.
The forthcoming two matches at home are against the league's top two sides, and personally I can't wait for those games, against East Fife and Morton. Tomorrow's game is against a poorer calibre of opposition than those two, yet I am probably more apprehensive about it. Montrose are a team we have the quality to defeat, and yet...
Queen's first game at Links Park did not arrive until 21 September 1955, but we were not affected by the unfamiliarity, as goals from Hopper and Church secured a 2-1 win. And we went on to clinch the B Division championship.
18 Feb March date for Forthbank fixture
The away match at Stirling Albion, postponed last Saturday, will now be played on Wednesday 19th March, presumably with a 7.30 p.m. kickoff time.
15 Feb Game postponed
As you will of course now be aware, the game today at Stirling was postponed because of a frozen pitch. The low temperatures overnight meant that very few games in Scotland went ahead: in the two Third Division games that did, Peterhead destroyed East Stirling 6-0 at home, and Morton missed the chance to go top after being held to a goalless draw at Elgin. The Forthbank fixture is likely to be re-arranged for 18-19 March.
14 Feb Stirling Albion v. Queen's Park - swift recovery required
If Kenny Brannigan is to enjoy his first win as Queen's Park coach, then Queen's will have to improve on their recent record against one of his plethora of ex-teams. Of the last six meetings of the clubs, none have ended in Queen's favour, with both of this season's matches being won 1-0 by Stirling. The promotion outsiders lost at East Fife in midweek and are gradually slipping out of contention, largely due to a lack of goals, but they do possess the division's meanest defence, marshalled by George Rowe and Mark McNally, and have signed up several new players since the defeat of Queen's in November. On that occasion, Queen's gave an undistiguinshed display, but really should have edged out the home team at Forthbank in October, when they dominated the first half of the game. For tomorrow, Brannigan has signified an attacking style as being the means to success for Queen's, and I can't say I disagree. Stirling may be in the top half of the league, but to me are no better than Queen's Park on what I have seen this season, and really it's the type of game we've got to look to be winning.
As far as team selection is concerned, both Paddy Gallagher and Ross Clark are reportedly set to be dropped from midfield after the midweek defeat at Hamilton, with David McCallum returning, and perhaps Stuart Kettlewell making his first start. Clark may not be fully fit, but otherwise it's hard to see why he would be left out. Craig Taggart is close to fitness again, but is still a week or so away, and Moffat, Martin and Quinn are all sidelined. Jim White should step in for the suspended Richard Sinclair, and of course Mark Cairns will resume goalkeeping duties in place of Tony Mitchell. Tony is unlikely to even make the bench - Derek Scrimgour, a stand-out for the Strollers in midweek, will act as substitute. Allan Dunning is again not included in the squad, but Chris Fisher could make a sadly rare appearance at some point.
Going back to the subject of wins against Stirling, and Queen's last did that in a 2-0 triumph in March 2001 at Forthbank, when Stewart Orr and Mark Gallagher got the goals. Before that season, we had not played them in the league since 29 February 1991, when in a key promotion game at Annfield Park the home side won 2-0. Queen's first ever visit to Forthbank Stadium came on 14th September 1999 in the quarter-final of the Challenge Cup, and they surrendered tamely by four goals to nil. Craig Taggart was playing for Stirling in this match.
The fixture at Peterhead, which was postponed two weeks ago, will go ahead on Saturday 29th March with a 1 p.m. kick-off. As a consequence, Queen's will now play Peterhead home and away on consecutive Saturdays, with the home match scheduled for a week before.
13 Feb Attendance at Hamilton Academical v. Queen's Park
The official attendance for this match was 887, with 174 of those being Queen's Park supporters.
More February 2003 news