| ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL |
| It couldn't have started any worse. A goal down after what felt like 3 seconds in the opening game was followed by another five against first opponents The 7PM club. Of course, it was our first seven-a-side game and we aren't that good, but it still came to us as a bit of shock that we could barely get the ball in the other team's half. A squad of eight players formed a Queen's Park side, including one of Graeme Shields's mates from work, Mick McKendrick, who showed up in a Morton shirt. In the competition held at the Battery Park in Greenock, 10 teams competed in a format of two groups of five. Queen's were drawn in the section with the 7PM club, Partick Thistle, Auld Firm United and Queen of the South. As I said 7PM were our first opponents and they gave us the run around for the 10 minutes, notching up a 6-0 victory. At the time, we looked like Zaire 1974 on the pitch. No idea. Someone perked up and said, "Well at least that's the best team out the way." Nobody sounded convinced at this attempt to raise confidence, but in the game against Thistle the team showed signs of improvement, but still no shots on goal. After another 10 minutes, Thistle ran out 3-0 victors. Next up were Auld Firm United who were all clad in the orange of Holland, and one poor chap had a Celtic shirt showing through underneath. But again the Hoops put on an even better display, getting a few shots in on goal from Ally Dick and James Turnbull and even in at the wrong end with a deft Derek Stronach chip nearly creeping its way into goalkeeper Martin Harvey's top left hand corner. The Auld Firm's second and final goal was one of the best of the day - a sweet 20 yard effort nestling itself in the bottom right hand corner of Harvey's goal. Final Score: 2-0. With the team dead on its feet, one more game had to be played: Queen Of The South. To get the troops motivated Martin Harvey suggested that the Queen Of The South team had been taunting The Spiders in the last game calling one of our players, erm, shite. Of course, this was enough to inject some well needed spirit into the lads and they were already well on their way to record their first victory before the referee started the match. Maybe we should bring back the commitee management system ... In a superb team effort, Queen's defended well, Martin Harvey made some excellent stops and we actually controlled the majority of the game. The opening goal in more ways than one was scored by James Turnbull who shot past the outrushing goalkeeper. Was there ever any doubt? Well, yes, because James had been keeping the ball boys busy early on with some of his mammoth efforts that just grazed the bar. The pub, that is. Queen's had a little bit of defending to do, but on a counter attack, Graeme Shields blasted in the second which put the game beyond any doubt. Queen's were well supported on the touchline by some of the other teams and Shields's celebration of taking off his top was met with cries of "Get that fucking shirt back on". In the end, a two-nil victory gave Queen's a nice end to the tournament and their first ever win. After the game, the side retired (probably wrong word choice) back to the Spinnaker Hotel where a buffet had been laid on for the teams. Queen's may not have been too quick on the pitch, but there was no hanging about when it came to the food. Clydebank, the eventual winners on penalties, were toasted at the bar and the Queen's players left shortly after, a trail of crumbs in their wake ... Queen's Park: Martin Harvey, Derek Stronach, Alan Raeburn, Mick McKendrick, James Turnbull, Martin Kelly, Graeme Shields, Ally Dick. |