Referee Dougie McDonald, it has been confirmed, sent-off Stuart Kettlewell after the final whistle at Bayview yesterday for vehement complaints about the lack of stoppage time McDonald saw fit to add on. Apparently McDonald had told Kettlewell, on being asked, that there were eight minutes left to be played just prior to East Fife's late winner, but then only allowed around two more minutes after the goal had been scored. One could criticise Kettlewell for his failure to keep a cool head, but this would be incredibly harsh as the young midfielder had every right to voice his displeasure, and it's comforting to know that he was so concerned about the outcome of a relatively meaningless game: clearly the players were stung by East Fife's late, undeserved winner and the referee's dismal handling of the game. Obviously McDonald was as keen to leave the ground quickly as all of those "loyal" East Fife fans who streamed out of the stadium without giving their team's success a second thought. Kettlewell will now be suspended for the opening game of next season, which could be against Cowdenbeath or Stranraer, the two clubs relegated from the Second Division.
10 May East Fife 1 Queen's Park 0
It was a cruel ending for Queen's, and also for Albion Rovers, but someone had to lose out. Just a shame that East Fife are probably the worst football team of the four that went into today fighting for promotion, and that this win was achieved after a scrappy performance, with Queen's being forced to play the last 28 minutes with only ten men. Queen's themselves wind up in eighth place after a turbulent season, and in fact we were only denied seventh because of Kenny Deuchar's last minute strike: Gretna beat Montrose 1-0, but we finish one point behind the Gable Endies. The importance of the occasion and the sheer closeness of the race were always going to increase the excitement levels at this game but the players served up a real blood-and-thunder affair, with Queen's looking just as fired up as the home team despite the lack of anything really tangible at stake for them. The problem was that few chances were made, but Queen's seemed to be on top until John Gemmell was harshly sent off midway through the second half. This handed the initiative back to East Fife, but Queen's held on right until the death due to some desperate blocks and frantic clearances as East Fife's nerves let them down in attack. It was left to top-scorer Deuchar to net the scrambled, priceless winning goal: an unforgettable moment for the home fans and even for a neutral who was attending, but for me and quite a few others a sickening moment. We have real reason to be proud of the team though: now they have to perform as bravely against the lesser sides as well next season in order to attain the kind of position that they should surely have got this term.
9 May East Fife v. Queen's Park - we don't need no celebration
Queen's aim tomorrow, without wishing to upset our Methil friends, is to send their largest support of the season away with tears in their eyes and faces the length of their whole team stuck together. Not that I want to be cruel, but a Queen's Park win in this game would be a superb result for us and the perfect way to end what has been a quite remarkable, if sorely disappointing, season. Given that Queen's have yet to lose any of their league fixtures at new Bayview since their first there 4 years ago, controlled the game in December and drew 1-1, and won very easily, by three goals on both occasions, in last season's visits, East Fife fans have very good reason to be worried. Queen's seem to have a habit of facing these sort of games at the end of seasons: the last six years have seen us visit Forfar, Arbroath and Dumbarton on the last day to prevent a party, and although we didn't manage it any of these times, the latter two games both yielded 1-1 draws. A similar result on Saturday would almost certainly see East Fife remain stuck in the Third Division for another season.
Kenny Brannigan's first full season in charge of the team has been rubber-stamped, and we are likely to find out soon what players he will be keeping. One who seems likely to go is James Allan, whose mesmerising and highly skilful wing play has made him stand out in quite a few games this season. James has an Achilles injury and therefore could have played his last game for the club: he'll be missed, players of his ability don't turn up every season for a club like Queen's Park. John Gemmell is also virtually sure of a move, and it seems that Partick Thistle will be his new club - tomorrow will be his last in the jersey.
Johnny Whelan is suspended for tomorrow and so it's more imperative than ever that Ross Clark starts; Stuart Kettlewell should also return. Steven Fallon comes back to the fold in a blaze of glory, crowned both committee and supporters Player of the Year.
7 May Queen's to play United before new season
Queen's Park have arranged a friendly match with Dundee United on 12 July at Hampden Park. United have made themselves available due to Kenny Brannigan's friendship with Ian McCall. Queen's of course played United in the League Cup this season at Tannadice, losing 4-1. Martin Kelly will have to miss this one because he'll be on holiday, with a bit of luck I won't be away.
3 May Fallon collects double Player of the Year awards
Defender Steven Fallon, outstandingly consistent all season, was presented with the Player of the Year awards of both the committee and the QPSA after today's game. Steven Moffat won the Travel Club player of the year award after excellent performances on the road in the first half of the season, while Ross Conlin won the Strollers' best player trophy. The goal of the season was decided to be Willie Martin's against Albion Rovers in the Scottish Cup: a reflection more on what the goal meant than it's aesthetic merit, though it was a fine run from the big man. And I enjoyed it, just a wee bit.
3 May Queen's Park 1 Montrose 1
Queen's rarely play well against Montrose and today was no exception. Indeed, for the first half of today's game they came up with one of the worst performances I have seen from a Queen's team - few players seemed to be aware what they were, or should be, doing, with mistakes aplenty being made. Certain players would have to be very unhappy with their performances, especially Richard Sinclair and the unbelievably lethargic Craig Taggart, both of whom were brought off at half-time. Playing Taggart from the start was a mistake by Kenny Brannigan, but such an anonymous display gives the perfect excuse to release him. Queen's picked up a bit during the second half, looking more assured that, yes, this was a football pitch despite the amount of other events that take place there nowadays, and equalised Johnson's early capitalisation with a low Gallagher shot which was deflected. The goalscorer had replaced Taggart just a few minutes before. The result leaves Queen's needing to beat East Fife and Montrose to not beat Gretna, or Queen's to draw and the Angus side to lose, for Queen's to finish in seventh place. But we have other, equally good motivations to win next Saturday.
Rest of May 2003's news