montrose_queens_10_04

Montrose

Queen's Park

( Smart )

( Carcary )

So the fates continue to decree that we will not beat Montrose, but at the same time, defeat to the Gable Endies seems to have become a sort of relic. Even though Queen's were the side who relied on a late equaliser to get a point, it was a match that should have been won. Montrose shut up shop after grabbing a comical opener in the opening few minutes, and posed what danger they did mainly on the break. Queen's settled down somewhat after their hairy opening to the game, but were hindered by another confusing grouping of the players. Kenny Brannigan, for whatever reason, chose not to play a fit-again Richard Sinclair, also leaving Damiano Agostini, apparently fit again, out of the team. Instead, Ross Clark, vital to bring energy to the middle of the park, was played at the back, and to compound this perverseness, Jonny Whelan was only handed a subs jersey. Just what is going on? Why is the coach letting personal animosities and prejudices, for there seems little doubt that they do exist, so greatly influence his team selections? Why is there so much friction in the first place - clearly hinted at in the departures of Fallon and Moffat and the disappearance of McAuley? Such circumstances usually result only in one thing in the end - the fall of the coach himself. And given that bad blood in the changing room is rarely conducive to having a winning team, which is the only criterion that really counts, Brannigan's exit may not be delayed by much longer.
     There were less away fans than normal at Links Park, and a good number of those missed the start for reasons probably not unrelated to the close proximity of the nearest pub. If any Queen's fan also managed to miss the opening goal, they were spared the sight of Derek Scrimgour making a complete fool of himself; calling for Ross Clark to leave Craig Smart's bobbling, weak pass-shot from just inside the box, then following his own instructions and letting the ball slide past him to enter the net via the far post. A breakdown in communication, and throughout the defence looked unsure with no-one prepared to take responsibility. It's hardly surprising, given that the rock-solid trio of Fallon, Moffat and Agostini in defence is no more than a memory.
     Queen's took some time to properly recover but at least there was an urgency to equalise shown in their play. Not until the 25th minute was an attempt at goal registered though, Bonnar's well-struck drive from the edge of the box being held by Butter. By that time, Richard Sinclair had made a belated appearance, replacing Ross Clark who had gone down awkwardly in the tackle. Queen's were livened up, and Canning poked Dunning's cross from the right wide of the post while under pressure from a defender. Michie forced Scrimgour into a save just after, then Jim Butter made the first of three excellent stops; neat interplay between McCallum and Carcary allowed the latter to feed Canning, whose shot on the swivel was parried out by the veteran keeper. Typically, Carcary was proving a constant menace despite the lack of quality passes for him to receive, and he should have scored in the 32nd minute, Butter advancing well to block the shot from 10 yards. The trio of saves was completed when Butter caught Bonnar's downward volley from the edge of the area.
      Queen's were by now well into the match, and didn't exactly deserve to go in at the break a goal down. But with signs of nervousness obvious at the back, further goals for Montrose could hardly be ruled out, while a lack of real presence up front was a problem. Canning was performing better than in ages, even winning some headers, and Carcary's football was sublime. But from midfield there was little support forthcoming, with Harvey anonymous. The most likely provider of a goal seemed to be Allan Dunning, whose overlapping on the right had been one of the highlights of the first half. That didn't save him from the chop though. 12 minutes into the second half, Jonny Whelan was rightly introduced but why Dunning, and not Paul Harvey, had to make way was not immediately obvious. Clearly, Brannigan has his own favourites in the team and Dunning does not seem to be one of those by any means, while Harvey lives a charmed life.
     Queen's would go on to command most of the second half and would progressively commit more and more men to the attack in a determined attempt to find the equaliser. Assuming that this was the coach's message, then it certainly got through to the players and so praise must be given to Brannigan for the positive tactics which eventually brought a reward. That was still a long way off when Carcary fired a shot narrowly past the right-hand post of Butter after dispossessing a defender five minutes into the half; Michie attempted to do likewise to Scrimgour at the other end a few minutes later and nearly managed it, the deflection running out for a throw.
     Richard Sinclair did enough to put off Martin Wood from getting a decent shot in after 64 minutes. Then Carcary had two fine efforts at goal, sending a low drive just past before blasting a volley onto the roof of the net. It was turning into a remarkably accomplished performance from the youngster, undoubtedly Queen's best player.
     Inevitably, with Queen's throwing men forward, Montrose were going to find extra space available, and Michie wasted a decent chance to kill off the visitors when he launched a shot high over when clean through on Scrimgour. The look of the Queen's team became even more attacking when Frankie Carroll replaced Paul Harvey; with at least 4 men now forward from every Scrimgour kick-out, a goal would surely come.
     Carroll was soon involved, finding Kettlewell out wide while running through the middle, only for Stuart to completely waste the cross. And with 9 minutes left, his fierce volley following a partially-cleared corner was caught by a diving Butter at his near post.
     Michie should again have done better when breaking clear of the offside trap, first shooting off a defender then wildly past the post, but the room he had only highlighted how much in the ascendancy Queen's were by this stage. Finally, the long-awaited leveller arrived with only three minutes to go, and it was a truly delightful goal. McCallum gathered the ball on the left-hand side of the box, and shaped to shoot; but instead, he delivered an unexpected chip towards the onrushing Carcary who glided his header past Butter with ease.
     A winner for Queen's didn't seem out of the question, and Canning should have done better with his delivery after breaking free into the box, but quickly after he did manage to find Derek Carcary running through; having held off a defender, Canning's pass found Derek straight in on goal, but displaying the uncertainty he does still have when faced with only a goalkeeper to beat, the shot was scuffed. Montrose would have the last effort, Scrimgour holding Smart's drive, before Mr. Duff brought what had been a half-decent match to a close. It wasn't satisfactory for Queen's, but the fact is that a defeat to a side that had six put past them the previous Saturday would have been an embarassment. However, until we begin winning at places like Montrose , we will never get anywhere.

Montrose: Jim Butter, Greig Smith, Stuart Ferguson, Alan Budd, John McQuillan, Steve Kerrigan, Kevin Webster, Craig Smart, Scott Michie ( Robbie Henderson 84 ), Martin Wood, Dougie Coulston ( Graeme Sharp 65 ). Substitutes not used: Darren Spink, Euen Hall, Michael Hankinson.

Booked: Budd.
Goal: Craig Smart 3.

Queen's Park: Derek Scrimgour, Martin Bonnar, David McCallum, Allan Dunning ( Jonny Whelan 57 ), David Stewart, Ross Clark ( Richard Sinclair 18 ), Paul Harvey ( Frankie Carroll 72 ), Steven Reilly, Derek Carcary, Steven Canning, Stuart Kettlewell. Substitutes not used: David Weatherston, Brian McCue.

Booked: Stewart.
Goal: Derek Carcary 87.

Referee: S. Duff.
Attendance: 388.