Match report continued
With Johnny Whelan having earlier missed, Steven Moffat assumed the responsibility for taking the kick, and his low shot which just evaded Shearer's right hand put Queen's level. In fact, the excellent Rovers keeper had come close to keeping it out, but not close enough.
With the score at 2-2, what Queen's now had to do was play it tight at the back, and strive to keep possession. Sadly, but all too predictably, they were unable to achieve either of these. Within only a minute of drawing level, Queen's gifted Rovers a goal through sloppy defending. A long ball was played through towards Diack, the tiring Quinn was unable to reach it, and the Rovers substitute fired a shot from the left edge of the area into the far corner of the goal. Quinn had not looked altogether comfortable in the central defensive area during the earlier stages, and if he was feeling the effects strongly of 3 games in 7 days, then why was there no replacement of him?
Silvestro was then booked for time-wasting, before Queen's squandered yet another chance. Stuart Jack was played in on the goalkeeper, and should have done better than to allow Shearer to stop his attempt. Having said that, Jack had enjoyed his finest game yet in a Queen's jersey, scoring his first goal for the club, and causing the visitors constant problems during the second half. Surely he will now be given a regular place in the starting eleven to show his worth.
As stoppage time approached, Queen's found themselves again punished at the back as Albion Rovers made sure of securing first place in the championship standings. Bradford was able to find room behind a struggling defence, and his shot ( from a very similar position to the one from which the crucial Rovers' third had come ) ended up in the net at the far post. There is some confusion as to the exact identity of the scorer: a Rovers' player got a touch on the line to make sure, and I believe that this was either Coulter or Diack, but whether the mystery man or Bradford should take the credit is uncertain. Most sources have credited Coulter, however I will give the goal to Bradford. If you wish to disagree, you know the address...
4-2, and a misleading scoreline, in the sense that Queen's had controlled the second half, yet lapses in concentration had let Rovers' steal the points. The second half had provided a complete turnaround, both in terms of entertainment level and in the performance of the home side. This was largely down to the entry of Allan and Martin into the fray, and a re-jigged front-line linking with a more purposeful midfield. But Queen's defending, largely infallible, still has to be better at critical points in a match, especially when after scoring. Too often in the past we have thrown away the fruits of our hard work to find ourselves back at square one almost before we have stopped celebrating.
The team is missing several players at present, and when they are back we could be quite formidable. The problem, of course, is finding someone to provide an end product. If we don't soon, then prepare to be stranded ( perhaps alone with Shire- perish the thought ) at the bottom of the table.
Queen's Park: Stewart, Lappin, Fallon, Moffat, Quinn, Taggart, Ferry, Whelan, Dunning ( Martin ), Crozier ( Allan ), Jack. Goals: Jack 57, Moffat pen 81.
( Whelan missed penalty 17 ).
Albion Rovers: Shearer, Paterson, Stirling, Smith, Cormack, Lumsden, McAllister ( Diack ), Dick ( McCaig ), Bradford, McLean ( Coulter ), Silvestro.
Goals: Stirling pens 6, 26, Diack 82, Bradford 90.
Attendance: 506.