queens_arbroath_04_02

Queen's Park

Arbroath

Another point to the tally, and still nine points clear of Arbroath. Not a bad outcome from a day that brought little excitement from either team at Hampden, despite full commitment from both teams. It was clear before the start that Arbroath would probably need to win the game, with such a large gap existing between them and Queen's, and they brought a sizeable support trying to help them complete their task. But for all the huff and puff, they didn't threaten often, and really Queen's seem to have little to fear from their direction. They didn't give us much to be afraid about in this game; any consternation we did feel was induced by the dismal refereeing of Willie Hornby, who contrived to send off Mick Dunlop in the closing minutes for a supposed elbowing offence. It would be nice to think Queen's could appeal that incompetent decision with their video evidence but this would seem unlikely. Dunlop will now miss next week's game at Montrose, usually a stiff test even with Montrose being no special team. Our new-found ability to grind out positive results will stand us in good stead there as the denouement of the season looms spine-tinglingly on the horizon.
    Tony Quinn's return to the side coincided with Shaun Molloy dropping back onto the bench, with Billy Stark's altering the formation in the process. Queen's lined up in a 4-4-2 system, Paul Paton coming back in at right-back and Ross Clark listed as a substitute once more. There was no place in the side for new signing Kjartan Henry Finnbogason, who was not considered fit enough, so the excitement over seeing him in QP colours for the first time has another week to intensify.
    There was a lively enough start to the game, though Tony Quinn could have done with his comeback being a little quieter; he was forced to leave the field briefly with just 2 minutes played after picking up a knock. It would prove the first of several injuries (some minor, others significant) picked up on what was a fiercely-fought afternoon.
    Brazil smacked a shot wide for Arbroath in the 12th minute, and the first booking arrived in the 20th minute when Alan Trouten fouled Cook close to the standside touchline. Yet two minutes later Watson was not shown a yellow card following his chopping down of Alan, who had just released Kettlewell through the middle. Trouten was certainly keen around this time, and shortly after his attempted cross from the right zoomed towards the keeper and had to be turned over the bar. A Ferry effort flew high over a few minutes after.
    Arbroath were dealt a sharp blow in the 37th minute wjhen top scorer Alan Brazil had to be stretchered off, the victim of his own crunching tackle on Paul Paton. The story afterwards was that he had broken his leg, but in fact he seems to have sustained a less serious injury. Despite Arbroath's uncompromising style it was Queen's that were collecting the bookings, with Tony Quinn next, for dissenting a questionable free-kick award to Arbroath.
   Kevin Proctor had struggled to make an impact up until now but in the 41st minute he almost managed a strong push for goal, being bumped into as he raced for a loose ball through the middle and stumbling, limiting his chances. Alan Trouten collected upon the absence of the referee's whistle, but his shot was deflected past.
    Arbroath began the second half slightly the brighter side, with a drive from substitute Reilly dipping over four minutes in. Queen's soon chose to introduce Paul Harvey for Stuart Kettlewell, with the hope being that the veteran could bring a dose of imagination to a side lacking in that area.
    Raeside was lucky to avoid a booking for his bodycheck on Proctor, after the forward had raced sharply at the Arbroath defence, in the 55th minute. The free-kick from Harvey curled towards goal but was caught by Peat without too much bother.
    A volley from Proctor crashed over after 66 minutes; 3 minutes later, Billy Stark made a change to the forward line but not the expected one, bringing on Ross Clark for David Weatherston, when many might have expected Bryan Felvus to come on, and for Proctor instead of Weatherston to make way. Neither had made much impression, but Weatherston had probably edged it with his tireless running. Perhaps he had finally tired himself out, but to put Clark in attack and not Felvus was a little puzzling.
    In fact Proctor had a decent chance very shortly after the change, taking advantage of a slip and driving his way into the area, before squaring the ball across for Trouten only for it to be thumped away by a defender. The resulting corner was met squarely by Reilly whose header was met by an Arbroath head, with the danger cleared.
    The second-half had been devoid of incident but the match exploded with 8 minutes left. A red-card had seemed probable given the crunching tackles that had been the main feature of the game, but when referee Willie Hornby did show one, he got it totally wrong. Mick Dunlop had challenged Rennie for a high ball, and while his arm was raised, and did seem to make contact with Rennie's upper body, there wasn't the slightest trace of an elbow being used; for a start, Dunlop's arm was straight at the point of contact. Yet, perhaps in response, to the cries and pointed fingers of the Arbroath backroom staff, Hornby showed the red card to the apoplexy of the Queen's support. It was in fact the first red card shown to any Queen's player this season.
    Queen's responded briskly to Dunlop's loss and the match continued evenly for the remaining minutes. Steven Reilly was booked, yet again, in the final minute for a late slide, and Miller cracked a volley at goal as Arbroath managed sporadic attacks on the Queen's goal,but Queen's never looked in danger of not holding out for a very valuable point.
    Without question the result suited Queen's, and its value was only increased by the fact they had earned it playing the final minutes with only ten men. We still have to meet Arbroath twice away from home, and with Elgin now ahead of them and eight behind us (though we've played a game less), it would be premature to state that we will be in the play-offs. Yet the position we're in is great. Some more attractive, flowing displays would be welcome, yet the main concern is that the goal supply could be drying up without a spark being lit from somewhere. It could well be that the spark has just signed for us, in the shape of Kjartan Henry Finnbogason, and next week's fixture at Montrose will be eagerly awaited in the expectation that the Icelander will make his debut for the club.

Queen's Park: David Crawford, Paul Paton, Mick Dunlop, Steven Reilly, Richard Sinclair, Alan Trouten, Stuart Kettlewell (Paul Harvey 52), Tony Quinn, David Weatherston (Ross Clark 69), Kevin Proctor, Mark Ferry. Substitutes not used: Shaun Molloy, Bryan Felvus, Mark Cairns.
Booked: Trouten, Quinn, Reilly.
Sent-off: Dunlop.

Arbroath: Mark Peat, Kevin McMullen, Roddy Black, Robbie Raeside (Steven Rennie 60), Ian Dobbins, Paul Watson, Steven Cook, Greig Miller, Alan Brazil (Andy Reilly 37), Gavin Swankie, Jay Stein (Marc McCulloch 72). Substitutes not used: Chris Jackson, Neil Inglis.
Booked: Watson, Raeside, McMullen.

Referee: Willie Hornby.
Attendance: 572.

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