| Queen's Park |
| Cowdenbeath |
| 2 |
| 2 |
| (Ferry, Weatherston) |
| (Buchanan, One) |
| At the end of a season that has gripped and repelled, tormented and entranced, often in the space of a single game, Queen's remain in contention with just a single game to play. It's a state of affairs that would have been considered more or less total failure back in January when we held such a lead, but given how fraught the last couple of months have been, one we're relieved to accept now. Queen's chances are slim, with victory over Berwick required in conjunction with an Arbroath slip-up against Shire (less of a slip-up, in fact, than a fall from several thousand feet) and a Cowden win over Elgin. Clearly, Cowden believe such a result likely, as their obvious pleasure at the end of yesterday's game suggested. It wasn't the expected reaction perhaps, but such was the toughness of opposition that Queen's provided, it was certainly a justified one. Queen's twice led, but against a goal-hungry team couldn't keep them for all that long; and in the end were let down by the long-standing failure to punish a ten-man opposition. However, such was the excitement level, and the quality of the play and goals from Queen's, that no-one felt like complaining. Even if we do miss out on the play-offs, so good have the last couple of performances been that the season won't seem like the waste it would otherwise. A large and exuberant support had travelled from Fife but there were plenty extra fans to bolster the Queen's numbers as well in what was easily the biggest crowd of the season: 1,247. Needless to say, it was a massive game for both teams; offering Queen's perhaps their last chance for salvation while at the same time giving Cowdenbeath the possibility of a championship. And the players didn't allow nerves to restrain them as they served up possibly the best game of the season at Hampden: especially in the first half. With only five minutes gone, Queen's had already registered three shots at goal, all from Mark Ferry. In the 2nd minute he took the ball from Canning, who could have had a go himself, on the edge of the box and cracked in a volley that was blocked; the rebound, another volley, was held by Hay. 2 minutes later, an unmarked McKenna received the ball at the back post from a floated cross, forcing Cairns to tip the ball one-handed round his post, before Ferry again blasted a shot at goal, but past this time. Mark was playing like his true self at last and after 15 minutes gave Queen's the lead with a quite stunning goal. From the 18-yard line, his curling shot swerved dazzlingly towards goal and completely dumbfounded Hay, who was powerless to do anything other than gape as the ball bounced in off the post. The start we had all prayed for - and I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy the sight of the frozen mass of Cowdenbeath supporters. Steven Canning tried to make it 2 three minutes later but his lashed effort flew wide. Nothing would really run for Stevie during the game, certainly not to the extent it had at his finest hour last week; had he got one good shooting chance, he might just have taken it. The contrast between him and Cowdenbeath's giant centre-forward One was marked, as the powerful striker looked a constant threat during the first half, causing Quinn in particular some serious bother in the air. His header on in the 22nd minute allowed McKenna to break away and dip a volley at goal that Cairns brilliantly spooned over the bar. And as the game wore on, One would fade; once Queen's learned to suss him out aerially, he had little else to offer. Still, his greatest contribution was yet to come. Cowden had been pressing continously since we had scored and the inevitable equaliser arrived after 28 minutes. Guy shipped the ball into the box from the right, finding Buchanan who had ghosted towards the far post, and he tapped the ball coolly into the net. Yet Queen's didn't bend for a second; such were the reserves of cold steel in the ranks that the response was immediate. Canning turned and threaded the ball beautifully through to Weatherston, who took the ball on, homed in on goal, and slid the ball beyond Hay with a casualness usually seen more in Linn Park than Hampden Park. What followed sits up there with the most terrifying things I've ever witnessed; what felt like a non-stop bombardment of the Queen's goal for the next 15 minutes. No doubt it wasn't really, but to say Cowden were merely keen on an equaliser doesn't quite cover it either. How they didn't get one in the 35th minute remains mysterious; instead of finishing, McKenna struck the post from a yard with Cairns stranded. The rest of the time, they huffed and puffed but Queen's were resolute and remained composed, and thankfully went in ahead at half-time. It didn't last long. The half-time penalty shootout starring the Young Spiders came as a pleasant break from the anxiety of the game, and it turned out we were right not to want the game to start up again. Two minutes in, and a ball over the top found One lurking in the box, and from 6 yards he volleyed easily home. It could be no surprise that the visitors held the upper hand for the next few minutes, and they might have taken the lead for the first time in the 56th minute. Scu;lion broke down the left and into the box, while Ross Clark was clearly reluctant to tackle for fear of a penalty, and his cross-shot was pushed onto the side-netting by Cairns. Two minutes later, and a somewhat crude tackle from the feet of the redoubtable Mr. Dunlop was punished by Queen's first booking. A further two minutes later, and Cowdenbeath had to contend with the expulsion of defender Ward, his second booking picked up for hauling back Weatherston as the defender raced towards the box. Yet to dub this as an 'advantage' for Queen's would be a highly dubious use of the term, as we've never been strong against reduced opponents, seeming to lose our focus when it happens. Sadly, not much would change. It took until the 72nd minute for Queen's first real attempt of the half, a towering Canning header from Clark's cross that flew over. In terms of possession, Queen's would be superior for the rest of the game but didn't have the verve to force the issue in front of Cowdenbeath's goal as the visitors took the cautious approach. With 12 minutes left, a tiring Harvey was replaced by Bryan Felvus, but the youngster didn't really bed himself in in what limited time he had. Possibly the fading Tommy Murray should have come off too, but Billy Stark persisted with him till the end. Harvey and Murray were the only slight disappointments in a huge performance from Queen's, but everything's relative as there were many superb performers. One of them, Tony Quinn, could have got the winner with 6 minutes left, his 35-yard drive held by an unsighted Hay. Quickly after, a brilliant half-volley by a rejuvenated Mark Ferry was turned wide by the keeper, then a volley from Canning flashed wide. But that one, ideal opportunity right in front of goal did not come for Queen's. Nor did it for Cowden, who barely threatened, and such was their acceptance of a draw that goalkeeper Hay almost cost them one with his timewasting in the final minute. Referee Frickleton awarded Queen's an indirect free-kick 15 yards out, providing us with a staged opportunity to bring the house down. Sadly though, Dunlop's shot came back quickly off the wall, and one final break involving Tommy Murray petered out frustratingly. Yet it was no wonder that both sets of fans were applauding at the close of play - it had been a fine, fair game. To be blunt, against ten men Queen's should probably have won this; but it won't have been today that our hopes were thrown away. Rather, the failure to beat the league's dross has been the problem, with the most recent results against the three top clubs all being excellent. Now, we've got to rely on the worst team of them all, East Stirling, doing the honours for us next week in order to make this longest of seasons even longer. Queen's Park: Mark Cairns, Ross Clark, Mick Dunlop, Steven Reilly, Richard Sinclair, Tommy Murray, David Weatherston, Tony Quinn, Steven Canning, Paul Harvey (Bryan Felvus 78), Mark Ferry. Substitutes not used: Jonny Whelan, Damiano Agostini, John Weir, David Crawford. Booked: Dunlop. Goals: Ferry 15, Canning 29. Cowdenbeath: David Hay, Graham Guy, Kevin McBride, John Ward, Dougie Hill, Gary Fusco, Mark Baxter, Pat Scullion (Lukas Krobot 85), Armand One (Markus Paatelainen 78), David McKenna (Darren McGregor 78), Liam Buchanan. Substitutes not used: Paul McBride, John Gilbertson. Booked: Guy, Ward, Hay. Sent-off: Ward. Referee: Ian Frickleton. Attendance: 1,247. |