( McCallum ) ( Deuchar, Graham )
Tactically and identity-wise, Kenny Brannigan altered his selection for this match, dropping the fit but out-of-touch Steven Canning and bringing Richard Sinclair back into the side. Danny Ferry switched wings to accomodate Sinclair playing at right wing-back. David Menelaws dropped to the bench, with Ross Clark returning to the midfield.
Queen's actually started the match in positive fashion, with both Agostini and Whelan having shots blocked after an early corner-kick, and another corner taken by Ross Clark causing some concern for Butter. It was an open game in the early stages, with the physical power of Kenny Deuchar and Ross Graham up front posting early warning signs. A corner in 9 minutes saw a hubbub in the penalty area, with Graham firing in a shot which Clark was forced to volley for a corner close to Cairns's right hand post. It was an ominous sign.
A further succession of corners around the 20 minute mark had seen Queen's defence come under pressure, but without any real chance being created. Most of the danger so far in the match had come from the wide areas in open play also, with Allan sporadically threatening against his former club, and Queen's forced to put over their own goal line a few times from crosses.
Danny Ferry was brighter today than recently, and the baffling thing is that he was playing on his supposedly less comfortable side of the pitch. He showed nice skills in the 24th minute, keeping the ball under control by flicking it up, and his pass to Gemmell allowed the big striker a first shot which ended up well off target.
Queen's now began to drift out of the match, and East Fife commandeered the majority of possession for the rest of the half. Really it was no surprise that they opened the scoring after 33 minutes, and the manner of it was even less of a shock. A simple ball to the back post following a corner, and Deuchar rose to head in from only a few yards out. Hesitancy again the order of the day.
David McCallum tried to bring Queen's back in it, but his cross into the area was met by a weak header from Sinclair despite Richard being in a reasonable position.
Poor loss of possession in the middle of the park would be an especial problem during the second half, but in the 36th minute Queen's were also guilty as McMillan was allowed to run down the left wing. His pass along the six yard box was unconvincingly cleared by Steven Fallon. Shortly following this, Donaldson's low volley twelve yards from goal was competently turned wide of his post by Mark Cairns.
As the half closed, Queen's forced themselves forward, and had a couple of half-chances to equalise. Another McCallum free-kick dropped for Ross Clark, but his shot was poorly struck. Then James Allan did well to break free on the left, and his deep cross was headed across goal by Whelan, for Sinclair to try a shot which was blocked. The referee, not one to let any semblance of a foul go unnoticed, blew for half-time not long after.
It was patently clear that Queen's had to improve their passing and the service to the front players, Allan and Gemmell, in order to get something from the match. Certainly they began the second half sprightly enough, with Whelan showing particular determination in chasing a loose ball down the left three minutes in and sliding in brilliantly to win it. He then cut inside, but his ball across the six yard box was struck too hard for Gemmell to reach it. The same player received better delivery from Richard Sinclair a minute later, his accurate cross from the right being powered not far over by Gemmell. A solo run from James Allan then outwitted the East Fife defence, but with options lacking Allan chose to shoot himself from a tight angle, and he did win a corner. More of such skill was sure to soften up the visitors' rearguard.
Cairns was forced to deal with Herkes's header in 54 minutes, though the referee felt differently, awarding a goal kick though Cairns had clearly palmed it over the bar.
Ross Clark's bursts forward then allowed Queen's further opportunities, as first he broke away before allowing Whelan a wayward shot, then chased a ball over the top into the box, fouling a defender in the process. Kenny Brannigan then elected to bring him off, replacing him with Chris Fisher. Clark had worked his socks off but had made little real impression in an attacking sense.
East Fife then grabbed a goal out of nothing to more or less wrap up all three points after an hour's play. Queen's had faded after their bright opening to the second half, but East Fife had not caused any serious problems since the restart. They again used their aerial advantage to the full though, substitute McLean breaking in space down the right and crossing for Graham to head home into the left corner of the net. Graham had been allowed too much room to win the ball, and possession had been given away cheaply in the lead-up to the goal.
The Queen's players played for the next ten minutes as if they knew the game was lost. Clearly deflated, Queen's rarely kept hold of the ball for any length of time, and East Fife seemingly were content enough with how the game was going. The ineffectual Sinclair was replaced by Paddy Gallagher in 72 minutes, and his introduction did at least inject some extra vigour into the midfield. In fact, Gallagher's contribution was swift. Euan Donaldson had gone close after pushing through unchallenged and firing wide of the post, but Queen's subsequently breathed new life into the game thanks to David McCallum. Probably the most impressive Queen's player on the day, McCallum let fly from 25 yards and was rewarded with a shot that soared into the roof of the net well above the stranded Butter. Paddy Gallagher had done well to feed McCallum prior to the shot, and another attempt at coming back from the dead in a late surge was very much on.
We had been here before, no doubt about it. Infuriating that Queen's should display renewed determination and belief only after scoring a late goal, but it has happened so often. Graham could have rendered any attempts at a comeback stillborn though, but Cairns did extremely well to save his close range header. Shades of Mr. Kelly in the supporters' team match, so I hear...
James Allan then used his speciality to try and create an opening, and it really was an exciting run from an exciting player. He laid the ball to the onrushing Whelan but an East Fife boot was there to knock the ball out as Johnny homed in on goal. Two minutes from the end, White came close with a header which fell wide after taking a deflection.