| Queen's Park |
| 4 |
| Elgin City |
| 0 |
| ( Canning, Harvey, Carcary 2 ) |
| Who'd have thought barely a week ago that we'd be looking today at the prospect of 4 wins on the trot? Yet if Queen's can maintain this sort of form, a win at Cliftonhill next week is a distinct possibility against a side, like Elgin and East Stirling, that is struggling and badly. Kenny Brannigan may have lost the respect and favour of several players but in stubbornly attempting to mould his own team, he has hit on a formula that works in the last few games though whether it'll be a long-term success can only be proven in the, er, long term. Elgin aren't exactly God's gift to football but they have shown themselves to be heaven-sent opposition for opposing strikers this season, who generally have had a field day against their sluggish monstrosity of a defence, and Queen's turned out to be no different. Derek Carcary gave them a torrid time, and with his electrifying talents, a phone call from a top-flight club in either England or Scotland can't be too far off - though I'd be delighted if no-one outwith the Third Division got to hear of him for a while yet. From the beginning Queen's were positive and there was much for a rather small crowd to be encouraged with. Carcary was heavily involved, and after 3 minutes, once he had avoided an attempted kick from an 'uncompromising' Elgin defender, his shot from the edge of the box was knocked out for a corner. Five minutes later he just missed Dunning's delicately chipped cross from the right wing. Queen's reward for their bright start came in the 9th minute. Carcary's impeccable work-rate paid dividends when he chased down a defender to win possession on the left hand-side of the area; from there he laid the ball off to Carroll, who found Canning, and the midfielder low drive managed to slip in via Pirie's left hand post. Undoubtedly, the goalkeeper should have done better; in that one movement, Andy Goram's performance at Borough Briggs in November suddenly seemed not so bad. Unable to play much football, Elgin were forced to resort to roughhouse tactics and Bone was fortunate only to be spoken to by referee Boyle after following through on Scrimgour as the goalkeeper made a clearance. Derek Carcary was always a target for the Elgin players, but his speed meant they were unable to get anywhere near him for most of the game; after racing clear down the left in 20 minutes, his low cross into the box narrowly evaded Frankie Carroll. 6 minutes on, Queen's could have had a penalty when Dunning's run was halted by Campbell's heavy challenge a few yards inside the box, but Mr. Boyle saw nothing wrong. Elgin's first genuine chance came in the 29th minute, McMullan breaking free through the middle and firing a shot wide with the aid of a deflection. It was clear they were edging their way back into the game, and Bone missed a sitter shortly after when, after his initial shot from 6 yards was parried by Scrimgour, he managed to hoist the rebound over the top. Chris Boyle had decided that it was that time again with 15 minutes left of the half, and booked Campbell, Reilly and Allison for assorted misdemeanours, all of them probably deserved. Queen's one remaining attempt to extend their lead before half-time was courtesy of a David McCallum free-kick, which was struck beautifully, curling over the wall, but posed minimal problems to Pirie who clutched easily. So things were working out OK, but the hints were clear: we needed a second goal to make sure. Not that Elgin looked threatening - their one dangerous player, Willie Martin, was being expertly marshalled by Damiano Agostini - but signs were there that the Queen's defence were capable of gifting their opponents chances. But Queen's started the second half much as they had the first. Clark, enjoying his central midfield role, burst through in the 49th minute, was checked but managed to regain the ball before having his shot blocked by a sliding challenge. And Carcary, unstoppable, was sent clear once more through the middle, but lacked the coolness to put the ball away, hitting his effort off Pirie's legs. But it would be the last chance he would pass up. Queen's had an escape in the 55th minute, a free-kick being headed across the face of goal by Jamie McKenzie with Scrimgour stranded, but no Elgin player was around to pick up the pieces. Elgin were gradually forcing their will on the game, and Bone seemed to have a real chance to score in 62 minutes when he picked up the ball on the edge of the box but it was obvious to all that he had handled in bringing the ball under control. Given that Elgin were starting to look more ominous, it came as a relief when they were reduced to 10 men in the 64th minute; McKenzie took a swipe at Clark as the Queen's player moved past him, and Boyle had no option but to show a second yellow card and add to Elgin's poor disciplinary record. Surely now Queen's would make the game safe. Paul Harvey came on for Whelan with 20 minutes to go, a surprising change but Jonny's reaction was placid enough. In any case, it would prove a justified switch by Kenny Brannigan. Despite holding the advantage in numbers, Queen's still looked edgy, with Elgin's best hope coming from set-pieces where their bulk was often a handful. But their hopes died with 11 minutes left when another player was shown the red card, this time Ryan McMullan for 2 bookable offences in quick succession. Exactly what the former Albion Rovers player was so disgruntled about is unclear - it may have been something as innoccuous as a throw-in decision he didn't agree with - but his complaints to the referee were met with a yellow card. Elgin's lack of discretion was again exposed as the player then made his feelings all too plain to the linesman, who signalled Chris Boyle over to report the dissent. There was then little option for the referee but to dismiss McMullan, though his team-mates would dispute the decision at some length. It may have been that McMullan referred to the linesman indirectly but in none too glowing terms; possibly the decision was over-fussy - this is Chris Boyle after all, never one to avoid centre-stage - but it was sheer foolishness from the Elgin player in not keeping his mouth shut. Two men to the good, Queen's were now in total command and quickly made the win a certainty. With Kettlewell now on for Reilly, Ross Clark picked up a loose ball in midfield and threaded a neat pass through to the onrushing Harvey who was homing in on goal. Harvey took the ball in his stride and stroked into the right-hand corner of Pirie's net from the angle of the 6 yard-box. Relief all round for Queen's. The match was over, but Queen's weren't about to slacken off. Sensing blood, they took the game to a demoralised Elgin team and took them apart. Inevitably, Derek Carcary was chief executioner. First, he managed to wriggle free of the attentions of two defenders inside the box, one of whom having made a bad slip in trying to clear a low ball from the right, turn, and steer the ball home at the opposite post; an admirable finish. Then, in stoppage time, the moment which crowned a fine day for 'Glasgow's gay community' as Queen's were so affectionately termed by an Elgin supporter; Bonnar's long pass down the right was collected by Carcary, who was showing no signs of tiredness; the youngster took the ball on towards the area, beat Tully with a subtle change of direction, and, ignoring the claims of McCallum who was making a lengthy run in the hope of receiving a pass, slipped the ball coolly into the net at the far post; a marvellous goal. Any doubts about Carcary's ability to finish off chances had been blown gloriously away, twice in the space of 3 minutes. Strangely, Frankie Carroll was the choice for man of the match, and its no slight on Frankie to state that he didn't remotely deserve to win the award. Such was the performance of Derek Carcary, it's now possible to view next week's trip to Coatbridge with delicious anticipation. No-one would have expected this Queen's side to be one that shattered records, but today was our biggest home league win for nearly 7 years; and if wins are claimed in the next two games, we would have won 5 in a row for the first time since Bob Crampsey was considered a youthful schoolmaster. Hyperbole, yes, but Queen's have just won a game 4-0 so allowances will have to be made. Queen's Park: Derek Scrimgour, Danny Ferry, David McCallum, Allan Dunning, Damiano Agostini, Ross Clark, Steven Canning, Steven Reilly ( Stuart Kettlewell 80 ), Frankie Carroll, Jonny Whelan ( Paul Harvey 70 ( Martin Bonnar 88 ) ), Derek Carcary. Substitutes not used: David Weatherston, Brian McCue. Booked: Reilly. Goals: Steven Canning 9, Paul Harvey 81, Derek Carcary 88, 90. Elgin City: Martin Pirie, Robert Coulter, Craig Campbell, Jamie McKenzie, Craig Tully, John Allison, Ryan McMullan, David Hind ( Allister McMillan 76 ), Alex Bone, Kevin Steele ( Neil McLean 56 ), Willie Martin. Substitutes not used: Hugh Dickson, Steve McCormick, Peter Hamilton. Booked: McKenzie, Allison, Coulter, McMullan, McMillan. Sent-off: Jamie McKenzie ( 64 - second bookable offence ( foul ) ); Ryan McMullan ( 79 - second bookable offence ( dissent ) ). Referee: C. Boyle. Attendance: 444. |