| Queen's went into the match against Peterhead yesterday on the back of two straight wins, but we knew that this match was going to prove a much harder test than either of the two previous ones. Peterhead had won seven of the first eight league matches, their only points dropped being a draw against Gretna, and were three points clear at the top of the table. Queen's were forced to make one change from the side which started in the 4-1 thrashing of East Fife - Shaun Molloy coming back into the starting eleven in place of the injured Richard Sinclair. It was Peterhead who made the better start, with Queens looking a little shakey in the early stages of the game. With barely a minute on the clock Hagen sent in a cross from the left, but Robertson could do nothing out wide at the back post. A minute later Stuart Kettlewell could only cross into the side netting following a good ball by Alan Trouten. It was back to defence soon enough though, and Ross Clark blocked Gibson's long range effort, before Tully saw a hopeful shot fly comfortably high and wide. It was Tully however who forced the first save of the game, but his deflected shot was held well by David Crawford. Peterhead finally made the breakthrough after nine minutes. Hagen outpaced Shaun Molloy on the Queens right, and as his cut-back came into the box, Gavin Rushford slipped while attempting to change his direction. This allowed Scott Michie to collect the ball unchallenged 15 yards out, and he fired it past the out-rushing David Crawford. It could have been 2-0 a minute later, but David McCallum headed a Buchan cross away from the back post. Then, on eleven mintues QP won the first corner of the match, which was punched clear by Mathers. The ball came back into the box however, and Ally Graham knocked it down into the six-yard box. The Peterhead defence failed to deal with the danger, and Frankie Carroll was on hand to put the ball into the back of the net from close range. This was a crucial time to score, as it got us back on level terms only three minutes after going a goal down, not giving Peterhead the chance to gain too much of an upper hand. Peterhead tried to retake the lead minutes later, but Robertson wasn't quite tall enough to connect with Buchan's cross. The ball came back in from the right, and Alan Trouten had to clear for a corner, but when this came into the box it was caught well by David Crawford. Peterhead were looking dangerous on the break, and David McCallum had to track back to challenge and conceed a throw after his corner was cleared. The ball was soon back in play though, and Martin Bavidge was played into the box. Fortunately though his shot was poor and DC made an easy save. With 25 minutes on the clock we saw the first bad challenge of the game - Gibson took out McCallum. He then kicked the ball away in a blatant display of dissent, but referee Thomson decided there was nothing to worry about. Two minutes later Mr Thomson gave a foul against Kettlewell for winning the ball, but fortunately Hagen's cross from the left was cleared by Shaun Molloy. A minute later and Queens had a good chance to take the lead. Alan Trouten played a ball inside from the right and, as Frankie Carroll slipped over, Ross Clark came running in and launched the ball towards goal first time from 25 yards. The shot however was straight at Paul Mathers, and the save was comfortable. Just after the half-hour mark Roberston nearly made it 2-1 when he outpaced two defenders to reach a through-ball, but David Crawford was out quickly to block, and managed to save the shot with his foot. Three minutes later DC made another great save, this time tipping over a Bavidge shot after the Peterhead striker had shown some good footwork to get past Shaun Molloy. Alan Trouten was the next player to come close to scoring, but his shot was touched just past the post. McCallum returned the cleared corner, but Brian Blair at the back post could only fire the ball wide. Peterhead then broke straight up the pitch from the goal kick, but the QP defence managed to get back just in time to stop a shot being made, and the ball ran out for a corner. Hagen went across and took a short corner, and the ball was then played into the centre but Buchan could only volley over. Ross Clark made a break with a great run up the pitch only to see his cross knocked behind for a corner. In the final action of the half, David McCallum sent in the corner from the right, and Stuart Kettlewell couldn't quite connect at the back post. Half time score: Queen's Park 1 - 1 Peterhead It was Peterhead who had the first real action of the second half, winning a corner after 49 minutes. Queens then won a corner on the left, with Alan Trouten forcing Craig Tully to put the ball behind from a situation that had at first looked easy for the Peterhead right-back. Ross Clark came over the take the corner, and Ally Graham headed over from a couple of yards out. Ten minutes into the half Frankie Carroll had a chance when he was played in, but with defenders closing on him from all sides he shot early and from 20 yards out the ball flew past harmlessly. On 58 minutes the first substitution of the game was made, with Mark Ferry coming on for Brian Blair. Two minutes later and Peterhead also made a change, Campbell coming on for Robertson. A minute later Peterhead thought they'd taken the lead when Bavidge from 6 yards turned in Gibson's long range effort, but the standside linesman correctly indicated that Bavidge had been offside. Only a minute after this it looked once again as if Peterhead had scored. This time Bavidge saw his shot deflect off Gavin Rushford, roll just past the stretching David Crawford and strike the left-hand post. Everyone thought the ball had gone in, but it must have just rolled along the goal line and DC recovered just in time to pounce on the ball before Scott Michie could rush in. In the next three minutes, the sub Campbell committed two fouls. First he shoved Ross Clark over with the ball nowhere near, then he took David McCallum out of play as he tried to play in a cross. The referee gave him a talking to for this, but in my opinion he was lucky to stay out of the book. On 68 minutes Mark Ferry saw a through ball run all the way to Paul Mathers, and this sparked a Peterhead break which ended with Bavidge poking a Gibson cross well wide. Two minutes later it was Queen's turn to have an effort cleared off the line. Paul Mathers was beaten to a cross by Ally Graham and the ball looked to be going in the bottom corner, but Robbie Raeside got back just in time to knock the ball away. With sixteen minutes remaining, Peterhead finally made the breakthrough that both teams had been looking for since wee Frankie's equaliser over an hour earlier. Martin Bavidge beat Big D to a ball forward, and after taking it to the bye-line cut it back to Jamie Buchan, who fired a shot into Crawford's bottom right corner, leaving the QP goalie with no chance. Billy Stark responded to the goal by making an attacking substitution - Ross Clark went off, and Bryan Felvus came on. With 9 minutes remaining Campbell just missed a heading chance in the box, and then Michie fired well over from out wide. Queens tried to push forward for the equaliser, but Mathers dealt with all the balls into the box in the closing stages. With only a minute to go, Alan Trouten found himself the first player of the match to be booked after a foul in the Peterhead half. Referee Thomson then went almost card-happy and booked Keith Gibson for a foul on Ferry barely 60 seconds later. Hardly any stoppage time was played, but just before the match finished Queens had one last chance. A McCallum cross from the left somehow found its way to Alan Trouten at the back post, but his first touch took it too far ahead of him and Mathers made an easy stop. It was disappointing to lose after we'd been doing so well, but on paper it was certainly not a surprise, and on the day it has to be admitted that Peterhead were probably the better side. Neither side was particularly consistant yesterday, but at times Peterhead looked very dangerous, and their pace going forward beat our defence on a couple of occasions. Our next match is at home to Elgin, who overtook us to retake third place yesterday. Hopefully we can bounce back from the defeat and once again show the everyone what we are really capable of. Basil's Man of the Match: David Crawford |
| Queen's Park Peterhead |
| 1 2 |
| (Carroll) (Michie, Buchan) |
| Queen's Park: David Crawford, Alan Trouten, Damiano Agostini, Gavin Rushford, Shaun Molloy, David McCallum, Stewart Kettlewell, Ross Clark (Bryan Felvus 77), Ally Graham, Frankie Carroll, Brian Blair (Mark Ferry 58). Subs not used: Tony Quinn, Paul Harvey, Steve McGovern (SK). Booked: Trouten (88, foul) Goals: Carroll 12 Peterhead: Paul Mathers, Craig Tully, Iain Good, Robbie Raeside, Mark Perry, Keith Gibson, Scott Robertson (Craig Campbell 60), Jamie Buchan, Scott Michie (Alan Youngson 87), Martin Bavidge, David Hagen. Subs not used: Clark Bain, Richard Shand, Ross Buchanan (SK). Booked: Gibson (89, late challenge) Goals: Michie 9, Buchan 74 Referee: Craig Thomson Attendance: 625 |