( Martin, Sinclair )
Danny Ferry was back from illness, though lacked enough fitness to start the match. It was therefore an identical team to the one that took the field for last week's game. For Rovers, former Queen's player Jim Mercer started the game in midfield.
A sign of just how much Queen's controlled this game was that Rovers best chance of the game came after just 3 minutes. Kevin McAllister fired wide of Stewart's left hand post from only a few yards out. Queen's began to dominate after that, as recent tradition demands, and had their first real attacking move after 8 minutes when a good interchange between Sinclair and Martin on the right hand side saw Willie get to the bye line before having his cross deflected for a corner kick.
After 10 minutes, Tony Quinn was forced to leave the field after a late tackle from Rovers midfielder Chris Silvestro. To be fair, Silvestro had every right to make the challenge, but not in the way that he did. It was late, and a yellow card should have been produced at the very least. Almost needless to say, the match official thought otherwise. Quinn's loss was something Queen's could well have done without, especially as replacement Ross Clark had been quiet in his previous appearances, but he was to put in a good shift on this occasion.
Queen's pressing style was rewarded after 14 minutes with the opening goal of the game. A John Gemmell shot was blocked, and the ball fell for Willie Martin to slide in ahead of the keeper to poke the ball home off the far post. Willie's first league goal of the season, and thoroughly deserved due to his phenomenal work-rate.
The visitors were very much in the ascendancy at this stage. Johnny Whelan's long range drive was tipped away by impressive home goalkeeper Scott Shearer, who then dealt with John Gemmell's back header from the resultant corner kick.
Queen's kept much of the possession during the first half, and were consistently more lively in attack. After half an hour's play, Steven Moffat demonstrated his attacking instincts when receiving a short free kick and dribbling mazily to the edge of the area. His shot lacked accuracy however and fell wide. Willie Martin then tried his luck from long range, and very nearly scored with a rocket of a shot that flew just wide of Shearer's left hand post. Willie was clearly keen to add to his tally, and was on hand a minute later to collect John Gemmell's misplaced header that followed a long free-kick. Shearer was comfortably equal to the low shot.
Richard Sinclair was next to have a shot from distance, curling the ball just wide off Shearer's fingertips after doing brilliantly to retain possession in the middle of the park. However, Sincy was not to be denied his first goal for Queen's for much longer. It came on the stroke of half-time, following a lovely move. Gemmell flicked the ball on for Johnny Whelan, whose pass into the penalty area was inch perfect. Sinclair had made a great run from the right into the box, and nicked in ahead of Shearer to slip the ball home. Cue jumping and dancing from the sizeable travelling support, and the familiar pile-on celebration from an obviously close-knit group of players. One thing Queen's clearly don't lack is team spirit.
A 2-0 half-time lead seemed more or less unassailable, given just how poorly Albion Rovers had played during the first half. Queen's had been excellent, full of heart and some neat football too, with Sinclair, Martin and Whelan all standing out. A lot more pressure from the home team was to be expected in the second period though.
John Gemmell should have put matters beyond doubt three minutes after the break, but he could only stroke the ball into Shearer's arms after Allan had sent him through on goal. This was not to be the last time that Rovers would be exposed on the counter attack as they sought to reduce the deficit. A spell of pressure from the home team followed, but they were unable to manage any serious efforts at goal, with the Queen's defence, although somewhat hemmed in, looking as solid as a rock. After an hour, Danny Ferry came on for James Allan, who hadn't quite replicated his recent explosive form. The substitution suggested that Paul Martin was now prepared to sit tight, with Ferry being a more defensive minded player than Allan, and that two goals would be enough.
The solidity of the Queen's back line was exemplified after 63 minutes. A free kick from Lumsden was headed across goal for Peter Cormack, but Agostini made a superb block tackle, without actually touching the ball, to prevent a likely goal. It was as close as Rovers would come to getting back into the game, and Queen's now seemed certain to gather full points.
A scare came with 20 minutes remaining, when the impeccable Moffat was injured in a clash of heads and had to leave the field. Queen's continued with 10 men, but John Gallagher soon stripped and seemed ready to enter the fray. Much to John's disappointment, Stevie re-appeared, his head wrapped in a bandage, and resumed his position in the back three.
Willie Martin's shot on the turn went wide from 18 yards after 72 minutes, as Queen's played the game out until the whistle blew, in no danger from a Rovers team who looked as if they knew they were beaten. Sadly, the game was to end on a bit of a sour note for the Spiders. First, Steven Canning became the second player to be stretchered off the field, in his case after an awkward fall saw him hurt his ankle. As a result, John Gallagher came on at last for his first appearance in several weeks. Then in the final minute, John Gemmell had an easy chance to make it three after chasing a long ball and rounding Shearer, but from the right edge of the area, in front of an empty goal, he somehow blasted the ball over. It was an appalling miss, and you felt sorry for John, who just can't seem to score any goals at all. In all honesty, it was a clumsy performance from the Queen's striker, who worked his socks off again and proved a handful, but he lacks the ball control and finishing needed to be a seriously effective striker. To compound a bad end to the game for Gemmell, he picked up a broken wrist, though how this happened I am not sure.
To have so many injuries in one game is probably unfortunate rather than careless, but both Quinn and Canning could well be out for a few weeks. Certainly Quinn will be missing for some time to come. It's a blow, just when the team have begun to gather some momentum. Yet hopes will now be very high at the club of continued success during the rest of the season. The 'new coach' issue has very much been put on the back burner, but an appointment will probably have to be made by not long after New Year. In the meantime though, let's keep rollin' on with Hunter and Martin's Black and White Army!
Match information