| East Stirlingshire |
| Queen's Park |
| 0 |
| 5 |
| (Ronald, Livingstone og, Bowers, Paton, Molloy) |
| It was all too easy really as Queen's roared into the second round of the Challenge Cup with this demolition of East Stirling at Firs Park. Even with several top players not included, Queen's were still out in front by miles, and no less than three players took advantage of the favourable circumstances to score their first goals for the club. The score was 3-0 at the break, and simply wonderful goals from full-backs Paton and Molloy turned it into a thrashing. Some may have regretted the missed opportunity to chalk up a record score at Firs Park- there were over 35 minutes remaining when the 5th went in- but remember that this result leaves us 5 goals better off than on our last trip to the ground. As mentioned, Billy Stark went for the continental policy of squad rotation for this game, resting Weatherston, Crawford and Trouten. In addition he had to contend with injuries to Frankie Carroll, Richard Sinclair and Steven Reilly. As a result, veterans Cairns and Whelan got rare run-outs and there was a first competitive start for former Shire midfielder/striker Paul Ronald upfront. Strangely, given how ludicrously one-sided it would turn out to be, the game began in even fashion with Shire giving as good as they got in the first 20 minutes or so. In the 10th minute Cairns nervously spilled out a Dymock shot from 25 yards, and six minutes later the same player, completely unmarked in the box, fired a header at goal that Cairns had to claw wide for a corner. Queen's relied mainly on long-range shots early on in a bid to test out the debutant Shire goalkeeper Nugent, but he wasn't properly challenged until Quinn's first-time volley in the 19th minute. Brand got in front of his keeper to knock the ball high over the bar for a corner. For all this early balance, you could smell a Queen's goal from a mile off and a very pleasant aroma it was too. 25 minutes had passed when Paul Ronald rose high to meet Paton's outswinging corner from the left and glanced a header convincingly into the far corner of the net. A minute later, and Ronald was really starting to enjoy himself. His cross from the right corner of the 18-yard box reached Shire defender Livingstone who inexplicably rolled the ball beyond his own keeper. Livingstone's jerky movements and concrete-booted control were reminiscent of a player in some long obsolete football computer game - and he was one of Shire's better players. Queen's were thoroughly relaxed and started to play football, difficult as this must have been on a bumpy, weedy pitch. In the 32nd minute Molloy went on a beautiful run down the left, cleverly beating his opponent before drilling the ball across the area. However, Ronald had his back to goal and when sliding in could only divert the ball away from the line. Paton's corners were proving a good deal more effective than those of any other taker Queen's have had this season, and after 33 minutes Ferry powered his delivery from the right just wide. Within 5 minutes though Queen's had added a third. Bowers collected in midfield, came forward unchallenged, and placed a low shot beyond Nugent into the right-hand corner of his net. Anything that Shire did from now on was likely to be academic but they did very close to a goal with the last action of the half. Following a corner, Boyle whacked in a volley from a 45-degree angle to the goal that came off the top of Canning's head and off the inside of the post behind him. Keen to spread the goals around, Billy Stark brought on recent signing Robert Dunn for Steven Canning at half-time, with Paul Ronald moving back to accomodate the substitute. Queen's had led 3-0 at this stage last year when facing Shire in the League Cup, but had failed to add to that tally. This time, there was an eagerness throughout the team to chalk up a really good number, and this was illustrated by the fact that the remaining scorers were not only full-backs, but full-backs who had never previously scored a goal of any description. The goals they were to get tonight would almost defy description. The glory was bestowed firstly on Paul Paton. In the 52nd minute he gathered near the halfway line and surged forward, ghosting past various Shire men before entering the area. With the defence sliced open, he only had Nugent to beat, but seemed to taken on more than he needed to by rounding the keeper on the outside. However, he didn't let up, and coolly slammed the ball into the far corner with devastating precision. Deservedly, he received the biggest cheer of the night for such brilliance. However, he was nearly (but not quite) eclipsed by Shaun Molloy's efforts only a couple of minutes later. Shaun unleashed a superb rising shot that flew into the top left of the net. A different type of goal, but the sheer purity of the shot meant that it ranked up there with Paton's. 5-0 and for a moment we dreamed of records being smashed. Of course, such thoughts weren't really realistic as the Queen's team were now well aware that the game was impressively won and didn't see the need to risk injury just to satisfy our greed. Not that they stopped trying for goals. Three minutes after Molloy's strike, Dunn poked a shot just wide after a lovely back-heel by Ferry inside the box. The former Stirling Albion man couldn't quite connect properly after he had himself kept an overhit cross from leaving play. Then Bowers's measured lob from 12 yards out banged off the underside of the bar. Robert Dunn was obviously keen on becoming the next to open his Queen's account, and in the 67th minute charged through on receiving a through pass. The covering defender gave chase and managed to get his leg in front of the shot which sailed over. Paul Ronald came closer a minute later when his header came off the post, with a hopeful follow-up overhead kick disappearing past. There is something about Ronald's demeanour that reminds one of Ally Graham- his height and strength, but also a certain impudence to his game that can only be shown by those who've been around the block. After that, it was more or less goodnight as far as the tale of our attacking went. Own-goal culprit Livingstone did come close for Shire 13 minutes from time, turning a shot past after Whelan (who commanded throughout) went in strongly on Dymock but couldn't keep possession. Further detail isn't required, as only the fanatical or deranged could have got seriously worked up about what little play remained. It was great to see Queen's in such a ruthless mood, and with some players guaranteed to be missing against Dumbarton (Ferry and Sinclair are suspended) Billy Stark must have been encouraged to see that even second-choice players are performing so well; in particular Molloy. All in all, what with three straight wins, a place in the next round of both cups, and brand new Ska-style chequered scarves due in at the Shop on Saturday, these are heady times for supporting the Queen's. East Stirlingshire: Anton Nugent, Scott Livingstone, Derek Ure, Steven Oates, Andy Brand, Steven Blair (Jamie Nixon 58), Marc McKenzie (Andy Smith 60), Joe Boyle (Paul Stewart 58), Steven Dymock, Alan Ward, Stephen Adam. Substitutes not used: Steven Learmonth, Robert Tiropoulous. Booked: Dymock. Queen's Park: Mark Cairns, Paul Paton, Shaun Molloy, Jonny Whelan, Damiano Agostini, Steven Canning (Robert Dunn 46), Stuart Kettlewell (David Weatherston 79), Tony Quinn (Alan Trouten 87), Paul Ronald, Richard Bowers, Mark Ferry. Substitutes not used: Mick Dunlop, David Crawford. Goals: Ronald 25, Livingstone og 26, Bowers 38, Paton 52, Molloy 54. Referee: Alan Boyd. Attendance: 391. |