Two easy for Livi
Livingston 2 Queen's Park 0
Queen's Park: |
Since then we've endured a Siberian cold snap - and enjoyed a warm surge in spirits as Queen's found the way to win.
No team in the league has done better in recent weeks - but then again - no team has played as many games as the Spiders. However, as the old saying goes, it's always better to have the points in the bag rather than games in hand.
Despite the recent run of good results, there was no denying the difficulty of the task facing us as we headed for Livingston tonight. The Lions have signed another couple of top-class players since the transfer window opened, and although they haven't hit top gear, few would bet against them gaining the automatic promotion place at the end of the season.
Gulliver must admit he's got the Almondvale side firmly at the top of his list for end of season honours, and your scribe didn't have too many wild expectations before tonight's game.
Yes Queen's have been playing well and scoring goals; and yes we were hopeful that James Brough, Chuckie Watt and Frankie Carroll would all be available for consideration.
But we still faced a tough task - and it was vital that the players all performed at the top of their abilities, if we were to come home with anything other than a hard-luck story.
In the end, we were without Carroll, without David Murray, without Brough - and without any real spark as we went down to a disappointing defeat.
Although the starting line-up didn't look too far off our strongest, the truth is that we were far from our best. Daly came in to the starting XI at the expense of Carroll, and while he put in an energetic shift, there's no doubt we missed the guile of wee Frankie and his ability to hold the ball up.
The match only went ahead after an afternoon inspection, and as we arrived at a snow-covered Almondvale, it was easy to see why it had been in doubt. The surrounds of the ground were covered in snow and ice, while the playing surface - normally a pristine place to strut your stuff - resembled a ploughed field on a bad day.
That said, it was very much the same for both teams, and Livingston certainly adapted better. Within 12 minutes they were two up, and the game was virtually over.
The first goal came after seven minutes when a quick break down the right saw the ball cut back to Fox who had the easiest of tasks to sidefoot home.
Five minutes later and it was two. Another quick break involving Robbie Winters carved us apart and this time it was Halliday who had the easy finish.
At this point, Gulliver was thinking damage limitation and all those in the Queen's ranks were happy when moments later Barry Douglas produced a splendid block before keeper Peter Hamilton brought out a special save to keep us at least theoretically in with a chance.
We had hardly been seen as an attacking force until almost 20 minutes were on the clock. And even then, our first real attack ended tamely when Daly headed wide after being given half a chance by Holms' cross.
For the rest of the first period, we just about held our own. Whether that is because we were better, or because Livi already felt the game was won, is something that will never be known.
What can't be denied is that we never put the home side under enough pressure to suggest we were capable of overcoming the two-goal start.
Around the half-hour, Talbot was booked for an assault on McBride, and Douglas sent the resulting foul into a dangerous position. Nobody took advantage.
Then we fashioned a half-chance as Ryan Holms finally found a bit of space - but despite winning a corner, we were in truth flattering to deceive.
The home side looked by far the more dangerous on the break, and we were probably happy to get to the interval without suffering further damage.
Half-time:
Livingston 2 Queen's Park 0.
Our only hope of getting back into the game was a quick response. The sad reality is that never looked on. The second period followed a similar pattern to the first, with the home side looking dangerous on the break; Queen's huffing and puffing - and the scoreline not looking like altering in our favour.
The boss brought on Dunlop, Watt and O'Hara at the expense of Holms, Hamilton and Daly. But the changes never looked like altering the outcome of the match.
Jacobs rattled an effort of the post in the 63 minute and Martin McBride replied instantly with a left-foot shot that was easily held by keeper McKenzie.
The Queen's midfielder was also involved in the most controversial incident of the second period. He was shadowing Halliday into no-man's land when he leant into the Livingston forward. It was hardly McBride's fault that Halliday careered off the park and collided with the advertising hoardings, but referee Muir thought the challenge was worth a booking.
Gulliver would never criticise any official, but there were plenty in black and white who thought the caution harsh.
Regardless of that challenge, there was precious little else to trouble the notetakers. Livi occasionally threatened on the break; Queen's tried manfully to get a foothold in the game - and neither side really looked like scoring.
The game petered out, but followers of the glorious Hoops shouldn't be too downhearted at the result.
Livingston are not the immediate target; Gulliver reckons they will stroll to the title. What Queen's have to do is make sure they are in the shake-up for the play-off places. Our next two games are likely to be against Stranraer and Montrose. That's the type of match where we need to ensure a maximum return if we want to be in the play-off battle.
Your scribe genuinely believes we have the squad to follow in the footsteps of the mob who took us to the 2nd division just a few years ago. But they need our backing to help them along the way.
Keep the faith ... and we may all feel the benefits.
See you at Hampden on Saturday.
 |
|---|
See you all
|
SFL Div 3 |
P |
Pts |
| Livingston | 36 | 78 |
| Forfar Athletic | 36 | 63 |
| East Stirling | 36 | 61 |
| QUEEN'S PARK | 36 | 51 |
| Albion Rovers | 36 | 50 |
| Berwick Rangers | 36 | 50 |
| Stranraer | 36 | 47 |
| Annan Athletic | 36 | 43 |
| Elgin City | 36 | 34 |
| Montrose | 36 | 24 |