GULLIVER'S been off on his travels again this week, savouring the delights of the Champion's League fare on offer at Old Trafford. But while the setting may have been a bit grander on Wednesday night, there was no doubt that today's game was the Big One. Queen's and Berwick have both been going great guns of late, and both have at least one eye on the title. Queen's have the points in the bag; Berwick have games in hand. The one certainty was that neither team would want to lose this one. With our fixtures running out, perhaps we needed the points even more than the home side, and going on our recent form, there was no reason why we couldn't get them. Since our last defeat - at home to Berwick in January - we've won six of our seven matches, scoring 20 goals and conceding just two. Tempting fate still farther, we've not let in a goal since East Fife scored at HQ at the start of February. That's 381 minutes of playing time for those who like their wee bit of statistical information. It's also championship potential in anybody's language. Berwick haven't been too shabby either. In the same period, they've won six and lost two. So all the signs pointed to a tight, tense encounter, with little quarter given or asked. It was also likely to be a tough afternoon for the man in the middle. But if Mr Collum could produce anything like the calm assurance seen from last week's Hampden official, John Underhill, everybody would benefit. Gulliver would never criticise any official, and he seldom praises them either. However, it was a joy to see a whistler who didn't want to be the centre of attention and was happy to let the game flow - only producing cards when absolutely necessary. But that's enough of that sort of thing, people will be thinking Gulliver has gone soft in his old age. The only addition to the injury list was a niggling doubt over Frankie Carroll. At the end of the day, he was declared fit and the boss went with the same squad. If Queen's were to get the points, we had to impose our game on Berwick, but that wasn't going to be easy with an icy wind blowing in our faces in the first half. We came out the traps well, and went close with our first attack. We won a corner and Paton's delivery swirled in the wind and glanced off the home crossbar before being hoofed to safety. Then it was DC's turn to be called into action after 10 minutes. The Queen's keeper has looked far more confident in recent weeks, and had to be sharp to keep out Chris McGroarty's free-kick. Despite the importance of victory for Queen's, we were playing some decent stuff and had by far the lion's share of possession. Paton gave Kettlewell a sniff at goal, but the midfielder's shot was easily saved. Then it was the turn of Homer's favourite Paolo Cairney to stamp his undoubted class on the game. Firstly he went on a mazy run that was only halted by a scything tackle from Fraser. A yellow card had to follow, and did. Then Cairney showed a wee bit of inexperience and put Big D under pressure with a risky pass. For perhaps the only time in the game, the big defender miscued his clearance and real danger threatened. Thankfully, they couldn't take advantage and we escaped unpunished. The final action of the first period saw Alan Trouten booked for a late tackle. The scores may have been level of the break, but Queen's had produced by far the better stuff. Gulliver had a chum up from Newcastle to watch the game, and he couldn't believe who was top of the league. We could have told him we had blown games like this before, but there was a spring in the steps of the players that suggested this was going to be a good day. As often happens, Queen's took time to settle with the wind at their backs in the second half. And the cause wasn't helped on the hour mark when keeper O'Connor clatter young Cairney on the edge of the box as they both challenged for a high ball. When a seven foot tall keeper meets a four-foot small midfielder. there's only going to be one winner. But Cairney is so brave, such thoughts don't enter his mind. Here's hoping the injury he suffered isn't too serious, but it didn't look too good as he left the field on a stretcher. Despite the loss, Queen's weren't put out their stride, and with Carroll on in place of Cairney, possibly looked even more likely to score. Ronald and Kettlewell got in each other's way as they went for a Paton cross. Then a Paton corner produced the mother and father of all stramashes, but the ball just wouldn't go in the net. However, just when it looked like being one of those days, Queen's made the breakthrough on 67 minutes. Trouten looked to have lost the chance a couple of times, but refused to give up and when he got the break of the ball inside the box, he drilled it low past O'Connor. That was the spur we needed, and we went for the jugular. Kettlewell and Ferry had half chances before Ferry kept his prolific run going and grabbed the vital second. It was a bit scruffy with Carroll and Ronald both failing to get the ball over the line, before Ferry showed them how it was done sidefooting home from just a couple of yards out. With 12 minutes to go and a two-goal lead, we should have been confident, and in all honesty, we seldom looked in trouble as we saw out time. This was as good a win as we have had in the league all season and keeps us right in the mix. We're now looking like a right good side, and when you haven't lost a goal for 471 minutes, you have the right to feel confident. We now face three games against teams in the lower end of the league. It's imperative we show the same commitment and determination as we have in recent top-of-the-table clashes. After all, you get the same three points for victory regardless of the opposition. For now, however, let's just enjoy the moment, and this scoreline - Berwick Rangers 0, Queen's Park 2. Next stop Montrose.
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