THE old eyes may not be what they once were, but Gulliver could swear he detected a few worried frowns on the faces of the home support as he enjoyed a lemonade in the Social Club before kick-off today. Surely followers of the Glorious Hoops couldn't be doubting our ability to make the play-offs? Are we not six points and 13 goals ahead of our only rivals, with just two games to play? Surely we must be home and hosed? And yet, say the merchants of doom, what if Dumbarton take five or six off Shire? What if Martin Johnston has one of those days and Queen's get a doing from Elgin? Would that not mean a very squeaky botty trip to Dumbarton next Saturday? ENOUGH! Even Gulliver was confident of this incredible season being prolonged by at least another couple of games. Yes, we have stuttered a bit in recent weeks and our title hopes have been blown away. Yes, we're struggling today with injuries and suspension. But we're more than good enough to get one point from two games to make progress mathematically certain. Needless to say, everybody in the home ranks was hoping that point would be secured today, making tonight's player of the year awards much more fun all round. However, we all knew it wouldn't be easy. The sight of Stuart Kettlewell sitting on the telly gantry summarising for QPTV was not one the home fans wanted to see. Ketts has been simply stunning this season and missing his first league game at this late stage was a big blow to our midfield. Other absentees included Paul Ronald, Tony Quinn, Alan Trouten and Richard Sinclair. Not ideal by any means. There was another off-field absentee. Your normal Hampden correspondent was in London visiting a chum who hadn't been keeping too well. That meant Gulliver deputising at the keyboard, and it was a most unusual-looking squad had to be entered. The starting XI was probably predictable, with Reilly and Carroll replacing Sinclair and Kettlewell from last week. But the bench was a real eye opener. Apart from Mark Cairns and Richard Bowers, we had a trio of rookies - Andy Boslem, Alan Harty and Ross Dunlop All were making the step-up from the 19s and could just be the shape of things to come next season. Quite what Mark Cairns must have felt like as he looked at his companions we can only guess. The veteran keeper could just about be old enough to be the kids' faither ... but then again, if any of these youngsters are as much a credit to the game as Mark Cairns has been, then they will have done all right. The way Queen's lined up raised more than a few eyebrows, with Dunlop, Reilly and Agostini forming a back three. Paton, Dunn, Cairney, Ferry and Canning were strung across the middle, with Frankie and David Weatherston up front. Not surprisingly, it took some time to settle. Five minutes were on the clock before the crowd was raised from its slumbers. Paton did well to release Weatherston, who turned on thye afterburners and left Dempsie for dead. His inviting cross found no takers, however, and the chance was lost. Just three minutes later, we got our first warning. Mackay was left in splendid isolation down the right. Thankfully, his cross was hit far too heavily to cause any damage. Ten minutes have now flown by, and you can taste the tension. Gullivers nerves are shot to blazes, so how must the players be feeling? Mark Ferry had a glorious chance to ease the nerves after 11 minutes when Weatherston teed him up. His shot, from the edge of the box, sailed high and wide. Sixty seconds later, he nearly made amends with a far more difficult chance. He beat one man and let fly with his left peg. It took a despairing dive from keeper Fox, and a deflection off the post to keep the ball out. More like it Queen's. We were starting to feel the benefit of the glorious playing surface and Dunn combined neatly with Cairney to create a sniff of an opening. Sadly, the door was slammed shut by Hind. Ferry turned creater after 16 minutes, playing a superb long ball across to Weatherston. Again Fox was called into action, blocking the shot well with his legs. It was one-way traffic, but we desperately needed an end product just in case. The visitors had barely threatened, but could have taken the lead after 20 minutes. Docherty was allowed space to cross for Mackay, but his volley flew over the top. Finally, the breakthrough. A short corner with Paton and Canning. A couple of wee passes - a lobbed cross and a deflected header from Weatherston. It wasn't the most powerful, or cleanest - strike you'll ever see, but as it crawled over the line, this correspondent didn't care how it got there. The goal, unfortunately, sparked Elgin into life and they won a free kick in a distinctly dodgy position. Mackay's driven effort was headed behind for a corner, which was badly overhit. A pessimist would worry the visitors were coming back into things. The pessimist would be right, they were having their best spell and we just couldn't get a hold of the ball. When things ain't going your way, you need a bit of luck. Queen's got it after 35 minutes. Hind was allowed to run through the middle; Cairney and Reilly blocked each other off - and the defender let fly. His shot was deflected, twice, hit the post and rolled behind. Good teams take advantage of their breaks. Queen's did just that. Seconds later they swept upfield. Paton smashed the ball over to Ferry, he knocked it first time into the path of the galloping Weatherston and the striker did the rest. A wonderful goal, and things suddenly look ever so much better. Elgin were back on the back foot and Hooks took his anger out on Canning; firstly hauling him back - and when that failed to stop the Queen's midfielder, he decked him. Referee Sproule simply had to flash a card, and yellow was probably the right colour. The day was getting better by the minute. And Robert Dunn got in on the act right on the break. Ferry sent over a lovely ball to the back post where Mick Dunlop was waiting to head it back into the middle. Dunn couldn't miss and didn't. 3-0 ... and the last action of what finally became a lovely first half. Half Time 3-0 Elgin came out the traps fast and won a corner in the opening seconds. Johnston was allowed to get a header in, but it fell tamely into Crawford's arms. Then Weatherston raced upfield to win Queen's a corner, which ended with Canning's rocket being blocked and Elgin storming up the park to set up a chance of their own. Both teams were going for it, but Gulliver would like to have seen Queen's get a hold of the ball for a wee spell. Elgin were enjoying a bit too much possession, but the Spiders had already shown how devastating they could be on the counter. What we didn't need was another injury, and Dunn gave us a scare after 55 minutes. There was nobody too near him when he went over the ball and his ankle. Thankfully, he hobbled quickly back into the action. Canning had his shooting boots on, and it took a fine diving save from Fox to deny him the goal he deserved. Carroll pounced on the rebound, but couldn't beat the keeper. It mattered not, however, as the linesman's flag had already gone up for offside. Gulliver is sure Frankie knew that and was just keeping his power dery. The visitors forced a couple of corners in quick succession on the hour mark, but the Spiders' held firm. One fine stretching block from Reilly had unfortunate consequences, with the experienced defender being forced to leave the field soon after. Here's hoping it's nothing serious. The plus was a first look at young Alan Harty who slotted into midfield with Canning dropping back into the last line of three. Truth be told, things started to get distinctly flat after that. Queen's felt the job was done, and had bigger challenges ahead. Elgin had plenty possession, but couldn't find the killer touch. Weatherston enjoyed another romp up the park after 68 minutes, dodging a couple of meaty challenges. The support just couldn't get there quick enough to take full advantage. Seventy minutes in and Billy made his second change, switching Dunn for Richard Bowers. Now you know Gulliver would never criticise an official, but some in the ground thought Mr Sproule got a couple of decisions wrong within a matter of seconds. Arms seemed to be all over Cairney as he burst through, but the whistler saw nothing amiss. It was the same outcome when Frankie went down in the box, and then Hind had another couple of fresh-air swipes that would have broken a leg if they had connected. Thankfully, just as things threatened to boil over, the players saw sense and took the heat out the situation themselves. Elgin almost got a toehold on the game from another cross that found its way to Johnston. Crawford was alert to keep out the striker's effort, and Canning was on hand to clear the follow-up effort of the line. More worry after 80 minutes when Paton went down in a heap. Happily, he was soon restored to rude health. Route one from Crawford sent Bowers clear, but his final ball just failed to reach Weatherston. And the Queen's striker's eyes lit up in the very next attack when Paton's cross begged out for a left-foot volley. Weatherston obliged, but his effort was pretty feeble. We'll let him off after the season he has had. Five minutes from the end, another Dunlop made his debut, Mick's kid brother Ross. Off went Weatherston for a well-earned rest, and the knowledge that his season is far from over. The Dunlop boy almost had a dream start, getting on the end of Canning's cross. The fairytale didn't happen, and the header looped inches over the bar. Cairney was next to test Fox, and again the keeper passed the exam, turning his powerful drive round for a corner. Paton's cross eventually found Canning and he let fly with his worst effort of the game. Typically, it bobbled all the way through, beat Fox - and clipped the post on its way wide. Ferry then tried his luck with a first-time effort from a poor Fox clearance, but it sailed narrowly wide. The final whistle came right on time, and apart from the happy faces, there was a lovely moment as the two Dunlop's left the park with their arms round each other. Well that's it. We're finally in the play-offs, and with a bit of luck, we'll have a much bigger squad to choose from by the time the first leg comes round. Gulliver's off the club to celebrate. It won't be the same without Homer and John Boy, but they'll be there in spirit. See you all a week on Wednesday, (maybe) for the first leg at Firhill (maybe) against Stranraer (maybe). Gulliver needs a drink (no maybes about it!)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
