Scottish League Division 3
	Queen's Park	5
	Canning (pen), Ferry, Donachie (og) Trouten, Quinn
	Montrose	0
Saturday, January 20, 2007

YOUR long-suffering web correspondents (and their longer-suffering readers) would have to be classed as optimists. It's part of the territory of following this glorious old club; you always believe better times are just around the corner.
Queen's haven't had the best run of late, and have slipped down the league faster than Tony Blair's trust ratings. But such is the nature of this daft game that a win today could put us back in the play-off places. Now there's optimism for you!
And although the first snows of winter have just arrived, and there are months of the season left to go, a win today was bordering on the imperative for Queen's. Homer hates dubbing any fixture a must-win, but this one came mighty close.
It wouldn't be easy, however, as Montrose usually prove sticky opponents at Hampden; indeed, we've only beaten them here once on league duty this millennium.
On top of that, they've just parted company with their manager (as a lot of teams have done this term on the eve of a trip to Hampden) and were in the middle of an appalling run of results.
With the strikers they have at their disposal, that would have to change some time; Homer was just hoping it wouldn't be today.
When a team poses a potent threat up front, the best ploy can often be to go at them from the off and deny them the chance to put you under pressure. Would Billy Stark adopt that approach today?
Regardless of formation, he would have to do without the usual injury suspects, as well as wee Tommy Murray, who was allowed to leave the club this week.
Homer for one will miss the sight of those tiny wee legs scurrying up and down the Hampden pitch.
It was the same starting XI that took the park, and the only change in the 16 was Dunn on the bench for the departed Murray.
The weather was positively balmy compared to last week against Berwick; no rain or gales, which was a change.
But it was a gale-force start by Queen's, and it almost brought a goal in the first minute.
Kettlewell chipped into the box, Ronald moved the ball on with a back header, and Ferry's shot on the turn was parried over the bar by keeper Reid.
Queen's had started at a good tempo. All they had to do now was sustain it - and, unlike too many games in the past few seasons - take some of their chances.
Montrose, though, wouldn't lie down, and they caused a sweat in the Queen's defence after six minutes.
Michie teased Sinclair on the left and managed to get in a cross, which the sliding Henslee guided just wide of the far post.
It was good, open play and Queen's created another good opening in eight minutes.
Ferry and Ronald were again involved, the big man putting Trouten clear in the box and the young midfielder lobbing the outrushing keeper but sending the ball just over the top.
That was the cue for the rain to start. Well, it had been dry for all of 8 minutes; that constitutes a Glasgow Fair Fortnight, surely?
Cairney shot wide from well out in 10 minutes, but we found the back of the net four minutes later to get a deserved pay-off for our positive start.
Trouten, so often the main creator for Queen's, opened the Montrose defence with a pass down the inside right channel that Kettlewell got behind into the box, only to be brought down by the diving Reid as he tried to go past him.
Penalty! And Canning sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot for his fifth goal of the season.
As I say, no more than Queen's deserved, and they opened Montrose again three minutes later. Again Ferry and Trouten combined, the latter seeing his shot blocked by keeper Reid.
Queen's almost conceded an equaliser in 24 minutes - thanks to the referee. He got in the way of a Paton pass, Montrose broke down the left, and Sinclair diverted Rodgers' cross narrowly past his own post.
From the corner, the ball found its way to Gibson, 20 yards out, and he brought Crawford into action for the first time in the match with a save at his right hand post.
Queen's were playing well, controlling possession. A fine interpassing move in 24 minutes saw the lively Trouten take a return pass from Ronald and have a shot blocked. Paton's attempt from the rebound was blocked and Kettlewell fired the loose ball well over.
We were creating chances again and, after a scramble, Reid did well to keep out a low drive by Ferry.
Homer and Gulliver and Billy Stark are tired of saying it. If Queen's took even a small percentage of their chances, they would be at the opposite end of the table, and not seven points behind leaders East Fife, no problem.
Dunlop won a header from Paton's swinging free kick and Ferry's shot from the knock-down was blocked, and then in the scramble Ronald and Canning got in fankle ­- After you, Claude - when another chance presented itself.
The play was all in the Montrose half. Ferry's cross from the left, Trouten's attempted cutback on the volley diverted for a corner - and Queen's had laid the groundwork to go 2-0 up.
Trouten's short corner was sent over by Paton, the ball was cleared to the edge of the box, and Ferry's clean strike was on target as it struck a defender and swerved over keeper Reid into the net. If anyone deserved a goal, it was the impressive Ferry.
That scoreline was a better reflection on the play, and it could have been three in 40 minutes when Canning shot wide from 10 yards.
Montrose had created little - they had not been allowed, in fairness - and it was now only a matter of Queen's keeping their concentration.
Half-time: Queen's Park 2, Montrose 0.

Ten minutes in, and nothing to report. On the one hand, that's good news; Queen's are two-up and their goal has not been threatened at all. But we have come down to Montrose's level and allowed ourselves to get sloppy and the high tempo has dropped
Homer likes Cairney. The boy finds good space, he has a good attitude, and he never stops. His delightful dribble down the inside left channel eventually provided a square pass which Trouten got behind on the edge of the box to send a low piledriver just wide.
Montrose sent on Stirling for Cumming and his first touch was a free kick to the back stick which McLeod knocked down and Crawford comfortably saved low at his far post.
But Queen's woke up long enough to make it 3-0 in 64 minutes, right back Donachie turning a Trouten cross into his own net after another delightful run and cross by the Queen's man. Like Ferry, Trouten has figured in all Queen's best moments.
And Trouten figured in another two minutes later when Queen's helped their goal difference with a fourth goal. Again we had assistance from the visitors, this time the ball catching under the feet of the unfortunate Gibson in the box and Trouten lashing a shot past Reid.
Another couple and the points will be safe; well, it is the Queen's.
Rodgers picked up the first yellow card in 69 minutes for a foul on Ferry.
A minute later, Quinn and Carroll replaced Paton and Ronald. In 74, Montrose sent on Reid for Black. Gibson was booked for a foul on Kettlewell.
We did say some team would get a right sore face when Queen's finally took their chances, and unfortunately for Montrose today is the day.
It was five in 77 minutes with a five man move from the free kick, Cairney to Canning, Carroll's hold up to put Weatherston wide, and Quinn was in the middle to head a simple goal from the cross.
Dunn was sent on for a run with six minutes to go, replacing Weatherston, who had one of his quieter games; five goals, and the striker wasn't on the scoresheet.
And Dunn almost made it the half-dozen with a fine shot in the last minute which only just cleared the bar. But let's not get greedy. A good day, Queen's. We're back on track.