Scottish League - Division Three
	Season 2005/06
	Queen's Park	2
	Weatherston, Trouten
	Arbroath	0
Tuesday, May 1, 2007

Old and gnarled as Homer and Gulliver may be, you are always experiencing something new and exciting with Queen's Park. Post-season butterflies are certainly new, at least in a football context, but we get them every year at the prospect of what the wife has in store for us on a Saturday afternoon. Now a play-off, that's a horse of a different colour entirely.
It's a new concept for The Glorious Hoops, this home and away route to promotion. In all our long and magnificent history, we have always managed it as champions; but, hey, let's get jiggy with it, we're not too old to adapt, we can still learn.
We have learned a lot about our young team in this marvellous season - whatever happens tonight or in the second leg on Saturday or in the final against either Stranraer or East Fife. Billy Stark and his squad, on and off the park, have been superb. Now they have to be superb for just a little longer.
There was good news and bad news pre-match. Billy Stark's hopes over the fitness of his central defenders were half realised - Mick Dunlop and Damiano Agostini were in the team, but Steve Reilly and Richard Sinclair failed to make the squad. Agostini was injured in the warm-up at Dumbarton on Saturday and had been replaced by Andy Bolslem. Mark Ferry and Davie Weatherston were in from the start in place of Tony Quinn and Paul Ronald.
Stevie Canning continued a remarkable run of being involved in EVERY league match this season, either starting or coming on from the bench.
And Davie Crawford, already on the big numbers this season with 706 minutes without losing a goal, was back into three figures after playing his 100th game for Queen's at Dumbarton.
Arbroath boss John McGlashan had moaned that the game had been switched from Wednesday - no fault of Queen's - and that he would struggle to get players off work. Needless to say, Arbroath were at full strength.
It was generally accepted that Queen's would have to take a lead to Gayfield on Saturday - although we have won up there already this season. Our previous league meetings have generally been very tight, so Homer was not expecting a goals rush; he was praying for one, though.
The wide open spaces of Hampden contrast sharply with Gayfield's tight and uneven surface, especially with some of their big defenders breathing down your neck.
Homer was already breathing heavily and didn't need a scare while the scoreboard still registered 0 MINS.
A chance from an aimless through ball from the kick-off fell to Stein 25 yards out, but he sliced a shot well wide.
Two minutes in and Raeside scythed Weatherston after the Hoops striker had skinned him, but it was a positive start by Queen's
Cairney ran from from the right to the left wing, cut inside Rennie and fired in a shot which Peat held comfortably, and a minute later Dunn was just wide with Peat at full stretch
Seven minutes in and Paton tried his luck from well out, but again Peat held the shot.
It was a very open game, but too open at the back for Homer's liking as ex-Spider Willie Martin twice came close to putting Arbroath ahead. In truth, he should have converted both chances.
In 9 minutes, Martin had a shot blocked by Kettlewell, and when Stein fired in the clearance the unmarked Martin headed down, but the ball bounced up - and over the bar.
Ten minutes after that, he had an even easier chance, another good Stein inswinger from the left and Martin again rose alone and again headed straight at Crawford.
In between those chances, Canning shot straight at Peat and Kettlewell was just wide with a diving header from a Weatherston cross.
Raeside was booked in 22 minutes for downing Dunn, the striker took the kick himself and his powerful low shot was well held by Peat. The visiting keeper was having a busy night, but was looking in form.
He proved it again in 25 minutes. Weatherston's electric double burst took him to the left byline, but Peat did well to intercept the cross low down.
A good break down the left ended when Canning lost possession. Arbroath broke quickly down the same wing and Black had a strong shot saved low at a post by Crawford, who was also looking in form. As I say, end to end stuff, and very nervy. You couldn't blame players for not wanting to make a mistake, but Homer feels fortune will favour the brave in this tie.
DC was at full stretch to touch away a dangerous Stein corner, and Kettlewell cleared the resultant flag kick from the opposite side.
Queen's were working the ball well, but the final pass was going astray.Two or three times passes into the box were dummied, but the player following behind just failed to make the connection. Queen's were finding space in front of the Arbroath backline, but it was that final pass that was proving elusive.
Tight as an Aylesbury duck was Gulliver's verdict as the fourth official (a fourth official, there's luxury for you) held up a minute for first half stoppage time, the cue for Dunlop to put in a bruising tackle in our box to deny Brazil.
Half-time Queen's Park 0, Arbroath 0.
That final pass again. Three minutes in and Trouten fed Dunn, Kettlewell burst clear in the box, and Dunn's through ball was yards heavy.
And it was time for Homer's heavy breathing again as Queen's gave away a soft penalty in 52. Paton was adjudged to have fouled McCulloch, but it was a weak award, although Paton didn't over-react. Fortunately for Queen's, we have a strong keeper, and Davie Crawford had the home fans on their feet with his second successive penalty save. In truth, the luckless Willie Martin's effort looked too straight, but DC still had to stop it, and he did. It had to be said, though, Queen's were getting the heavy rub of the green.
Kettlewell was booked for protesting the award; the irate Gulliver ("never a penalty") could have been jailed.
It was a good opening by Arbroath, who were not averse to playing route one as Queen's stuck to their passing game. Without a big target man up front, we had little option but to play through the channels.
Weatherston had his first chance in 58, when he intercepted a poor pass at the back but shot straight at Peat.
Willie Martin, who could have gone home with the match ball for a hat-trick, was replaced by Tosh in 62. Homer reckons this may be the first time he has seen Willie leave the field unbooked after a match against Queen's.
In 64, Dunn went off to be replaced by Ronald.
Trouten waltzed through the home defence in 71 but couldn't see a shot. He squared to Cairney, on the edge of the box, but wee Paolo blazed wildly over.
It was frantic. Cairney released Kettlewell through the middle but, with Trouten and Weatherston either side of him, he chose to shoot and Peat saved comfortably.
In 75, Arbroath took off Reilly and sent on Scott, who had starred for the visitors as a sub in the first game of the season.
But it was at the other end that we saw the breakthrough and, inevitably, it was Weatherston who broke the deadlock for Queen's.
The top scorer has had more difficult tasks among his 16 goals this season. He took a downward header from Ferry and slipped a low shot wide of Peat, who for once was helpless.
Now all we had to do was protect the lead, but Queen's could have been 2-0 up two minutes later. The impressive Cairney slalomed straight through a stretched defence and brought out a fine save by the impressive Peat.
Queen's were now in full flight, forcing Arbroath back. In 82, Ferry had a powerful rising shot turned over the bar by Peat, and a minute later it was Cairney again, firing just over after more good build-up. Add shooting to your armoury, wee man, and you will be deadly.
You may get the impression Arbroath were a spent force. Sure, they were rattled, and badly, but they were still dangerous and Trouten had to be alert to clear danger after Agostini slipped, and then sub Scott blazed over on a breakaway.
There was more heavy breathing a minute from time when Canning, under pressure chasing back, slipped while trying to turn on the ball - row Z please, Stevie - and Brazil whipped in a cross which Tosh side-footed just over. Jings!
But it's an emotional roller-coaster being a Queen's Park lover, and did we not just get a penalty 35 seconds into injury time! Yes, we did.
It was Weatherston's pace that did for right back Rennie and Arbroath. He burst into the box on the left, Rennie tugged him down from behind, and the ref pointed to the spot. No argument about this one.
After Rennie was sent off, Trouten stepped up to send the impressive Peat the wrong way with a low strike to the keeper's left.
So, 2-0 up going into the second leg, can you believe it?! Homer and Gulliver will see you in Tattie's in Saturday. On ye go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!