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Attack IS the best form of defence
East Stirling 1 Queen's Park 3
East Stirling: Antell, Chisholm, Jackson, Beveridge, Dingwall, Lurinsky (Savage), Scott (Gibson ), Hunter, Stirling, Turner (Team), Love. |
It was just like old times as kick-off loomed today against Shire. The Ochilview side were stuck at the wrong end of the table, badly in need of a win; Homer was back at the wheel of the chariot after missing last week's Peterhead marathon - and the heatwave that was bathing Britain in sunshine turned its back on Scotland as the rain came piddling down.Just to complete the familiar feeling, a Scotland team contrived to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory - this time it was the guys who play the game with the funny shaped ball who produced our latest glorious failure as they bowed out of the rugby world cup after losing to England in New Zealand.
On the plastic field at Ochilview, there was an element of Deja Vu as well, with the sight of Tony Quinn starting the game. Tony is no spring chicken, but his selection was certainly the rabbit pulled out of the hat by Gardner Speirs. Quinno came in to lead the attack in place of Michael Daly, while Daryll Meggatt returned at full back at the expense of Peter Bradley
Those were the only two changes from the Peterhead starting XI, but such was the competition for places today that there was not even a place in the 16 for Bradley or Paul Gallacher. In fact, there wasn't a defender among the four outfield subs - Burns, Stewart, Daly and Smith.
It was certainly an interesting selection, but would it do the business against a team who have tripped us up on more than one occasion? We should have been good enough to win the game, but how often have we heard that one before as we chewed over a shock defeat.
This time, however, we did the business - but as is always the case with Queen's - it was far from straight forward.
Things started brightly enough and our first chance came with just three minutes on the clock. Meggatt and Quinn combined to free Longworth who was decked on the edge of the box. It was a promising position, but sadly the only thing threatened by Martin McBride's free-kick was the pigeon perched on the roof of the terracing behind the goal.
Ten minutes in came the first moment of controversy as Shire striker Turner tangled with Brough off the ball. Referee Anderson missed it, but flashed a yellow card at the centre forward after the intervention of his standside linesman.
It was early doors, but the pattern had been set. Queen's did the vast majority of the pressing, while the home side tried to hit on the break.
With the pace of Murray and Watt on the flanks, Queen's could have been expected to get plenty of balls into the box. They did - but none of them was quite good enough to bring about the breakthrough.
After 17 minutes, Meggatt's cross was headed over the top by Quinn. Then, after 19 minutes, McBride's cross was headed across goal by Meggatt, agonisingly close to Murray - but not quite close enough.
Shire decided to show they were in the game at this point and Turner was crowded out after a good break. The home side then won a free kick in a dangerous position, but the offside flag calmed the visitors' nerves.
And so it continued; 25 minutes in, McBride produced a special crossfield ball to the rampaging Murray. Sadly, his cutback wasn't quite up to what had gone before and the danger was scrambled clear.
Shire saw another two men in trouble just before the half hour when Jackson fouled Watt; while Hunter followed up by booting the ball against the wee wingman as he lay on the deck. Both the big bullies went into the book, and Chuckie was thankfully soon back on his feet.
Queen's were enjoying the bulk of the play, but without the killer final ball. That looked about to change with 38 minutes gone when we saw the best move of the game to date. Longworth and McGinn combined well before the ball was fed on to Quinn. He displayed a delightful touch for a big man and sent Watt clear. Chuckie left his full back trailing in his wake as he switched on the afterburners, before smashing in a shot. Keeper Antell got nowhere near the ball, and only the woodwork kept the scoreline blank.
It was the type of play we had been craving and seconds later another Quinn lay off, this time to Longworth, resulted in a Queen's corner as the shot was deflected wide.
It was going so well that something had to go wrong ... and promptly did. Parry threw the ball out to Little, and when he was closed down quicker that expected, he tried a risky pass to McGinn. The ball was cut out by Love, who immediately bore down on goal. Little tried to atone for his error, but tried too hard and brought the Shire man down in the box. Anderson pointed to the spot, and flourished a red card at Little - neither decision leaving much room for debate.
Gulliver, and everybody else in the ground, sensed a pivotal moment in the game. If Shire scored, Queen's would have a long way back. Neil Parry obviously sensed the importance of the moment as well - and decided he fancied a bit of the limelight. The big keeper plunged low to his right to keep out Jackson's spot kick, and everybody in the visiting camp breathed a huge sigh of relief.
The problems were far from over for Queen's, however, as we were now a man down and still had six minutes to go to get to the halfway point in the match.
But the immediate aftermath of the penalty was a lightning break from Queen's which ended with Ian Watt rattling another effort off the woodwork.
Things calmed down a bit after this hectic spell and the Spiders made the sanctuary of the dressing room on level terms ... as far as goals were concerned at least.
Half-time
East Stirling 0 Queen's Park 0
All the debate in the stands at the interval focused on the change that Gardner Speirs "had" to make. Some suggested that Quinn would have to go into the back four, while others asked why the manager hadn't included more defensive cover in his substitutes.
The one thing nobody expected was for the coach to leave things exactly as they were; take on Shire with a back three - and keep pressing forward.
However, that's exactly what he did, the players responded brilliantly - and we had one of our most enjoyable second periods for many a moon.
Gulliver has often admitted that he watches games through black-and-white tinted spectacles. And anybody who wants neutral reporting should stay well away from this website. That said, even the most impartial observer would have had trouble believing that Queen's were a man down as they tore into their opponents right from the off.
Two minutes after the break, a McBride free-kick was headed wide by Quinn. Two minutes later, Longworth led the charge and fed Murray, who won the first of at least a zillion corners earned by the Spiders in the second period.
This one, and another couple which soon followed, came to nothing. But just when fears began to grow that this might be one of those days, Queen's got the break.
There were 54 minutes on the clock when another McBride corner was whipped in. Meggatt's header hit the woodwork - the third time Queen's had been cruelly denied in such a fashion. The ball rebounded into play and Longworth had a shot blocked before another drive was halted - by the Queen's striker. The rebound fell to Chuckie who danced past one man and drilled the ball low into the net.
The look on the wee man's face was priceless as he immediately took off to celebrate a special moment with his young daughter who was in her Granny's arms in the stand. He did leave the pitch, marginally, as he waved to his family, and credit to referee Anderson who ignored the letter of the law; used common sense - and kept the card in his pocket.
The yellow card did come out a moment later, for Martin McBride, as the midfielder challenged Jackson. And from the resulting foul, Turner had a half-chance - which he failed to convert.
Looking at the notebook for the next 20-odd minutes takes a bit of believing. Queen's were doing all the pressing; Queen's were winning corner after corner - and it was 11-man Shire who were hanging on for grim death.
Despite all the dominance; despite all the superiority we were enjoying, and despite producing some smashing football at times, we couldn't put the game to bed ... until the final minutes that is.
There were just 10 minutes to go when Queen's won another foul on our right. McBride whipped in another peach, Brough flicked it on ... and Murray appeared at the back post to drill the ball into the net and put us 2-0 ahead.
Cynics like Gulliver feared Queen's would now retreat into their shell and subject us to an anxious closing period ... what does he know? Still the Spiders refused to acknowledge the fact that they must have been running on empty having put so much into the game. Still they pressed forward, and with seven minutes left got the third goal their play deserved.
Again it was Murray who was the tormentor in chief. He flicked the switch on his jet pack and left Chisholm chasing shadows (as he had done for most of the afternoon). After reaching the byeline, he looked up and spotted McBride in acres of space. The pass was good; the way McBride waited his moment and then curled the ball into the corner of the net was sublime. 3-0; five minutes to go ... even Gulliver began to breathe a little more easily.
It had been a superb afternoon, and a clean sheet would have been no more than Neil Parry and his defenders deserved. Sadly it wasn't to be. Right at the death, Meggatt tugged back sub Savage, earning himself a booking. Queen's then switched off for the only time in the afternoon and allowed Love far too much space from the resulting free-kick. He took full advantage, curling home a powerful left-foot strike.
It brought the score back to 3-1, but came far too late to have any meaningful impact on the outcome and Queen's headed home with a very welcome three points in the locker.
What made the result even more enjoyable was the manner in which it was fashioned. All right, we were playing a team at the bottom of the league, but some of the stuff we produced today was worthy of a far bigger stage.
No praise is too high for the effort put in by every one of the players; no praise is too high for the way we kept playing football and used the frightening pace we have at our disposal.
And let's not ignore the part played by the manager in this success. Gardner Speirs had faith in his players even though they were a man short; the players had faith in their ability ... and we all enjoyed an afternoon to remember.
Now, while we're on a high, let's hope the Scotland manager adopts a similarly brave approach as we head into the climax of the Euro 2012 Qualifying campaign. Well, we can always dream, can't we.
Keep the faith, as if anybody could be a doubter after this entertainment.
And while we have your attention ...
The Queen's Park website attracts interest from every corner of the world as our new online programme service demonstrates.The first person to sign up for the service was a Queen's fan in Australia. Why not join him and the others who have followed? No matter where you are in the world, you can enjoy highlights of Queen's home games on QPTV. And, as of now, you can read the official home match programme online... from the comfort of your computer chair. The full, 40-page digital edition for the Alloa game - and every other home match until the end of the season, will be available for a small, one-off annual fee. The special digital editions will be available online within a couple of days of the match taking place - so you can read the programme online before settling down to watch the highlights on QPTV. The Alloa programme is now available - why not read it for yourself. Highlights from the game are also now available on QPTV.Click here to find out more ... and to sign up
