Scottish League Division 3
	Berwick Rangers	1
	Thomson
	Queen's Park	0
Sunday, September 3, 2006

YOU'LL have to excuse your scribe if he's somewhat slow in the uptake today; Gulliver is definitely a bit befuddled.

Firstly, it's Sunday, and Queen's don't do football on a Sunday. Then there's the fact that yours truly was at a wee wedding in England yesterday and must confess to having swallowed a very occasional glass of red wine.

And thirdly, this scribe finds it almost impossible to get to grips with the fact that Scotland scored six goals ... without reply ... in a competitive game. Still I suppose there's always Lithuania on Wednesday to bring us back down to earth with a bang.

Queen's were brought back to reality during the week with the defeat in Perth, and the big question today was how we would react to that setback. The hopeful signs were that the boys had enjoyed an extra day's rest after the incredible exertions of the month of August, and the optimist in me said that would be enough to put the bounce back in their play.

In the end, the optimism was largely unfounded. But even though we were well below par, we still did enough to have earned at least one point. It wasn't to be.

The problems started before kick-off when galloping gutrot ruled out Tony Quinn.

His place was taken by Alan Trouten, in the only change to last week's starting XI.

We were slow out the block today and could have been in trouble afrter just 5 minutes. Thankfully David Greenhill shot wide when the goal beckoned.

David Weatherston has been our main threat of late and looked the man we would rely on again today in the early stages. He obviously had the legs of the Berwick backline, but did we have the support he would need?

We carved out our first chance after eight minuyes when Paton's driven cross eluded the outstretched leg of Paul Ronald by a matter of inches. That, sadly, was a taste of things to come ... so near but yet so far.

We carved out another chance moments later, but Mark Ferry's shot was too easy for O'Connor.

Ronald was taking a bit of a battering in the early stages and Smith clattered through the back of him after 15 minutes. You know Gulliver would never criticise a referee, but there were more than a few eyebrows raised when no card was produced.

Weatherston careered down the line again, leaving defenders trailing in his wake. His final ball was just inches away from Ronald, again.

We could have been ahead by now, all too soon we were behind. Eight minutes from the break we allowed Thomson the luxury of a clear sight at goal and acres of time to pick his spot. He acceped the invitation with relish and buried the ball opast Cairns. 1-0 down and we had a mountain to climb.

Right on the interval we had the chance to make the half-time cuppa taste sweeter when Weatherston, again, skinned his man down the right. This time it was Mark Ferry who was agonisingly close to givng the ball the finish it deserved. He didn't, and we went in one down.

The second half was notable for some dreadful timewasting, poor finishing, and while Gulliver would never criticise any official, it must be said there were some strange decisions.

Within a couple of minutes of the restart we were on the front foot. Paton was upended right on the edge of the box, and when the first effort was cleared, Alan Trouten found himself with enough space to try to lob O'Connor. His effort just failed to dip in time.

We weren't looking too calm at the back, and should have been made to pay after 53 minutes. Again we were undone out wide and Thomson's effort rattled the woodwork. The rebound fell kindly for !0, he failed to make the most, blazing wildy past the post.

We tried to make the home team rue the mistake right away, and Canning played in David Weatherston. This time his final ball wasn't good enough and the chance was squandered.

Berwick could have sealed the game just after the hour when a huge punt deceived Steve Reilly and Berwick
10 was left in the clear. He rounded Cairns, then stumbled and fell over when it looked as if he had to score.

The boss replaced Ronald with Dunn after 68 minutes, and a minute later, we finally saw the game's first booking ... for timewasting by the Berwick keeper.

What this scribe found somewhat strange was that in all the time the referee took to run up the park and brandish the card at O'Connor, he never once looked at his watch.

With just over 10 minutes left, we produced another good effort, but Steve Canning's final shot smacked the bar and bounced to safety. By now you had the definite feeling this wasn't going to be our day.

Berwick's sub was lucky only to see yellow for a shuddering challenge through the back of Trouten.

The Queen's man soon joined him in the book when he cynically took out his opponent to halt a dangerous break.

By now even the Berwick ballboys seemed to be getting in on the run down the clock routine, and Jonny Whelan took it upon himself to retrieve the ball on more than one occasion as we searched in vain for the breakthrough.

The boss even hooked Big D, replacing him with Bowers in a late gamble. All credit to Big D, having trotted off, he joined Whelan behind the goal as an auxiliary ballboy.

The referee dished out another two yellow cards as the home defence became ever more desperate.. But despite throwing everything but the kitchen sink at the goal, we couldn't find the net. We should have done so after 91 minutes when a neat wee bit of interplay saw Steve Reilly clean through. His shot lacked any power, however, and the keeper managed to keep it out.

In our hearts, we knew that was that. And after just three extra minutes, the referee blew his whistle to signify a second defeat on the trot.

Unlike the loss in Perth, however, this was inflicted by a pretty mediocre side. and that's a worry. Alnother problem is that we can't get the ball in the net. We're making chances all right, but we've got to put them away. Hopefully Frankie Carroll, might get back to full fitness soon and help in that department.

There's no doubt David Weatherston is a potent threat, but he needs more back-up than he's been getting of late.

We've got a week off now, plenty time to recharge the spirits and the batteries. Our last visit to Stenny was one to remember. Here's hoping next week is another one.

Keep the faith.