Two games ago everything in the Hampden garden was rosy; we were setting records for keeping clean sheets, on the brink of setting a new winning record, and very much in the hunt for the one automatic promotion place. Two 1-0 defeats on the bounce put an end to all that, and we still need one point to seal promotion. Gulliver would certainly want that in the bag before we travel to face Dumbarton on the final day of this quite incredible season. Arbroath have stormed into title contention with a handy run of results, grinding out victories in games they could have lost. We knew it would be tough at Gayfield, and it was. Maybe there was an omen heading towards the ground. All the way up the road the sun split the sky. About a mile from the town the mist descended, like gathering gloom. The good news on the team front was that David Weatherston was fully fit, and Paul Paton recovered from a scare over an infected bite. Weatherston for the suspended Ronald was therefore the only change from last week's starting XI. The early exchanges did little to offer hope to the large contingent of travelling fans.Twice in the opening minutes Brazil turned on the afterburners to leave Mick Dunlop trailing. Fortunately, the end result didn't match the build-up, although Willie Martin did sting David Crawford's hands with one drive after Brazil created the opening. We were also giving away too many free kicks and corners for this correspondent's liking, but we managed to weather the storm and finally got a foothold in the game. Although the surface wasn't the best, we started to pass the ball a bit better, and Weatherston showed his turn of pace to hint of better things to come. Just before the quarter-hour mark came a series of chances, all sadly missed. Weatherston was halted illegally just outside the box, but Steve Canning's effort sailed over the top. Within seconds, we carved out our best chance of the game. Another free-kick was sent in, this time by Paton. Sinclair rose to head it back across goal, but Canning couldn't get any part of his body on the ball to force it over the line. As the pressure mounted, Weatherston and Dunlop cut Arbroath open down the left, but again there were no takers for the final ball. Those who have suffered in the Spiders cause for more than a few seasons had the feeling we might rue those misses - and sadly we were proved right. After 27 minutes we went to sleep at a throw-in, Martin headed on, and Reilly slotted the ball home. Simple, but painful to watch. Queen's haven't been brilliant at coming back after losing the first goal, and against a side such as Arbroath, the task was even more demanding. We took some time to get over the blow, but had a wee chance from a corner after 35 minutes. Paton's cross bobbled about the box, but when it finally arrived at a QP player's feet, it was Sinclair rather than a natural finisher, and his side-foot attempt never troubled Peat in the home goal. That was it as far as the first half was concerned. We knew we had to improve after the break if were to get anything from the game and the first signs were promising. Just two minutes after the restart a Canning cross found Weatherston, but he couldn't get the finish on target. That was promising; sadly it was a false dawn. For much of the rest of the match Arbroath were content to close us down anytime we had possession and invite us to find the key to goal. We couldn't do it. Dobbins in particular was stubbornly effective in his shackling of Weatherston, although full back Rennie was lucky to escape a yellow card more than once when he resorted to illegal means to stop the striker. Referee Charleston was not shy on other occasions, flashing yellow at Dunlop, Kettlewell, Cairney and Carroll, along with - inevitably - Willie Martin, who seems to get booked every time he turns out against his old club. A bad day got a bit worse when Richard Sinclair hobbled off, although it was good to see Steve Reilly back in action after his long lay-off when he replaced the club skipper. We tried to press, but all too often the final ball was poor or the home side were simply too quick to close us down. The one real moment of quality we produced on 75 minutes saw Stuart Kettlewell flash a glorious drive inches wide. Close but no cigar, and that just about sums up the day. The boss threw on Frankie Carroll for young Cairney, and even pushed Mick Dunlop up front in a vain effort to make something happen. It didn't work. Next up is Elgin and we'll again be without Ronald, while Kettlewell will also serve a suspension. We'll miss them, as we are missing the creative spark that Alan Trouten brings to the team. Two games without a goal at this stage of the campaign is definitely not what the doctor ordered. Let's not even think about a third blank next Saturday. Nerves are jangling a wee bit, but if the fans can produce the magnificent backing they gave the players yesterday at Hampden then they might just inspire our boys to a memorable victory, and set up a Player of the Year night to remember. Keep the faith, we will get there, but it's just not the Queen's Park way to make things easy!
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