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Queen's Park 0 v 3 Albion Rovers |  |
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Queen's Park 0 v 3 Albion Rovers | |
| Bell's League Third Division 19th February 2005 |
Attendance : 497
Scorers ~ Albion Rovers : Mercer (30, 35), Bradford (33).
Jimmy Lindsay and his shock troops arrived at Hampden to extend their unbeaten run to 5 at a venue where they hadn't lost since 1999. Pity any Rovers fan who went to the pie shop during the 5 minute goal glut!
In less than a minute following kick-off Queen's had shown they meant business, Frankie Carroll swung in a cross from close to the corner. Bryan Felvus was waiting near to the Rovers goalpost but he sliced it past the far post.
In 8 minutes a sclaffed Mercer shot hardly rates a mention except it was his teams first shot of the afternoon. A defensive lapse by Kerr Potter allowed Felvus to rattle the Rovers crossbar from 20 yards, the ball then found its way to Mark Ferry whose attempt was stopped by Chris Fahey.
A nice one-two between Ricky Patrick and Lee Wilson resulted in Wilson forcing 'keeper Crawford to save. Play switched ends and Paul Harvey tried his luck with a 25 yard free-kick which Fahey comfortably caught.
On the half hour mark the game was to change completely. Shaun Molloy gave Rovers a free-kick by committing a foul close to his teams corner flag. Jered Stirling struck the ball with aplomb for ex-Queen's man Jim Mercer to rise unchallenged and head home from 2 yards.
Just 3 minutes later Rovers lead was doubled, this time Stirling took a corner which 'keeper Crawford completely misjudged and John Bradford scored with an acrobatic overhead kick from 5 yards.
In 35 minutes it was another dead-ball situation that gave Rover their third goal. Another corner from Stirling, another flap by Crawford resulting in a goalmouth scramble which allowed Jim Mercer to score from close range.
As things couldn't go on at such a rate for any longer things calmed down for a while, with 3 minutes of the half remaining a shot by Ross Clark from close range rebounded off Fahey and was eventually cleared.
With 1 minute left Queen's should have pulled one back when a Clark attempt failed but gave the ball to the unmarked Frankie Carroll 6 yards from an empty goal, incredibly he contrived to hit the ball over the bar.
Second half
A Trouten shot well over the Rovers bar opened the second period in a similar fashion to the ending of the first. In 49 minutes Stirling had a corner which he delivered into the box but it was headed over the Spiders crossbar.
Rovers were on the attack again seconds later with Lee Wilson sidestepping a couple of defenders while on a run up the wing, he ran out of steam at the edge of the Queen's box and his shot was wide.
The homesters hadn't given up hope and Trouten supplied the pass to set up Paul Harvey to have a dipping shot tipped over the bar by Fahey. The Rovers stopper and an opposition player received a talking to by referee Conroy for a spat while waiting for the resulting corner which proved to be fruitless.
On the hour mark, referee Conroy ignored remonstrations from 3 Queen’s men appealing for a penalty when Clark went down after looking like he ran into a defender in the box. A soft free-kick a few minutes later to the side of the Rovers box gave Felvus the chance but he hit the side netting.
In 66 minutes Mr. Conroy thought fit to refuse to stop play when Jim Mercer received a head-knock on the Queen's goal line. Play continued for around 2 minutes as the Spiders headed towards the Rovers goal. Luckily the big man wasn't seriously injured and he recovered soon after play was finally halted.
Substitute Wayne Gordon showed his class by running 70 yards upfield giving 3 defenders the slip on the way, unfortunately his charge fizzled out when he neared the edge of the Spiders box.
Clark was next to impress when he swivelled on the spot to volley a shot just wide of the goal. Allegations of Rovers time wasting were levelled in 73 minutes when Jimmy Lindsay brought on Richardson to replace Mercer just after play was about to restart following a Queen's substitution.
Lee Wilson was leaning back when he launched the ball over the home bar then Livingston forced a fine one handed save by Fahey. A Clark header also forced a fine Fahey save seconds later.
In 77 minutes Trouten fouled Gordon from the rear just outside the Spiders box. The referee could have shown the red card in the circumstances but the card was yellow. Stirling was of course the man to take the free-kick which whizzed inches past the postage stamp.
With 5 minutes remaining a run up the wing by Wilson ended when he put in a well judged cross to the marked Gordon who just failed to control the ball.
Livingston blasting the ball high over Rovers bar deep into injury time was the last action of the match.
Potter and Richardson of Rovers and Sinclair, Trouten and Harvey of the home side picked up yellow cards during the game.
Summary
A tough match in which Queen's Park played a large part. The home side's inability to deal with set-pieces and Rovers grit and determination was the difference between the sides at the National Stadium.
Queen's Park : Crawford, Trouten, Molloy (Weatherston 89), McGinty, Sinclair, Harvey, Felvus, Clark, D. Ferry, Carroll, M. Ferry (Livingston 73). Subs not used - Blair, Rushford, Cowie.
Albion Rovers : Fahey, Friel, McInulty, Black, Patrick, Potter, Silvestro, Stirling, Wilson (McKenzie 85), Bradford (Gordon 64), Mercer (Richardson 73). Subs not used - Fleming, Peat.
Referee : Steve Conroy
Man of the Match - Chris Fahey
