 |
Queen's Park 3 v 1 Albion Rovers |  |
|
Queen's Park 3 v 1 Albion Rovers | |
| Bell's League Third Division 27th August 2005 |
Attendance : 503
Scorers ~ Albion Rovers : Bonnar (16). Queen's Park : Ferry (46, 49), Felvus (90).
It may well have been the first match on the turf at Hampden for 9 of the Rovers starting XI but they didn't seem phased by the experience. The first half went their way but in the end their nine month unbeaten away league record had gone along with the extension of their 10 match unbeaten run at the National Stadium.
5 minutes into the match Iain Chisholm was running goalward but ended the move by putting the ball through when no Rovers player was there, Crawford gratefully accepted it. Chisholm caused the Spiders 'keeper more trouble a minute later when he refused to give up chasing the ball as Crawford left his box on the near-side to clear, the Rovers defender turned striker got his foot to it and sent it across the home goal.
In 9 minutes consecutive Queen's Park passes too numerous to count ended when Scott Friel dispossessed McGinty in Rovers half. He proceeded to run down the near wing where he swung in a cross for Chisholm only for the resulting short-range shot to be held by Crawford.
In 15 minutes a decent move by Rovers ended with ex-Spider Martin Bonnar loosing a shot from 25 yards which was held by the 'keeper. Some derision from home fans for their former player followed. Within 60 seconds he silenced the critics in the home support when he shook the defence and headed home a Lee Wilson cross from 3 yards (photograph A).
Graham McGhee could have increased Rovers lead when he fired a 35 yard free-kick which was just inches too high. Good play from Harvey who laid the ball off to Bowers then it went to Stuart Kettlewell whose shot was miskicked.
Queen's Park seemed to decide around the half-hour mark that they meant business and took control of the play. This was evidenced by a long ball in by Clark being met by Mark Ferry's head sending the ball just under the Rovers crossbar, luckily for Rovers Jamie Ewings was equal to the task and he tipped the ball over for a corner to Queen's. The corner resulted in a Quinn shot being deflected over the bar by teammate Weir.
With the first half drawing to a close both sides came close then Tony Quinn became the only booking of the match for a foul.
Half-Time
At half-time Spiders coach Billy Stark replaced Weir with Felvus and may well also have given his players a dressing-room roasting if their performance once re-entering the pitch was anything to go by.
Stuart Kettlewell put in the ball from close to the touchline on the far-side, the ball came straight across for Mark Ferry to knock it into the back of the net.
Three minutes later it got worse for Rovers when Paul Harvey swung in a corner which was hit in off the post by Mark Ferry. Cliftonhill gaffer Jim Chapman replaced Sichi with Tommy Franch just after this.
Rovers could have levelled the score in 61 minutes when Tommy Lennox put in a vicious cross for Chisholm 2 yards from goal, unfortunately the former Tower Hearts man couldn't quite get it when the merest touch would surely have resulted in a goal.
Lennox was again the provider when he put the ball into the Queen's box and a couple of his teammates caused concern for the home fans. Mark Ferry could have bagged his and his teams 3rd of the day when a stramash in Rovers box saw the ball fall to him, but at least partly due to the intervention of Graham Lennon he shot high and wide.
Stephen Reid making his competitive debut from the bench after being out due to injury gave the ball too much elevation with his header following a long pass.
A speculative long shot by Lennox proved slightly too wide, then Graham Lennon showed his skills once more when he tackled Molloy midway into Rovers half which started a move which led to a squandered corner for Rovers. With 5 minutes remaining replacement Craig Young turned quickly in the box and unleashed a shot which crossed the face of the goal and went out.
Rovers as has happened a few times in recent seasons at Hampden were pushing for a badly needed last minute goal, this time however it wasn't to be. Ewings was 30 yards from his goal-line to pump the ball upfield (photograph C) which Lennon challenged the 'keeper for but Crawford managed to keep control of the ball.
On the 90 minute mark Felvus played a one-two with Molloy, he then turned and hit his shot just out of reach of Ewings right hand (photograph D).
Summary
A difficult game which Rovers could have gained at a share of the points with a little luck. Fans of both sides although Rovers ones in particular were cheering when a home "fan" was physically ejected for hurling racist abuse at Rovers man of the match Gordon Lennon who probably didn't hear them.
Queens Park : Crawford, Clark, McGinty, Reilly, Sinclair (Molloy 70), Harvey, Kettlewell, Quinn, Bowers (Whelan 77), Weir (Felvus 46), Ferry. Subs Not Used : Agostini, Cowie.
Albion Rovers : Ewings, Lennox, Noble, Lennon, McGhee, Bonnar (Young 78), Sichi (Franch 52), Friel, Wilson (Reid 71), Chisholm, Donachy. Subs Not Used: Donnelly, Creer.
Referee : Colin Brown
Man of the Match - Gordon Lennon
