Queen's Park 2 v 4 Albion Rovers 
Division 3
28th September 2002
Queen's Park 2 v 4 Albion Rovers
Division 3
28th September 2002
Click on pics to enlarge - bottom row all on same page
Attendance : 506
Scorers ~ Queen’s Park : Jack (57), Moffat (81 pen). Albion Rovers : Stirling (7, 27 both pens), Diack (82), Bradford (90).
My, but didn’t they make us sweat for a bit? This splendid and important win for Rovers was latterly justifiably gained - but for chunks of the second half we were on the edge of our seats as the Hampden men staged a fightback in a match which saw the unusual sight of four penalty kicks. Indeed, had it not been for some absolutely stunning saves by Man of the Match Scott Shearer, the end result might have been so, so different. As it was, the win was made even sweeter by silencing the ridiculously one-sided and insulting home supporters whose constant ravings against the referee and Rovers were completely over the top. Ignorant is too good a word to describe many of their comments - especially the morons sitting immediately behind the Press area.
However, top spot in the table was Rovers’ eventual reward for a first half performance which had the hosts running in circles and although the interval lead came courtesy of two well-struck Jered Stirling spot-kicks, the lead-up play was at times quite breathtaking and with luck could easily have had Rovers home and dry.
With only 20 seconds played, Stirling slung over a cross beyond the back post to Andy Paterson whose volley went straight into the arms of home ‘keeper Colin Stewart. The visitors maintained the pressure and when in the seventh minute, Spiders’ Gordon Lappin pushed John Bradford in the area, Stirling’s spot-kick was in the net - nae bother! In 11 minutes, Queen’s came close for the first time in the match when Brendan Crozier chased a forward pass only for Shearer to dive at his feet to snuff out the danger. In 17 minutes, Referee Duff’s whistle again signalled a penalty, this time for the hosts when Peter Cormack collided with Allan Dunning. Johnny Whelan’s kick was well enough hit, but the agile Shearer guessed correctly and saved at the base of a post.
Soon after that escape, Stewart did well to save a Chris Silvestro drive, then there was a bit of a lull in goalmouth action until the 27th minute when the third penalty of the match was awarded. Silvestro embarked upon a speedy run which took him into the box where he appeared to be sandwiched - and grounded. Once again, Stirling’s trusty left foot thumped the ball behind Stewart and Rovers were two in front. A few minutes from the break, Shearer was called into action as he saved a low shot from Steve Fallon.
Within a couple of minutes of the second period kicking-off, excellent control by Silvestro gave Bradford a chance, but the striker’s shot was easily mopped up. At this stage, the balance of power began to shift towards the Hampden men, and after Shearer again saved the day, a great through ball - albeit aided by poor defending - gave Stewart Jack enough space to send a toe-poke into the net and reduce the leeway. In 58 minutes, Rovers withdrew veteran Kevin McAllister for Iain Diack and eight minutes later, replaced Charles McLean with James Coulter - two substitutions which were to have a telling effect in the later stages.
With about twenty minutes left, Queen’s upped the tempo and it was at this stage that Shearer produced the superb saves which undoubtedly broke the home hearts. Firstly, he somehow managed to block a point-blank range shot from the unmarked Jack. Then brilliant positioning allowed him to get in the way of a Danny Ferry blockbuster before turning Jack’s drive from the rebound round a post. Breathtaking heroics from the big ‘keeper. The hosts kept up the advance on Rovers’ goal and in 81 minutes were rewarded by being granted the fourth penalty of this amazing match. This time there was to be no reprieve as Steve Moffat’s kick found the net. However, within seconds of the ball being centered, Rovers roared back into the lead when Diack earned reward for his industry by stilling the Hampden cheers while they were almost still at a crescendo. Play then raged from end to end, but it was Rovers who had the last laugh when Bradford fired in from a narrow angle on the left and although Diack slid in at the back post to make sure, Bradford was given the credit for the clincher.
So, although some of the second-half antics caused a few palpitations, it all turned out all right in the end. The match threw up bookings for Queen’s Tony Quinn and Ferry, plus Todd Lumsden and Silvestro of Rovers.
Queen’s Park : Stewart, Lappin, Fallon, Moffat, Quinn, Taggart, Ferry, Whelan, Dunning (Martin 53), Crozier (Allan 46), Jack. Unused Subs : Sinclair, Gallagher, Thomson.
Albion Rovers : Shearer, Paterson, Stirling, Smith, Cormack, Lumsden, McAllister (Diack 58), Dick (McCaig 82), Bradford, McLean (Coulter 66), Silvestro. Unused Subs : Mercer, Fahey.
Referee : Steven Duff.
Man of the Match : Scott Shearer
