QUEEN'S PARK 2 GRETNA 1
Gretna visited Hampden for the first time tonight for an SFL League Challenge Cup match, and lost 2-1 as the Spiders recorded their first victory of the season.
Cowboy made a single change from Saturday, as Danny Ferry was rested and given a place on the bench with Johnny Whelan taking his place. Gordon Lappin took over Danny's role, allowing Johnny to line up as usual in midfield.
There was a familiar face in Gretna's line up, as ex-Spider Ryan McGuffie appeared for the border club after signing for them yesterday, having been released by Newcastle United.
The early stages of the game were played at a frantic pace, with Gretna eager to make an impression early on as Dobie fired in an effort from the edge of the box after four minutes which Mitchell pushed wide for a corner.
Queen's took slightly longer for their first serious attempt on goal, twelve minutes having elapsed when good work from Stuart Jack let Canning push the ball into the path of John Gemmell whose effort from eighteen yards was well saved by Mathieson. The keeper was in action again when Lappin and Jack combined after twenty minutes to cross for Whelan, but his header was pushed wide by Mathieson.
The first goal was only delayed by a minute, as Stevie Canning gave Queen's the lead. John Gemmell harried Skilton and emerged with the ball, which he crossed to the front post where Canning flicked the ball over the despairing Mathieson and into the net.
Gretna tried to hit back, and Mitchell had to look sharp at the back post after Dobie crossed and Hore connected. He was soon called into action again, as in 25 minutes a free kick from Skinner took a deflection which Mitchell did well to save.
The visitors thought they had equalised after 29 minutes when Skinner crossed from the left and Hore knocked the ball onto Dobie who slotted home, however the far side linesman had his flag raised for offside long before the ball was in the back of the net.
They were soon appealing to the referee again as they won three successive corners from the left, all of which were put right on top of Tony Mitchell on the goal line. From the third corner Gretna were convinced that the ball had crossed the line, however they didn't seem so keen to point out that at each corner Dobie had obstructed Mitchell in any attempt he made to get to the ball, an offence for which he was later booked.
With half time approaching, Mitchell saved a Turner header at the back post, while only a last ditch tackle from Steven Moffatt stopped Hore getting his shot in.
Queen's had three good efforts at extending their lead early in the second half, as firstly John Gemmell headed wide from a James Allan corner, then Whelan headed into the path of Canning who set up Gemmell, however his effort was saved and finally a Whelan long throw was met by Stuart Jack, but his effort was deflected wide.
Referee Frickleton had been his usual pedantic self so far, but after an hour he started to impose himself on the game. He played a good advantage for Gretna after a foul by Moffatt, but he then forgot the ball was still in play and missed a foul on Canning in the centre circle as he watched for any "afters" between Moffatt and Skinner.
Rowan Alexander then introduced himself to the proceedings after 61 minutes, and he had an immediate impact. Gretna were suddenly revitalised, and a minute later Alexander had set up Dobie, and although it looked as though he used his arm to control the ball as he raced towards goal, he calmly slotted the ball past Mitchell.
Queen's were still determined to grab the winner, and a Gemmell shot was blocked for a corner, then excellent play from Canning on the right won a corner for Queen's, which Stevie was in the middle for, but his shot was just over.
John Gallagher then picked up a needless booking by kicking the ball away after having a foul given against him, but Queen's were still pressing forward and Quinn launched the ball up field where Gemmell had a great turn and shot from twenty yards, which Mathieson acrobatically pushed wide.
The big man was not to be denied however, and after 81 minutes he gave Queen's the lead again. A free kick from Danny Ferry, a half time sub, was met perfectly by John and his header floated in at the front post. Gretna tried to hit back ,but their best effort was saved by Mitchell as Heaney tried to lift the ball over him.
The last incident of the game came in the last of the four minutes injury time that Frickleton somehow managed to find. Rowan Alexander jumped with Stevie Moffatt just inside the Queen's half, and immediately Frickleton blew for a free kick as Moffatt went down. The ref pulled Alexander across and indicated that he thought that the Gretna boss had elbowed the Queen's defender.
Bizarrely, he then only produced a yellow card, when a surely a red was required if he thought an elbow had been used. As Alexander had a cut on his head which was bleeding, Frickleton immediately asked Alexander to leave the pitch to have treatment. I can only assume Alexander thought he was being sent off and had been shown the wrong card by mistake, as he then appeared to voice his opinion to the ref, who promptly produced his yellow card again, followed by the red, to order him off.
That was the end of the action, and Queen's will be very happy to be in the draw for the second round of the Challenge Cup tomorrow. As on Saturday, they played well but this time took their chances and defended well against a lively attack at the other end. John Gemmell wasn't afraid to have a go and deserved his goal, but Stevie Canning was on top form for Queen's and deserved his man of the match award.
Gretna were certainly better than they were nine days ago in the friendly match at Raydale and on their day could have won, but they seemed to lose the plot a bit when Queen's took the lead for the second time. They certainly won't be soft touches in the four league matches to come.
Teams: Queen's Park - Tony Mitchell, Gordon Lappin (Danny Ferry), John Gallagher, Steven Moffatt, Damiano Agostini, Tony Quinn, Stuart Jack (Chris Fisher), Johnny Whelan, John Gemmell, Steven Canning, James Allan (Willie Martin) Subs - Stuart Thomson, Paddy Gallagher.
Gretna: Mathieson, McGuffie, Skelton, Turner, Hewson, Heaney, Skinner, Irons, Dobie, Hore, Gordon. Subs: Parker, Alexander, Smart, Roddick, Thomson.