Guess Who's Back

Queen's Park v Clyde
Friendly
Monday 13th July 2009, kick-off 7.15pm
Lesser Hampden, Glasgow

I made the short journey down the road to Lesser Hampden again for another 'closed-door' friendly, this time Queen's were hosting the trialists of Clyde. Being unsure of the kick-off time, with seven and half past being mentioned I wondered down for the former time, of course it was neither, around quarter past proceedings got under way on a wet evening. With the rain coming down the small shelter was packed with a few fans braving the elements, and even a few more wise spectators watching from the windows in the social club.

The clubs last met in the first round of the League Cup last season, a very different looking Clyde side won comfortably, 4-1 with double from veteran striker Gary McSwegan. The fixture represents a bit of a derby from before my time, when both teams were in the same division and Clyde played at Shawfield before moving to Cumbernauld. With the combination of the move and both sides not being in the same league for some time now the rivalry has died.

With the rain constantly coming down the synthetic pitch looked slick and perfect for football. Disliked Bully Wee manager John Brown received a bit of abuse as he made his way over to the dugout, even at a 'closed-door' match he can't avoid it. Queen's settled first and were quick out the traps as they controlled the early stages as both teams started with 3-5-2 formations with wing backs. The Spiders opened the scoring from a Paul Harkins corner which was headed across the goal then in by James Brough. A whipped free-kick from Barry Douglas was headed off his own post by a Clyde defender, the Bully Wee trialists struggled to get into the game as Queen's passed to ball around them without creating many more clear-cut chances.

Plenty of changes at half-time as expected, ex-Queen's midfielder John Neill came on as a trialist for Clyde. The beginning of the second period also seen the return of Frankie Carroll, a fans favourite at Hampden, the diminutive frontman was always a class act and is currently trying to win a contract back at Queen's after two years out of the game.

Clyde started the half with much more purpose and put the pressure on the Spiders, it didn't take them long to get on level terms. A cross to the back post was headed downwards by trialist Alan Lithgow, despite it being straight at Queen's 'keeper Zander Cowie he could only palm it over the line. Queen's continued with more changes to the team as the match progressed and spurned two late chances to win the match. Ross Dunlop and Frankie Carroll took turns at close in rugby conversions.

Another good pre-season workout, and Clyde gaffer John Brown would've been pleased to have another good look players and will need to make signings soon with the beginning of the season fast approaching. Next up for the Bully Wee is their first public friendly against fellow Glasgow side Partick Thistle at Broadwood Stadium. Queen's will now travel to St. Andrews for a weekend training camp and will play Arbroath in a friendly at the university playing fields.

The Un-official Queen's Park website also has a match report.

Result: Queen's Park 1-1 Clyde

Line-ups
Queen's Park: Cowie, Ure (Hamilton), Douglas (Trialist), Walker, Brough, Burns, Trialist, Tiernan (Dunlop), Watt (Odunewu), Daly (Carroll), Harkins (Murray).
Clyde: Trialist (Trialist), Trialist, Trialist (Trialist), Trialist, Trialist, Trialist, Trialist (Trialist), Trialist (Stevenson), Trialist, Trialist (Howarth), Trialist (Trialist).

Goalscorer(s)
Queen's Park: James Brough
Clyde: Trialist

Attendance: unknown