Queen's Park v Stranraer

Queen's Park v Stranraer
Scottish Football League, Division Three
Saturday 10th October, kick-off 3pm
Hampden Park, Glasgow

Result: Queen's Park 1-2 Stranraer

Line-ups
Queen's Park: Black, Ure (Dunlop), Douglas, Sinclair, Brough, Capuano, Hamilton (McGinn), Lachlan, P. Quinn, McBride, O'Hara (T. Quinn).
Stranraer: D. Mitchell, D. Mitchell, Sharp, Henderson, Nicoll, G. Mitchell, Montgomerie (Donald), McGeouch (Jones), Noble, Moore, McColm (Jack).

Goalscorer(s)
Queen's Park: Barry Douglas
Stranraer: Michael Moore and Martin Jack

Attendance: 598

Queen's Park v Albion Rovers

Queen's Park v Albion Rovers
Scottish Football League, Division Three
Tuesday 29th September, kick-off 7.30pm
Hampden Park, Glasgow

Result: Queen's Park 0-1 Albion Rovers

Line-ups
Queen's Park: Black, Ure, Douglas, Walker, Brough, Capuano, Hamilton (Holms), Dunlop (Watt), McBride, Carroll, Murray.
Albion Rovers: Gaston, Reid (McKeown), Benton, O'Byrne, McGowan, Boyle, Donnelly, Tyrell, Barr (Stewart), McFarlane, Pollock.

Goalscorer(s)
Queen's Park: none
Albion Rovers: Marc Pollock

Attendance: 376

Rutherglen Glencairn v Larkhall Thistle

Rutherglen Glencairn v Larkhall Thistle
Friendly
Monday 28th September, kick-off 6pm
Clyde Gateway Stadium, Rutherglen

Result: Rutherglen Glencairn 4-0 Larkhall Thistle

Line-ups
Rutherglen Glencairn: Trialist, Kerr, Palmer (Hughes), McShane (Hadden), White, Gentile, Hopkins (O'Keane), Fraser, McGladrigan (McDougall), Henry, Burke (Thomson).
Larkhall Thistle: Budinikauckas, Keenan, McInulty, A. Shields, Carson, Kondol, Donaghy, J. Shields, Earlie, Campbell, Menelaws.

Goalscorer(s)
Rutherglen Glencairn: Richie Burke (2), Paul McDougall and Tony Fraser
Larkhall Thistle: none

Attendance: unknown

Livingston v Queen's Park

Livingston v Queen's Park
Scottish Football League, Division Three
Saturday 26th September, kick-off 3pm
Almondvale Stadium, Livingston

Result: Livingston 2-1 Queen's Park

Line-ups
Livingston: McKenzie, Brown, Talbot, Husband (Sinclair), Moyes, MacDonald, Fox, Jacobs, Halliday, Winters (McParland), De Vita (Watson).
Queen's Park: Black, Ure, Douglas, Walker, Brough, Capuano, Hamilton (Carroll), Dunlop, Watt (Holms), McBride, Murray.

Goalscorer(s)
Livingston: Liam Fox and Robert Winters
Queen's Park: Barry Douglas

Attendance: 961

Queen's Park Reserves v Partick Thistle Reserves

Queen's Park Reserves v Partick Thistle Reserves
Reserve League Cup, West Section
Monday 21st September, kick-off 7.30pm
Lesser Hampden, Glasgow

Result: Queen's Park Reserves 0-0 Partick Thistle Reserves

Line-ups
Queen's Park Reserves: unknown
Partick Thistle Reserves: Hinchcliffe, Lochhead, Boyle, McDermott, Kinniburgh, Little, Dunbar (Trialist), MacBeth, Sweeney, Corcoran (Fraser), Bannigan.

Goalscorer(s)
Queen's Park Reserves: none
Partick Thistle Reserves: none

Attendance: unknown

Queen's Park v Annan Athletic

Queen's Park v Annan Athletic
Scottish Football League, Division Three
Saturday 19th September, kick-off 3pm
Hampden Park, Glasgow

Result: Queen's Park 0-0 Annan Athletic

Line-ups
Queen's Park: Black, Ure, Douglas, Walker, Brough, Capuano, Hamilton, Dunlop, Watt (Carroll), McBride, Murray.
Annan Athletic: Kelly, Steele (L. Sloan), Muirhead, Watson, Neilson, Inglis, Jack, Bell (Redpath), Gilfillan, S. Sloan, Storey.

Goalscorer(s)
Queen's Park: none
Annan Athletic: none

Attendance: 581

Rutherglen Glencairn v Clyde

Rutherglen Glencairn v Clyde
Friendly
Monday 14th September, kick-off 7.30pm
Clyde Gateway Stadium, Rutherglen

Result: Rutherglen Glencairn 0-2 Clyde

Line-ups
Rutherglen Glencairn: unknown
Clyde: unknown

Goalscorer(s)
Rutherglen Glencairn: none
Clyde: Willie Sawyers (pen) and Steven Odunewu

Attendance: unknown

East Stirlingshire v Queen's Park

East Stirlingshire v Queen's Park
Scottish Football League, Division Three
Saturday 12th September, kick-off 3pm
Ochilview Stadium, Larbert

Result: East Stirlingshire 1-0 Queen's Park

Line-ups
East Stirlingshire: Barclay, Hay, Richardson, King, Bolochoweckyj, Tully, Weaver, Stevenson, Lynch, Maguire (McKenzie), Rodgers (Dunn).
Queen's Park: Black, Ure, Douglas, Walker, Brough, Capuano, Harkins (Dunlop), Watt (Carroll), Daly, McBride, Murray (Hamilton).

Goalscorer(s)
East Stirlingshire: Simon Lynch
Queen's Park: none

Attendance: 393

Scotland v Netherlands

Scotland v Netherlands
2010 FIFA World Cup European Qualifying Section, Group Nine
Wednesday 9th September, kick-off 8pm
Hampden Park, Glasgow

Result: Scotland 0-1 Netherlands

Line-ups
Scotland: Marshall, Hutton, Weir, McManus, Whittaker, Hartley (Commons), Naismith, Brown, Fletcher, Maloney (O'Connor), Miller.
Netherlands: Vorm, Van Der Wiel, Ooijer, Mathijsen, Van Bronckhorst, Sneijder (Van der Vaart), De Zeeuw, De Jong, Robben (Elia), van Persie (Huntelaar), Kuyt.

Goalscorer(s)
Scotland: none
Netherlands: Eljero Elia

Attendance: 51,230

Scotland v Macedonia

Scotland v Macedonia
2010 FIFA World Cup European Qualifying Section, Group Nine
Saturday 5th September, kick-off 3pm
Hampden Park, Glasgow

Result: Scotland 2-0 Macedonia

Line-ups
Scotland: Gordon, Hutton, McManus, Weir, Davidson (Whittaker), D. Fletcher, Alexander, Brown (Hartley), Miller, S. Fletcher (Maloney), McFadden.
Macedonia: Nikoloski, Noveski, Mitreski, Sedloski, Popov, Stojkov (Ibraimi), Shumulikoski, Despotovski, Georgievski (Grozdanovski), Pandev, Naumoski (Tasevski).

Goalscorer(s)
Scotland: Scott Brown and James McFadden
Macedonia: none

Attendance: 50214

Berwick Rangers v Queen's Park

Berwick Rangers v Queen's Park
Scottish Football League, Division Three
Saturday 29th August, kick-off 3pm
Shielfield Park, Berwick-upon-Tweed

Result: Berwick Rangers 1-0 Queen's Park

Line-ups
Berwick Rangers: Peat, Notman, Smith, Guy, McLean (Gray), Russell (Callaghan), McLaren, Currie, Brazil (Radzynski), Little, Greenhill.
Queen's Park: Black, Ure, Douglas, Sinclair, Brough, Capuano (Tiernan), Hamilton, Watt, Dunlop (Carroll), McBride, Holms (Murray).

Goalscorer(s)
Berwick Rangers: Fraser McLaren
Queen's Park: none

Attendance: 519

Pollok v Bellshill Athletic

Pollok v Bellshill Athletic
Stagecoach Super Premier Division
Saturday 22nd August, kick-off 2pm
Newlandsfield Park, Glasgow

Result: Pollok 4-2 Bellshill Athletic

Line-ups
Pollok: Robertson, Carruth, Dillon (Wingate), Joyce, Wardle (Cruickshank), Miller, McGeown, McGregor (Hardie), McAulay, Turnbull, Essler.
Bellshill Athletic: Calder, Soutar, McVittie, Middleton, Gaughan (Smith), Cameron (Murphy), Dimilta, Craig, Miles (Watson), Gibson, Fleming.

Goalscorer(s)
Pollok: Andy Essler (3) and Paul McAulay
Bellshill Athletic: Fraser Craig and Garry Fleming

Attendance: c600

Mini Hampden Humbling

Queen's Park v Ayr United
Friendly
Monday 17th August, kick-off 7.15pm
Lesser Hampden, Glasgow

Had only heard about the match at the last minute but still opted for the short drive down the road to take it in, I didn't even know who was playing, just that Queen's were playing at Lesser Hampden. I normally prefer to park in the Hampden car park but due to the U2 concert the following evening their was no chance of that happening. God knows what state the Hampden turf will be in come Saturday's top of the table league game against Albion Rovers after Bono and his muckers are done with it.

Even when walking round to the stand it wasn't obvious who the opposition were, kitted out in blue shorts and red tops. Eventually it was clear it was Ayr United, I recognised a few senior players such as Neil McGowan, Kenny Connolly and Alistair Woodburn along with some youngsters I remembered from the EK Tournament. They also had Stephen Grindlay in goals, although he was kitted out in the sky blue Queen's kit. The Spiders side mainly consisted of players that weren't involved in Saturday's game at Elgin, Ryan Holms the only one to start both games. Queen's also gave a start to veteran player/coach Paul Ronald who seems to now have ginger hair and a Robbie Savage look-a-like trialist on the left side of midfield.

Queen's left back Paul Burns suffered an early injury and was replaced by youngster Gavin Lachlan which lead to a defensive reshuffle with Paul McGinn moving to the left and Lachlan to the right of a back four. The Honest Men appeared to have a more experienced line-up and it was showing as they dominated the first half, they took the lead after about half an hour with a close range header, then doubled their lead bang on half-time with a simple placed finish.

Ayr continued their dominance in the second period and added a further three goals, one an unlucky own goal by Spiders 'keeper Zander Cowie when the ball struck the post, then hit off him then into the net. The best Queen's could muster up was close range efforts by Paul McGinn and David Green, but both were dealt with comfortably by Grindlay between the sticks. Obviously it was just a run out for both sides but not the most enjoyable game after I'd only just witnessed my team winning for the first time in months prior to this match.

Result: Queen's Park 0-5 Ayr United

Line-ups
Queen's Park: Cowie, McGinn, Burns (Lachlan), Reilly, Brough, Green, Trialist, Dunlop, Ronald (Hamilton), Murray, Holms (Nadeem).
Ayr United: unknown

Goalscorer(s)
Queen's Park: none
Ayr United: unknown

Attendance: unknown

Elgin City v Queen's Park

Elgin City v Queen's Park
Scottish Football League, Division Three
Saturday 15th August, kick-off 3pm
Borough Briggs, Elgin

Result: Elgin City 0-1 Queen's Park

Line-ups
Elgin City: Gibson, Niven, D.A. Craig (MacAulay), Kaczan, D.W. Craig, Mcdonald, Gunn, Edwards (Calder), Frizzel, Nicolson, Crooks (Cameron).
Queen's Park: Black, Ure, Douglas, Sinclair, Walker, Capuano, Hamilton (Carroll), Watt, Daly (Murray), McBride, Holms.

Goalscorer(s)
Elgin City: none
Queen's Park: Barry Douglas

Attendance: 570

Queen's Park Supporters Bus Player of the Day: Martin McBride

Norway v Scotland

Norway v Scotland
2010 FIFA World Cup European Qualifying Section, Group Nine
Wednesday 12th August, kick-off 7pm
Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo

Result: Norway 4-0 Scotland

Line-ups
Norway: Knudsen, Hogli, Waehler, Hangeland, J.A. Riise, B.H. Riise (Skjelbred), Grindheim, Pedersen, Hoseth, Carew (Helstad), Huseklepp (Iversen).
Scotland: Marshall, Hutton, Davidson, S. Caldwell (McFadden), G. Caldwell, Alexander, Fletcher, Commons, Brown, Miller, McCormack (Berra (Whittaker)).

Goalscorer(s)
Norway: Jon Arne Riise, Morten Gamst Pedersen (2) and Erik Huseklepp
Scotland: none

Attendance: 24083

Skeid Oslo v Sparta Sarpsborg

Skeid Oslo v Sparta Sarpsborg
Norwegian Adeccoligaen
Tuesday 11th August, kick-off 7pm
Bislett Stadion, Oslo

Result: Skeid Oslo 0-2 Sparta Sarpsborg

Line-ups
Skeid Oslo: Jørgensen, Gundersen, Harøy, Ormbostad, Wæhler (Pettersen), Breive, Mankowitz (Kydland), Pedersen, Abiodun, Nysted (Valø), Ahmed.
Sparta Sarpsborg: Heier, Berge, Hansen, Ødegaard, Thu (Smatana), Johannessen (Forsberg), Halvorsen (Jorgensen), Ron, Hoas, Jusufi, Wiig.

Goalscorer(s)
Skeid Oslo: none
Sparta Sarpsborg: Martin Wiig and Joachim Jorgensen

Attendance: 1750

Spirited Spiders

Queen's Park v Forfar Athletic
Scottish Football League, Division Three
Saturday 8th August, kick-off 3pm
Hampden Park, Glasgow

Prior to the opening league game at Hampden Park I popped along to Newlandsfield to take in the first half of the Pollok v Benburb game in the Sectional League Cup. The Bens took a shock lead with a chip by Tony O'Neill, seemingly from an impossible angle he managed to get the ball over a tall Kris Robertson in the Pollok goal and into the net. Their lead didn't last long, David 'The Bull' Turnbull volleyed in from the edge of the area to level the scores after ten minutes. New man Steven Bonar headed in at the near post to give the 'Lok a half time advantage and my dash over to Hampden began. Pollok ran out 4-2 winners, substitute Paul McAulay bagging a brace after Stevie Waddell equalised for the Bens.

A few firsts for me for the opening game league game of the season, first time I've ever seen the mighty Forfar Athletic in action, the first time ever sitting in the comfy seats in the centre stand and the first time wearing my new glasses, I could finally see what's going on! On Boxing Day it will be my first visit to Forfar's Station Park for the famous bridies, weather permitting of course. The Loons are one of the favourites for promotion with experienced manager Dick Campbell at the helm, who's got a track record of getting out of divisions in the correct manner. Forfar currently have family connections within the team with Dick as manager with his brother assisting, and two sons Iain and Ross playing for the team, also to add to the confusion their team has two unrelated Fotheringham's. The Loons lined up in a surprising claret and amber away kit whilst the Queen's were in their traditional black and white hoops.

It didn't take long for the usual early Hampden goal, just as Queen's did in their final home league game last season against Raith Rovers and last week against Queen of the South they fell behind in the opening minutes, Martyn Fotheringham flicking in for the Loons. Queen's responded well and were rewarded before the half hour mark, youngster Giuseppe Capuano thighed the ball into the path of fellow youngster Ian Watt who turned and finished superbly at the near post. The rain was back just as it was last week, the pitch was taking a pounding, with an upcoming U2 gig it might be needing relayed again before Scotland's upcoming September fixtures against Macedonia and Holland.

The sides went in level at the interval but the Queen's were on top, a pattern that continued in the second half. The match was turned on it's head when Queen's centre-back James Brough saw red after two yellow cards, the first one for a challenge from behind and the second for an apparent elbow. The Loons went on to take full advantage and pinned the Spiders back, the Campbell brothers then combined, Ross laying it back to Iain to fire past Scott Black in the Queen's goal. Despite the one man disadvantage Queen's battled on and with eight minutes remaining they equalised again. Sub full-back Martin Ure raided down the right flank and delivered a tempting ball over Forfar 'keeper Brown, Queen's left full-back then controlled the ball in the six yard box and played it back to Capuano who guided the ball into the corner to rescue a point for the Spiders.

Dick Campbell threw on Chris Templeman and Callum Smith in an attempt to snatch the win, but all Templeman could muster up was an amusing moment for the Hampden crowd. To say he'd piled on the pounds would be an understatement, he made an attempt to 'race' clear late on but he fell on his arse, cue the fits of laughter and humorous abuse aimed in his direction. Queen's held out for a very good point and perhaps more importantly a much improved performance allowing the home support to leave with smiles on their faces for a change.

Both sides now have a week to prepare for their second league fixtures, Forfar playing hosts to Stranraer whilst Queen's make the long trek north to play Elgin City. Further match reports can be found at the official Queen's Park website, official Forfar Athletic website, BBC Sport, ESPN, The Herald and Un-official Queen's Park website. Photographs can be viewed at the Un-official Queen's Park website and the official Forfar Athletic website. Match highlights can also be viewed at qphd.tv. Thanks to Fraser Marr for the photo from queensparkspiders.co.uk.

Result: Queen's Park 2-2 Forfar Athletic

Line-ups
Queen's Park: Black, Walker, Douglas, Sinclair (Ure), Brough, Capuano, Hamilton, Holms (Green), Daly, McBride, Watt (Carroll).
Forfar Athletic: Brown, Malcolm (Gordon), Tod, Tulloch, Mowat, M. Fotheringham, Brady, K. Fotheringham, I. Campbell, R. Campbell (Templeman), Deasley (Smith).

Goalscorer(s)
Queen's Park: Ian Watt and Guiseppe Capuano
Forfar Athletic: Martyn Fotheringham and Iain Campbell

Attendance: 595

Sponsors Player of the Day: Ian Watt

Doonhammered

Queen's Park v Queen of the South
League Cup, First Round
Saturday 1st August, kick-off 3pm
Hampden Park, Glasgow

Back to Hampden Park for the first time in a competitive match since relegation day, a scoreless draw demoting the Spiders to the basement division after a 2-1 aggregate defeat to Stenhousemuir. This time we welcomed fellow Queen's in the form of First Division outfit Queen of the South for the first round of the League Cup. The Dumfries men had overcome limbo side Livingston in the Challenge Cup last Saturday, veteran midfielder Barry Wilson bagging the only goal. The Doonhammers visited Hampden last year for a pre-season friendly and ran out comfortable 2-0 winners in a total non-contest.

The Hampden pitch seemed in decent condition after the summer concerts that had taking place on top of the surface, the corner flag areas were a bit patched up, but with the gloomy forecast it would be interesting to see how it coped. The Glorious Hoops made a several changes after last weeks defeat at Annan, gaffer Gardner Speirs handed out débuts to Martin McBride and fireman Fergus Tiernan in midfield, and changed to a back four bringing in captain Richard Sinclair and shifting Robert Walker to fullback. The Doonhammers line-up had a former Hampden hero in it, with local lad David Weatherston featuring against his old club for the first time. On making my way to my seat my mate revealed his excitement at football being back, I some replied implying that the feeling will soon be gone, I couldn't have been more right for once.

Before the Hampden clock had even reached three o'clock the big Queen's were ahead, a ball behind the defence caused confusion between 'keeper and defender, leading to Rocco Quinn nipping in to tap in. Disaster struck again soon after when Sinclair's pass out of defence was intercepted by Barry Wilson, who then coolly dinked the ball over the advancing 'keeper Scott Black. To add to the misery Wilson added his second to put the Dumfries men three up within fifteen minutes, volleying in unmarked from just inside the penalty box. That optimistic feeling had well and truly vanished. The heavens soon opened in terms of the weather, with drips coming down from the leaky roof, a job perhaps for plumber/defender Richard Sinclair who's advertising in the match programme. Although he had bigger problems to deal with at the moment as the Spiders were sinking without a trace on the pitch.

Half time brought about entertainment in the form of youth teams from each club running from the half way line then attempting to beat the 'keeper in a one on one situation, hearing the ten to one countdown repeatedly did become rather annoying though. The referee and his team changed their kits for the second period after the first half downpour, still not as bad as the linesman in joggers at Peterhead last season.

A combination of an improved performance by the wee Queen's and the big Queen's taking their foot off the gas lead to an even second half. It was the big Queen's that extended their advantage though, Paul Burns playing a neat one-two to setup a tap in for himself. Weatherston got subbed before the end and got applauded by both sets of fans, he'd always been a speed player at Hampden but seemed a bit slower and bulkier now, perhaps he was just going easy on us. As the half progressed an optimistic fan announced that we'd only conceded one goal in the last hour, clutching at straws for positives. A real positive soon came though, fullback Barry 'Buster' Douglas fainted inside onto his weaker right foot and fired in off the post to reduce the deficit. That's two goals in eight competitive games, I've forgotten what to do when my team scores!

A miserable day finally came to an end, veteran Barry Wilson picked up the sponsors player of the day award after controlling much of the game. Both clubs begin their league campaigns next week, the Spiders welcome title favourites Forfar Athletic to the National Stadium whilst the Doonhammers welcome title winners Raith Rovers to Palmerston Park. Several match reports can be found on the match, official Queen of the South website, official Queen's Park website, Doonhammers MAD site, Un-official Queen's Park website, BBC Sport and ESPN. Pictures can be found on the Un-official Queen's Park website by Fraser Marr and Colin Johnstone's gallery. Highlights can be viewed on qphd.tv, click on the match at the bottom.

Result: Queen's Park 1-4 Queen of the South

Line-ups
Queen's Park: Black, Walker, Douglas, Sinclair, Brough, Capuano (Murray), Hamilton (Harkins), Tiernan, Daly (Carroll), McBride, Watt.
Queen of the South: Hutton, Reid, McQuilken, McAusland, Lilley, Wilson, Burns, Tosh, Quinn (McLaughlan), Holmes (Kean), Weatherston (McLaren).

Goalscorer(s)
Queen's Park: Barry Douglas
Queen of the South: Rocco Quinn, Barry Wilson (2) and Paul Burns

Attendance: 886

Sponsors Player of the Day: Barry Wilson

Paper Talk

Queen's Park v Daily Record XI
Friendly
Monday 27th July 2009, kick-off 7.30pm
Lesser Hampden, Glasgow

A rather strange fixture at Lesser Hampden last Monday evening when a Queen's side mainly featuring players that didn't play the full game on Saturday played hosts to Daily Record's 'Gie's a Game' team. With many young players getting released from their clubs to cut costs the Daily Record newspaper setup a campaign to help them find new clubs, so scouts and a few managers were in attendance to watch with interest. There was only around thirty or so spectators although I did recognise Brechin City manager Jim Duffy and Dumbarton gaffer Jim Chapman in attendance.

The 'Gie's a Game' side had recently lost 9-3 to Clyde in a match that must have set some bizarre record of being the game with the least signed players. Queen's fielded an unsigned player themselves, Steven Odunewu, who has yet to win a deal, he was partnered with Frankie Carroll upfront as the Spiders setup in a 4-4-2 formation. The opposition were in all dark blue kits with the Daily Record logo plastered on the front, unfortunately I didn't recognise any of their players but I overheard that one of the strikers came through the ranks at Rangers.

It was a sloppy start by Queen's and the Daily Record boys looked comfortable on the ball, if I didn't know what team had just be thrown together I would've guessed the team in the black and white hoops. They took a deserved lead when their ex-Rangers no.9 striker capitalised on a defensive slip and cheekily chipped the onrushing Zander Cowie in the Queen's goal. It seemed to wake Queen's up as they started to pile on some pressure. Odunewu found himself back to goal and ten yards out, he took his time in turning on working the half yard of space before finding the net.

The second half didn't produce much entertainment, Odunewu was replaced by a trialist striker at the break and the Daily Record lads make several changes. Later on in the half Queen's veteran man of all positions, Paul Ronald, took to the field for the first time after missing out on the pre-season action. The Spiders went on to win the game with a superb run out finish by David Murray, although one of the defenders he took it round was already limping.

Result: Queen's Park 2-1 Daily Record XI

Line-ups
Queen's Park: Cowie, McGinn, Burns, Sinclair, Reilly, Green (Ronald), Holms, Dunlop, Odunewu (Trialist), Carroll, Murray.
Daily Record XI: unknown

Goalscorer(s)
Queen's Park: Steven Odunewu and David Murray
Daily Record XI: unknown

Attendance: unknown

Jackspot

Annan Athletic v Queen's Park
Challenge Cup, First Round
Saturday 25th July 2009, kick-off 3pm
Galabank Stadium, Annan

The Galabankies were hosting their first ever home fixture in the Challenge Cup as they began their second season as a league side. Visitors for the day were Queen's Park, two clubs that haven't met much in the past, only in a Scottish Cup tie twenty-odd years ago and in a pre-season friendly. It was to be my first visit to the Galabank Stadium, and Annan itself. It was also the start of the competitive action in Scotland this season as the Challenge Cup ties kicked off around the country.

A pre-match munch in the town, followed by a pre-match pint in the well priced social club was the build up for the main event, with the sun shining with barely a cloud in the sky, it was a beautiful day to start the season. The ground is very tidy with terracing all around with a stand on the far side with seating, the changing rooms were at the social club end behind the goals, which is pretty uncommon. Pitch looked to be in superb condition, although sloped to each sideline and could've done with being watered prior to kick-off as it looked a bit fiery.

Annan (or should that be Nanna?) boss Harry Cairney was without injured pair Scott Anson and Lee Hoolikin, but handed out débuts to Jack Steele, Lewis Sloan, David Cox and welcomed back Bryan Gilfillan. Spiders gaffer Gardner Speirs was without injured midfielders Tony Quinn and Ryan Holms. Also missing from the Glorious Hoops line-up was fireman Fergus Tiernan, who had work commitments, and club captain Richard Sinclair who was doing one of his hobbies, serving a suspension. Débuts were handed out to 'keeper Scott Black, Robert Walker in the back three, Chris Hamilton in midfield and striker Michael Daly, with Paul Burns and returning fans favourite Frankie Carroll on the bench.

The tie was to be played to a finish on the day, with extra-time and penalties a possibility, in the end it was settled by the latter without the need of the former. If truth be told it was a horrible game of football with very few chances, both teams struggled to get the ball down and play in the early stages. The score was opened just before the half hour mark when Annan winger Lewis Sloan was tackled in the box by Steven Reilly, referee Mike Tumilty pointed to the spot despite Sloan seemingly controlling the ball with his upper arm in the build up. Penalty expert Mike Jack stepped up to give the Galabankies the lead (below, left).

The second half produced very little in terms of entertainment either, although Queen's did have their two best efforts. Paul Harkins left his man for dead with a Maradona turn then flew his shot wide of the far post from the edge of the area and pacey frontman Ian Watt seen his goal bound effort cleared off the line after he got in behind the resolute Annan defence. Paul Burns came on for James Brough to make his début, and Frankie Carroll returned after two years out of the game, although played more in an unfamiliar midfield role as the Spiders failed to create any real chances.

Annan broke away late on after an advantage was played when Reilly hacked through the Galabankies striker, Reilly managed to get back in time to give away his second penalty of the afternoon in injury time. He received a yellow card for persistent fouling and Mike Jack did what he does best again (below, right). Reilly continued to vent his frustration at referee Tumilty and was then sent-off on what was a disastrous day for himself and Queen's Park.

Annan progress to the second round and next travel the length of the country to play Inverness Caledonian Thistle in their League Cup first round tie with league duties commencing the following weekend. Queen's continue to forget where the net is, with that now being just the single goal from the last seven competitive outings. Next Saturday brings together the clash of the Queen's as Queen of the South travel to Hampden Park for their League Cup encounter.

Match reports can be found on the Annan Athletic, Queen's Park and Un-official Queen's Park websites, as well as a small BBC report. Match photos can be found on Un-official Queen's Park website here.

Result: Annan Athletic 2-0 Queen's Park

Line-ups
Annan Athletic: Summersgill, Muirhead, McBeth, Watson, Neilson, Jack, Steele, Gilfillan, Cox (Bell), Storey (S. Sloan), L. Sloan.
Queen's Park: Black, Ure (Carroll), Douglas, Reilly, Brough (Burns), Walker, Hamilton, Capuano, Daly (Murray), Harkins, Watt.

Goalscorer(s)
Annan Athletic: Mike Jack (2 pens)
Queen's Park: none

Attendance: 411

Queen's Park Supporters Bus Player of the Day: Chris Hamilton