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

One Hundred And Counting

I popped down the road to Hampden Park for a Wednesday evening match between Queen's Park and a Scottish Amateur Select side to celebrate the centenary year of amateur football in this country. I was pleasantly surprised to receive a free programme and to see the Queen's were fielding a strong side consisting of players already signed up for next season, including new signing, Chris Hamilton from Stirling Albion.

Hampden can be quite strange for Queen's games with crowds in the hundreds instead of thousands, the atmosphere can be a bit morgue like, but tonight wasn't about atmosphere, it was about enjoying to sides celebrating playing the gentleman's game in a friendly manner. 'Ludere causa ludendi', Latin for 'to play for the sake of playing' is the motto of Queen's Park, which sums up the spirit of this game.

The Select were fielding ex-Queen's player Tommy Murray, nice to see the pint-sized midfielder strutting his stuff on the Hampden turf yet again, he now plays for Drumchapel United. The match wasn't the best but both teams were playing it on the deck on a beautiful surface and going easy on the tackles. Winger Ryan Holms netted the only goal of the contest for Queen's, from close range after the 'keeper had made a good save.

At the final whistle awards were made and the winning side climbed the Hampden steps to collect their winners medals, I'll be hoping I see more of that next season! On exiting the ground free pies were on offer, I couldn't refuse, it would be rude not to. So a successful evening, a polite game of football, a free programme, a few cheeky free pies and my admission fee going to charity.

Full Time – Queen's Park 1-0 SAFA Select

Currently unsure of what my next match will be but I'm sure I'll find one soon as I need my football fix.