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

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

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

Good To Be Back?

Queen's Park v Partick Thistle
Friendly
Tuesday 7th July 2009, kick-off 7pm
Lesser Hampden, Glasgow

A closed-door match, I use that term loosely, at Lesser Hampden was to be Queen's first pre-season fixture. Opponents were Glasgow friends Partick Thistle, the two clubs are well linked with current Spiders gaffer Gardner Speirs being former assistant to Ian McCall at Thistle. Two ex-Queen's players are now Thistle men, in the shape of Paul Paton and Paul Cairney, who had come through the Hampden ranks. The Jags started their pre-season with a 4-1 victory over Cowdenbeath in Edinburgh on Saturday. I'd estimate a couple of hundred attended the match in the shadows of the national stadium, Hampden Park.

There's now a division separating the sides following Queen's relegation to the basement league, Thistle finished an impressive second in the First Division last season. The sides last played in the first round of the Challenge Cup last year at Firhill, a friendly was planned but cancelled to prevent the sides playing twice in a week. Two early goals that afternoon helped Thistle to a comfortable 2-1 victory that day. Both teams had changed kits from that encounter, Queen's in their Irn-Bru can away kit and Thistle looking pretty in pink.

After establishing who was who, with a few new faces and hair colours, Queen's opened the scoring. Ian Watt linked with new strike partner to perfection, crossing from the right onto Daly's head. Thistle 'keeper Hinchcliffe misjudged the flight of the ball and Daly headed into the net. It didn't take Thistle long to reply, with them getting some joy down their left flank, the ball was cut across the box and tapped in by one of their many trialists. That was all the scoring for the first-half but there was to be an injury apiece, seemingly a head knock ended the match for a Jags trialist and Stevie 'treatment table' Reilly.

One of the joys of being at Lesser Hampden is being able to go into the social club for a drink, munch or even a wee heat. I noticed Chic Charnley yet again at a game I was at, he might think I'm stalking him, seen his performance for Celtic (a team he didn't play for) in the Scottish Masters at the weekend, he's certainly lost it, if he ever had it. Also seen Gary Harkins, big brother of Queen's midfielder Paul, but also ex-Thistle now Dundee player after his 150k move. After the Hull City-esque on the pitch half-time team-talks and watching the funeral of Michael Jackson on the TV in the social club the second-half was under way with countless changes.

The Jags adapted best to the changes and controlled the majority of the second period, it wasn't until the last fifteen or so minutes that they made their domination count. A trialist was left unmarked in the penalty area, he was given plenty of time to turn and finish into the top corner. The Spiders rarely threatened and the match petered out, something I'm far too familiar with. Unfortunately just before the final whistle a Queen's trialist suffered a bad looking injury as he turned on the synthetic surface.

Thistle held out for a 2-1 victory, both managers would've been happy to see players given a chance to impress and prove themselves for the coming season. The Jags will be looking to gain promotion but will be a difficult task with big spending Dundee to compete with in the very challenging division. Queen's will be looking to bounce back at the first time of asking, but the Third Division is always a hard one to predict, especially at this stage.

The Partick Thistle website has a small match report, as does the Un-official Queen's Park site.

Result: Queen's Park 1-2 Partick Thistle

Line-ups
Queen's Park: Cowie (Trialist), Ure (Henry), Douglas (Murray), Trialist, Reilly (Brough), Harkins, Hamilton (Trialist), Tiernan (Capuano), Watt (Odunewu), Daly, Holms (Trialist).
Partick Thistle: Hinchcliffe, Paton (McGeough), Twaddle, Little, Maxwell, Rowson (Hodge), Trialist (Cairney), Trialist (Trialist), Trialist (Bannigan), Doolan, Erskine.

Goalscorer(s)
Queen's Park: Michael Daly
Partick Thistle: Trialist and Trialist

Attendance: unknown