Queen's Park 1 - 1 Peterhead

Last updated : 01 January 2008 By Andyboy
Irish referee Raymond Crangle hardly endeared himself to the Spiders support with the second booking of luckless Trouten for an alleged dive, but Queen's put it in a fighting performance to keep a share of the spoils against the Highlanders.

Queen's dominated early proceedings and Polish goalkeeper Michel Kula made a stunning save to keep out Stuart McGrady's rasping half volley from 14 yards. Mark Ferry then had a close range volley cleared off the line by Bobby Mann before Mick Dunlop's close range effort was scrambled away as it looked certain to cross the line and give Queen's the lead. Paul Cairney rattled the post with his effort from the edge of the area before Queen's finally took the lead.

27 minutes had passed when Trouten wriggled past three defenders, he laid the ball off to Kettlewell 23 yards from goal, and he biffed the ball into the top corner of the net past the outstretched arms of Kula, a spectacular goal from Kettlewell but within minutes, we were pegged back with the Blue Toon's first meaningful attack of the match.

Shaun Molloy lost the ball on the halfway line and while charging back to reclaim the ball, he knocked over Stuart Mackay off the ball, he took a booking and gave away a free kick twenty yards out. Veteran defender Bobby Mann, dragged his rather large frame up to the ball and hammered it off the post, with Murray well beaten, Lee Sharp was the most alert and he rammed the ball into the empty net.

Queen's were again chasing the lead, and Paul Cairney saw his effort well palmed wide by Kula after McGrady's lay off on the edge of the penalty area. Moments later Mick Dunlop's long range drive sparked an almighty goalmouth scramble in the Peterhead area, and typically it came to nothing as neither McGrady or Ferry could get the killer touch to divert the ball past Kula.

Moments after the beginning of the second half, controversy reined, as Irish ref Raymie Crangle reduced Queen's to ten men. Alan Trouten wriggled through three Peterhead players on his way into the box and was caught by the trailing leg of Lee Sharp, a stonewall penalty to most, but Crangle took exception and accused Trouten of diving, this was the wee man's second yellow card, and therefore he was sent off. Queen's were expecting a Peterhead onslaught, which never came and once more we had a go at their backline.

Twice in two minutes Stuart McGrady was sent one-on-one with Kula, twice McGrady's efforts were stopped with minimal fuss by the massive Polish netminder. Martin Ure was taken off with a hamstring injury and replaced with Big Paul Ronald, and suddenly Peterhead were on top. Kozminski came close as did Istead, but Queen's held firm and gained a point.

QUEEN'S PARK: Scott Murray, Martin Ure (Paul Ronald), Mick Dunlop, Richard Sinclair, Shaun Molloy, Alan Trouten, Stuart Kettlewell, Paul Cairney, Tony Quinn (Stephen Canning), Stuart McGrady, Mark Ferry

SUBS NOT USED: Andy Boslem, Chris Colquhoun, Alexander Cowie (gk)

GOALSCORER: Stuart Kettlewell (27)

BOOKED: Alan Trouten (2), Shaun Molloy

SENT OFF: Alan Trouten

REFEREE: Raymond Crangle (NIR)

ATTENDANCE: 491