Annan Athletic v Queen's Park, 25th September 2010

While I'll not give a blow by blow account of Queen's Park's fortunes, the odd game does merit a mention. This is one. Anyone who wishes to find out more about my beloved Spiders can go to the official website. You can also see match highlights on QPTV (honest).

This game fell on the September weekend holiday in the west of Scotland. It was my second visit to Annan. My first was at the tail end of last season when I saw Queen's win 2-0. I had a 3pm finish at work on the Friday. I usually take Fridays off from training. This week, I trained to give me Saturday off and allow for a lie in before heading south. My Dad came with me as usual. Whatever it was- the weather, holiday etc- my Mum also took a notion to come. This would be her first Queen's game.

Annan is a piece of cake to get to from East Kilbride. Down the M74 southbound, take the cut off for the B722, follow the road and you're there. To make things even easier, the ground is the first place you see. A short drive further along brings you to the High Street. The 82 mile drive is an absoloute pleasure to do, especially when you have control of the music and can play Bruce Springsteen all the way down.

I parked up and had some lunch while touring the high street. I learned some new things, like the fact Robert Burns was in Annan in the 1700s when he wrote the poem "The De'ils Awa' Wi' The Exciseman" (rough translation- "The Devil's Run Away With The Taxman"). I also admired some Dumfriesshire countryside before heading to Annan's social club for a pre-match drink. Just the one, I was driving after all. Annan Athletic were admitted to the league for season 2008/09 after the demise of fellow Borders club Gretna. They have gone out their way to become friends with every club they play. They are doing so successfully. Some Queen's fans even make a weekend of it, staying in the town after the game.

To the match then. Queen's came out in our blue away strip. Manager Gardner Speirs' hand was forced by our two best players last week, Jack Henry and David Murray, being injured and ill respectively. I was still optimistic. The healthy crowd of 546 saw a first half which ebbed and flowed reasonably enough, both teams having their moments. My Mum was enjoying it. Queen's hit the inside of the post with a shot which bounced along the line and out. Ian Harty gave Annan the lead with a shot Queen's keeper Adam Strain got a hand to. This only made the ball hit the net slower than it would have otherwise. Typical. Behind again after playing quite well.

Half time brought a lovely pie and bovril and a playing of "The A Team" theme as the teams re-emerged. The second half was as even stevens as the first. East Kilbride resident Jamie Longworth was having a great game for us. He fired in a shot in 50 odd minutes which Jamieson fisted away. Not long after, Gardner took him off for Michael Daly much to the dismay of the Queen's fans behind the goal. A fan who takes photos for our match programmes tipped me off that Longworth had been injured in the first 45 minute half.

We plugged away and an equaliser came. A cross from Ian Watt into the box went behind the inrushing Michael Daly. Craig Smith met it beautifully to make the score 1-1. We gained confidence thereafter. Watt whacked the crossbar so hard with a shot, it nearly collapsed. The momentum didn't last and we began to sit deeper and deeper into our own half. Annan's curly haired full back Muirhead played a neat one two, broke into our box and fired in an effort which Strain saved. We didn't heed the warning. A shot outside the area from David Cox in the last 10 minutes slipped under Strain's body and in. Think Robert Green at the South African World Cup. We had no answer and Annan comfortably saw out time to take the three points.

I had mixed feelings. On one hand, it was a pleasant trip to a lovely place. On the other, Queen's had again been masters of their own downfall. Not to worry, our day will come again. I managed to get home before dark and had time to relax with a couple of beers before looking ahead to the rest of the weekend.

Annan Athletic: Jamieson, Muirhead, Neilson, Aitken, MacBeth, Steven Sloan (Lewis Sloan), Steele, Gilfillan, Halsman (Felvus), Harty (Walker), Cox. Subs: Summersgill, Jardine. Booked: Cox, Aitken, MacBeth.
Goals: Harty, Cox.

Queen's Park: Strain, Little, Gallacher, Brough, Meggatt, Watt, Anderson, Quinn, Capuano (McBride), Longworth (Daly), Smith.
Subs Not Used: Hamilton, O'Hara, Lachlan.
Booked: Quinn, Brough.
Goal: Smith.