East Stirling News Update
Kevin Nisbet’s goal rescued a point for Shire in their final away game of the season. After Shire failed to take their chances, it was Queen’s Park who took the lead when Patrick Slattery scored from close range in the 28th minute. However, Shire found an equaliser in the 65th minute when David McKenna’s header set up Nisbet. The draw means that the promotion play-offs are now beyond reach and Shire sit in 9th place.
Craig Tully was forced into two changes after Chris Townsley’s injury and Connor Greene’s suspension. Nathan Shepherd and Jon Tully replaced them after both had impressed in the Stirlingshire Cup, with it being the latter’s league debut. The start was Shepherd’s first since September 2014, after a season hampered by injury.
Shire started brightly and it wasn’t soon until they created the game’s first chance when Kevin Nisbet played Luke Donnelly into the box, but his shot from a narrow-angle hit the crossbar. Shire continued to build and came close when Steven Brisbane’s cut off the right-wing and his mazy run set up David Greenhill but he scuffed his shot well wide.
Queen’s Park gave Shire a warning when Bryan Wharton’s free-kick picked out Gavin Mitchell whose header back across goal went just wide of the far post, with Ciaran McElroy close to getting an important touch.
But it was Shire who were on top. Donnelly robbed Sean Burns of possession and picked out Nisbet on the edge of the box. The striker turned and messed up his shot, when the better option would have been to pass to McKenna who was in space.
And then when a Shire corner was cleared back to the taker, Greenhill’s beautiful delivery picked out Nisbet who headed over. Minutes later, Nisbet once again headed over from a Greenhill set-piece, this time a free-kick.
The Spiders’ gave Shire another warning when Burns’ corner picked out Patrick Slattery at the far post, but his head failed to hit the target.
Shire once again opened up the home side whilst failing to test the keeper William Muir. This time Nisbet’s cross picked out McKenna at the near post, but somehow Shire’s top scorer blasted the ball over from 6 yards.
And then Queen’s Park punished Shire. McElroy produced some fancy skill to nutmeg Jon Tully and broke into the box where his cut-back picked out Slattery at the far post who made no mistake with his finish.
They really should have doubled their lead minutes later when Burns’ cross picked out Woods, but despite nearly being on the goal line he headed over. Vinnie Berry, who had scored a spectacular goal at Ochilview tried to repeat the trick, but this time his shot went wide. And then McElroy once again beat Jon Tully, but this time he tried to score with a left-footed shot that just curled wide of the far post.
And then they looked they were about to score from a counter-attack launched from a Shire corner, but Ross McPherson was denied by an outstanding sliding tackle by Neil McCabe.
Queen’s Park started the second half quickly with McPherson’s shot being saved by Richie Barnard within 15 seconds of the restart.
But slowly Shire came into the half. Barnard’s long ball was flicked down by Nisbet to McKenna in the box. The striker took his time and placed his shot towards the bottom left corner, only to be denied by Muir’s superb save.
They came close through a lovely one-two between Nisbet and McKenna which sent Nisbet behind the Spiders’ back four, but his left-footed shot flew wide of the right post.
But then Shire did equalise. Nathan Shepherd’s left-wing cross was headed down by McKenna to Nisbet, who despite getting a weak contact on his shot beat Muir from close range.
The home side had a penalty appeal when Burns’ long ball sent John Carter into the box, but he went down after a tangle with David Bates, however, the referee saw nothing wrong with the Shire defender’s challenge.
Shire substitute Michael Wallace had two chances in close succession. Lloyd Kinnaird’s chipped through-ball sent Wallace into the box, but his shot hit the side netting. And then Shepherd’s cross picked him out on the edge of the box but his weak header failed to trouble Muir, with the Shire player unaware just how much space he was in.
Queen’s Park dominated stoppage time, but never looked like beating Barnard for a second time. Woods was centimetres from connecting Burns’ cross with an acrobatic finish, and then Wharton’s powerful free-kick sailed over.
Teams
Queen’s Park: Muir, Mitchell, Quinn (MacGregor 45), Wharton, Burns, Woods, McVey (Mortimer 70), Berry, Slattery, McElroy, McPherson (Carter 66).
Subs not Used: Hynes, Gibson, Gallagher, George (GK).
Goal: Slattery 28
Booked: Slattery
Shire: Barnard, Kinnaird, Bates, Jon Tully, Shepherd, Brisbane, McCabe (Vidler 61), Greenhill (Wright 58), Donnelly, Nisbet, McKenna (Wallace 74).
Subs not Used: Gilmour, MacGregor, Shields, Quinn (GK)
Goal: Nisbet 65
Booked: McCabe, Brisbane.
Ref: David Lowe
Attendance: 507.