The first half didn't really start until 30 mins had been played, and even then it was only a half chance. A Queen's midfielder played a beautiful pass through to Kettlewell but just before he could pull the trigger Roddy Black slip in and put the ball behind for a corner. Two minutes later Arbroath had their first real chance. Alan Brazil pressured the Queens Park left back into giving the ball away and after a 35 yard free run towards goal he was closed down in the box but got in a good shot which was well tipped over by Crawford in the Queen's goal.
Five minutes before half time Arbroath had a very strong shout for a penalty when Pat Clarke was battered in the knee when controlling the ball in the 6 yard box, but the referee for some bizarre reason waved play on. Up the other end Queen's had the best chance of the half, with their number 6 putting the ball wide of the left hand post from 6 yards out.
No chances were made at half time, and Arbroath continued in the same way as the first half. Only four minutes into the 2nd half Stevie Cook scored. Cookie, who was making his first appearence this season, found himself in loads of space at the back post and a good ball accross was met with a good touch to control then a great strike into the bottom corner of the net. It was also great to see Stevie running straight towards the fans kissing the badge, showing how much this goal meant to him personally.
Sadly though, Queen's got an equaliser 10 minutes or so later. Queen's broke the Lichties offside trap and Proctor slotted home from 12 yards out past the helpless Mark Peat. Things were to get even worse when just 90 seconds later The Spiders got a penalty. The appeal was more or less for the same thing as our claim in the first half, an aimless kick in the Queen's forward by Ian Dobbins and the ref pointed straight to the spot. Shame he wasn't so keen to do the same thing in the first half. Trouten slotted home, sending Peat the wrong way.
Surprisingly Arbroath came into the game alot more after this, and after a Cook cross was cleared off the line by Clark, Arbroath equalised. A good Stein cross into the box saw the keeper half come, half stay and Dobbins took advantage, heading the ball past the keeper into the gaping net. Now with only 10 minutes remaining Arbroath had their tails up. Against the run of play Queen's had a glorious chance with 3 minutes left. Sub Felvus was played through 1 on 1 and with his first touch he chipped over Peat but the ball went a yard or so wide of the post.
Arbroath then had 2 very good chances to win the game. The first came for Alan Brazil after a brilliant through pass by Jay Stein, but the keeper got to the ball just before Alan Brazil's sliding leg. Right on the whistle though Queen's nearly gifted the win to Arbroath. The keeper got caught up by a passback and his clearence cannoned off Alan Brazil's back but went inches wide of the post.
Overall this was a far better performance by Arbroath. A much more spirited display with Cook showing why he should be getting more of a chance in the team. Big John McGlashan was up in the stands today and now that he's had a good chance to look at the team hopefully he will get a good couple of training sessions with the players under his belt before the East Fife game and we can go and get 3 points from there.
Mon the Lichties!