SHIRE 1 QUEEN'S PARK 0

It was the narrowest of wins, Shire did not play well and they rode their luck at times but the three points gained in the 1-0 victory over Queen’s Park were very welcome indeed.

Simon Lynch provided the simplest of touches after 64 minutes to get the goal that made all the difference but just as big a vote of thanks is due to keeper Jamie Barclay, who kept the scoresheet at the interval blank by saving a 41st minute penalty kick.

The victory keeps the team in with the chasing pack and the league position could improve if the league awards the club the three points from the postponed Livingston match.

Michael Bolochowecky made his return to the centre of defence after serving his three match suspension. But Jim McInally kept the changes to a minimum even in the wake of the 5-1 defeat at Forfar two weeks ago.

Craig Donaldson, hurt in a training ground tackle in midweek was an enforced absence while David Dunn dropped out at left-back and was replaced by Dean Richardson.

Former Shire man, Paul Ronald, wasn’t among the Queen’s Park squad who had a largely unfamiliar look apart from veteran striker, Frankie Carroll, who was restricted to a place on the substitutes bench.

Shire stuck to a 4-4-2 with Craig Tully in midfield sitting in front of the central defensive duo of David King and Bolochoweckyj. Andy Rodgers was moved to a wide left midfield role with Simon Lynch partnering Stephen McGuire up front.

Jamie Stevenson was to the fore in the opening few minutes, threading one pass through for McGuire but the shot was blocked for a fruitless corner kick.

After eight minutes Shire should have taken the lead after Stevenson was sent clear down the right but his low cross could find no takers in the middle when a tap-in was all that was required.

On the quarter hour mark Weaver played Rodgers in at the back post but his first-time volley went well over the bar and wouldn’t have counted had it been on target after the far side linesman judged him to be offside.

Four minutes later Tully gave away a free-kick 25 years from and Paul Harkins fired in a shot which was deflected wide.

There was controversy on 22 minutes when McGuire was clean through on goal and brought down deliberately by Douglas. The Queens man can consider himself fortunate only to be shown a yellow card by referee McKendrick.

Three minutes later another Stevenson free-kick found Bolochoweckyj unmarked at the back post who volleyed towards goal but his effort was brilliantly saved by Spiders’ keeper Black.

After 28 minutes the visitors ought to have opened the scoring when McBride’s corner fell perfectly for Watt who somehow managed to scoop the ball over the empty net from the six yard line.

A minute later Lynch’s break ended with a cross which was only half cleared to Tully whose fierce 20 yard drive whizzed just past the keeper’s right-had post.

On 41 minutes Bolochoweckyj committed a rash foul on Spiders’ winger David Murray and referee McKendrick pointed to the penalty spot. However, McBride’s spot kick was poorly-hit allowing Barclay to get down low to his right to block, and the keeper got up quickly to save McBride’s rebound.

The danger was not over for Shire because, from the resulting corner, striker Michael Daly rose high to head a ball from the left onto the crossbar.

The visitors created the first opportunity of the second period when Watt was freed down the right. He turned inside Tully and delivered a low, hard cross that only required a finishing touch. Fortunately for Shire, none could be found.

Andy Rodgers was switched to the forward line in a swap with McGuire in a freshen things up but the chances simply dried up. An indication of that was Lynch’s run in behind the defence but before he could hook the ball into the box he had run it out for a goal kick.

But while Queens dominated the possession they could do very little with it although Shire didn’t help things by putting themselves under a lot of unnecessary pressure.

They got a break on 64 minutes when Barclay’s long clearance has headed needlessly behind for a corner. From Stevenson’s flag kick the ball was half cleared to Weaver at the back edge of the box and he fired it in hopefully. The defence missed it and Lynch was on hand to guide the ball into the net from inside the six yard box.

After 85 minutes a clever break by Lynch left the Spiders’ defence floundering and his cutback found Weaver who cracked in a shot which Black got down well to save.

SHIRE : Barclay, Hay, Richardson, King, Bolochoweckyj, Tully, Weaver, Stevenson, Lynch, McGuire(McKenzie 61), Rodgers(Dunn 80).

QUEEN’S PARK : Black, Ure, Douglas, Walker, Brough, Capuano, Harkins(Dunlop 35), Watt(Carroll 86), Daly, McBride, Murray(Hamilton 68).

REFEREE : J. McKendrick

ATENDANCE : 393