Arachnophobia
Should we fear the Spiders from Hampden as the new Championship season gets underway on Saturday with the visit of Queens Park. It's a 3:00pm kick off and a season of anticipation or maybe trepidation is almost upon us.
Only form to go on for this season is the League Cup which saw Inverness qualify to face Motherwell in the knock out stages of group G. We ended our League Cup Group G games with a disappointing home draw against Cove Rangers despite Roddy MacGregor heading the opening goal. Megginson pinned us back but we took the bonus point in the ensuing penalty shoot-out. Queens Park failed to progress from their play-off Group H where Dundee and Hamilton Accies progressed. However they did manage a couple of wins thumping Stranraer and Forfar and drawing with Accies. They lost narrowly 1-2 against Dundee. Accies qualified a point ahead of the Spiders virtue of the penalty shoot-out win to pip Queens by a point.
Queens Park, a club steeped in history, join us in the Championship this season along with Cove Rangers. They only finished fourth in the table behind Cove, Airdrie and Montrose, but came through the promotion play-offs to get into the Championship having beaten Dunfermline over two legs and then beating Airdrie in extra time to win promotion thanks to a Simon Murray penalty. Mind you, they have won the Scottish Cup ten times, albeit the last time was back in 1893. I remember it well. They have been playing out of Ochilview Park recently as they await Lesser Hampden to be upgraded. Here's one for you: They can boast a record attendance of 95,722 against Rangers in a Scottish Cup first round encounter on January 18th 1930 at their home ground of Hampden Park. That's a world record for an amateur side.
They are now a professional outfit as of 2019 and on the up, consecutive promotions will see them ply their trade in this seasons Championship after years in the doldrums. Welcome to the Spiders
Last 10 Competitive Meetings v Queens Park |
3 - 0 (H) |
1 - 2 (H) |
2 - 0 (H) |
2 - 1 (A) |
1 - 0 (H) |
3 - 2 (A) |
2 - 2 (H) |
2 - 1 (A) |
1 - 1 (H) |
3 - 0 (A) |
Venue H2h v Queens Park | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Agst | + / - |
Home | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 11 | +3 |
Away | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 8 | +5 |
Neutral | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Total | 15 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 27 | 19 | +8 |
League - (Div 3) Saturday, August 20th, 1994, 3:00 PM at Telford Street Park, Inverness
Attendance: 1,500: Referee: M Pocock
Ian Broadfoot reporting on our first ever competitive meeting against Queens Park.
Caley Thistle's mid week efforts against Dundee had taken their toll and they went a goal down in 14 minutes - a McAllister header to McRitchie was short and Garry Orr took advantage with a goal from 15 yards. Four minutes later Maxwell made it two when he bundled in Edgar's corner. In 53 minutes McKenzie had rare chances for the home side but he hit the 'keeper twice. The match was over a few minutes later when a Garry Orr pass set up Graham who beat McRitchie with an angled drive. Two minutes later Maxwell headed a fourth.
Full Time: 0-4
Mark McRitchie
Dave Brennan Mike Andrew Mike Noble Mark McAllister
John Scott Danny MacDonald Graeme Bennett Alan Hercher
Paul McKenzie Wilson Robertson
First Competitive Meeting |
Aug 20th, 1994 | League ((Div 3)) | (H) | 0 - 4 |
Most Recent Competitive Meeting |
Jul 31st, 2010 | League Cup (Rd 1) | (H) | 3 - 0 |
League Cup Match: Tuesday, September 2nd, 2003, 7:00 PM at Caledonian Stadium, Inverness
Attendance: 968
This report comes from Ian Broadfoot back in 2003, the last time Queens Park beat Inverness in the Highlands.
The Spiders gave Caley Thistle a dose of their own medicine when they produced a shock cup win away from home. Barry Wilson played for the first time following his return to the club. Queens belied their third division status with some lively play and they soaked up early pressure - a Steve Hislop drive was turned over the bar and Richie Hart hit the woodwork. It was not all one way as Ross Clark hit the bar at the other end. Caley Thistle scored in 26 minutes when Paul Ritchie turned in a Wilson cross but the lead only lasted two minutes. Bobby Mann brought down Clark and Steve Reilly converted the resultant penalty.
Half Time: 1-1
Queens took the lead in 59 minutes when poor defending allowed a Reilly free kick to reach Ally Graham and he shot low past Mark Brown. With four minutes left Queens substitute Derek Carcary should have made it 3-1 but he shot wide with only Brown to beat. The drama was not over as the home side were awarded a penalty in injury time when Reilly handled in the box. Mann's kick came off the post.
Full Time: 1-2
There was bitter disappointment in the home camp but no real complaints.
Latest Team News
Shane Sutherland and Tom Walsh are long term casualties. Wallace Duffy came off injured against Cove Rangers. Danny Devine has missed all the League Cup games and pre-season along with Sean Welsh.
Eric's Queens Park roundup:
Under new manager Owen Coyle, Queens Park have trimmed the Squad with more than 10 departures in the summer.
Four players have arrived all on free transfer basis.
Jason Naismith a right back signed from Kilmarnock Fc: Dom Thomas midfielder from Dunfermline FC: Pat Jarret an attacking midfield player, from Stoke City where he has gone from Youth teams to the U23 level: Grant Savoury who spent last season at Peterhead FC is a centre forward.
Loan in: Josh McPake, forward (Rangers).
Out: Jai Quitongo, forward (Greenock Morton); Grant Gillespie, midfielder (Greenock Morton); Michael Doyle, defender (Hamilton Academical); Stuart Morrison, defender (Queen of the South); Willie Muir, goalkeeper (Alloa Athletic); Peter Grant, defender (Clyde); Bob McHugh, forward (East Kilbride); Darren Lyon, midfielder; Will Baynham, forward.
Loan ended: Luca Connell, midfielder (Celtic); Luis Longstaff, midfielder (Liverpool); Connor Smith, midfielder (Heart of Midlothian); Connor McBride, midfielder (Blackburn Rovers); Ronan Darcy, midfielder (Bolton Wanderers).
Queens main threat will come from the now experienced Simon Murray. The thirty year old striker has previously been at Arbroath, Dundee United and Hibs. Dom Thomas will be an excellent asset and along with Louis Longridge will provide stability in the midfield.
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