Queen’s Park 0 - 1 Peterhead: Late goal at Hampden

A CONTROVERSIAL Andy Rodgers penalty three minutes into injury time gave Peterhead a one-goal advantage over Queen’s Park in their play-off semi-final.

Scorer: Peterhead - Rodgers 90 (pen)

Referee: J McKendrick

Attendance: 651

Referee John McKendrick seemed to err when Tony McParland slid in on David Cox 40 yards from goal and, when Steven Noble launched a free-kick deep into the home box, the ball bobbled around long enough for Blair Spittal to tackle substitute Rodgers to give away the spot-kick.

That was of no concern to the Blue Toon player, who netted with ease from 12 yards to leave the Hampden side with the unenviable record of nine play-off games in a row without a win.

Peterhead had looked set to take the lead midway through the first half when Jamie Redman broke up the right and picked out Bryan Gilfillan on the 18-yard line.

His first-time flick slipped Rory McAllister through on goal and his drive looked in all the way until Neil Parry produced a terrific one-handed stop.

The Balmoor men threatened danger again five minutes into the start of the second half when Cox released Gilfillan on the left and Andrew Robertson had to stretch to head clear as McAllister waited to pounce. The Blue Toon’s search for the elusive opening goal looked to be hampered just after the hour mark when McAllister limped off to be replaced by Rodgers, however, within a minute, the substitute had sent a lobbed 
effort against the woodwork.

Queen’s Park: Parry, Spittal, Robertson, Gallacher, Brough, McParland, Connolly, Anderson, Keenan (Quinn 76), Longworth, Burns (Shankland 82)

Subs not used: Capuano, Quinn, Lochhead.

Peterhead: Smith, Sharp, Noble, Ross, Smith, Cowie, Cox, Redman, McAllister (Rodgers 61), Gilfillan, Strachan (McCann 74). Subs not used: McGlinchey, Fitzgerald, Jarvie.