Tiernan gets 90 minutes under his belt
Former Aberdeen star Fergus Tiernan played his first 90 minutes in almost a year on Saturday as Queen's Park defeated Fleetwood Town 4-1 at sun kissed Largs and the midfielder is delighted to be playing again after prematurely calling an end to his career to become a firefighter.
Tiernan said, "It is great to be kicking a ball again and I enjoyed the game today where as the first half against Partick Thistle during the week was not so enjoyable" before jokingly adding, "The pitch today was a lot smaller so perhaps that helped."
The 27 year old took a 4 month break from the Sons last season to concentrate on his new career, and when he returned he could not force himself back into Jim Chapman's Championship winning team and Tiernan looked set to turn his back on the game until the Spiders called.
The Hampden outfit will be seeing a more relaxed Tiernan with the player explaining, "Gardner Speirs knows that my new job is my priority in life however that means I can enjoy playing for Queen's Park and that was certainly the case today."
Queen's Park had went ahead in Saturdays game before losing an equaliser midway through the second half and it was Tiernan who dragged them into a winning position when his former assistant boss at Pittodrie, Speirs, pushed him into an attacking role with 20 minutes left.
Tiernan's clever use of the ball helped the Glasgow side score three times before the end however it is not only his ball skills Speirs wants Tiernan to use. The ex-Don explained, "I am one of the oldest players at Queen's Park and they are quite a quiet side so the boss wants me to talk, shout and encourage the players throughout a game. These guys have a great deal of energy but part of my role is to ensure they use it in the right areas."
ALBA Challenge Cup Appointments
The SFA have made their first appointments for competitive games in the new season with details of the 14 match officials for ALBA Challenge Cup ties on July 25 being announced. They are North/East Section - Ross County v Alloa Athletic - Chris Boyle, Peterhead v Cowdenbeath - Mat Northcroft, Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Montrose - Euan Norris, East Fife v Forfar Athletic - John McKendrick, Elgin City v Brechin City - Colin Brown, Stirling Albion v Raith Rovers - Anthony Law, Dunfermline Athletic v Arbroath - George Salmond.
South/West section - Ayr United v Albion Rovers – Eddie Smith, Stenhousemuir v Clyde - Brian Colvin, Annan Athletic v Queen's Park - Mike Tumilty, Dumbarton v Morton - Stephen Finnie, Airdrie United v Partick Thistle - Calum Murray, Queen of the South v Livingston – Steve Conroy, Stranraer v Berwick Rangers - Steven Nicholls. All matches have 3.00pm kick offs.
Crawley leave big impression on Barr
Albion Rovers SFL Young Player of the Year, exciting winger Bobby Barr, is looking forward to meeting up with Third Division sides after becoming lost in the Land of the Giants against Crawley Town on Saturday.
The Blue Square Premiership side all stood several inches taller than their opponents and deserved their 3-1 win over the Coatbridge team with Barr saying, "I will not come across a more physical side all season, they are the biggest physical team I have ever played against it. No team in the Third or even the Second Division will be as big or strong as them. The park was tight and there was just no space at all to get going and they deserved to beat us."
The English outfit, managed by former Rover Stevie Evans, were very direct in their approach with Barr saying, "They were very route one and had players up supporting them very well looking for scraps but we did okay for an hour when the game was still goalless."
Barr is confident his Rovers side can learn from this game and sustain a challenge in the top half of the table this season saying, "Our aim has to be to finish in the top four and we have the squad capable of doing it. We competed well today against a good full time side. We look to have goals in us from all areas of the pitch and if everyone stays fit we will be in with a shout."
Jags lose Henry
Partick Thistle's first team coach John Henry has left his Firhill post to be re-united with his one time Clydebank colleague Owen Coyle as a coach at newly promoted Premiership side Burnley.
Jags boss Ian McCall paid tribute to Henry by saying, "John's departure is a loss but we will work hard at bringing in a replacement for him. On a personal point of view John is one of my best friends, who worked tirelessly for Thistle, and he leaves Firhill with the very best wishes of all associated with the Club."
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