Seventh heaven

Jan 23 2013 Andrew McNair

Queens ground out their seventh league win in a row on Saturday with a tricky 3-1 win at home to Forfar Athletic.

Queens ground out their seventh league win in a row on Saturday with a tricky 3-1 win at home to Forfar Athletic.

The division two leaders certainly did not have it all their own way but dug their heals in and did enough to see off Dick Campbells play-off hopefuls.

And boss Allan Johnstone was happy with his teams efforts as they moved 19 points clear of second placed Alloa Athletic.

He said: Im delighted to get the win - they made it really difficult for us with the way they play. I think we took our goals well but we can definitely play a lot better than that. They are one of the more difficult teams to play against with their style of play.

It wasnt a classic performance, I know we can do a lot better than that but a few of the boys have been ill this week as well so we are just delighted to get the result and hopefully prepare right for next week.

Queens started well as they looked to carry on from where they left off against Albion Rovers last weekend.

Captain Chris Higgins missed out through illness but it was skipper for the day Ryan McGuffie who opened the scoring with a well placed left foot strike in off the far post after visiting keeper Jack Hamilton had produced a tremendous double save from Nicky Clark and the returning Mark Durnan on 10 minutes.

But the lead did not last long as Forfar equalised immediately.

A corner on the far side came down with snow on it as Queens keeper Lee Robinson struggled to make his presence felt in the six-yard box.

He went to ground but referee Brian Colvin saw no infringement and it was left to Chris Templeman to bundle the ball over the line to get Forfar back in the game.

But the action of a manic few minutes at Palmerston was not over yet as the home side again took the lead.

A free kick just inside the Forfar half was whipped in by Chris Mitchell and met with a powerful Derek Lyle header from what seemed like the edge of the 18-yard box.

The 31-year-old former Hamilton Accies player was man-of-the-match on the day and was pretty chuffed with the effort of the team but also of his bullet header.

He said: It was a hard game - the pitch was quite soft today so it kind of stopped us from playing our usual game.

Ive scored a few this season with the head - something Ive managed to get in position to get on the end of things.

So I was delighted - it was a bit of a distance so Ive connected well with it and lucky enough its gone in the top corner. Palmerston fans would have expected that goal to produce a more confident display but if anything - it had the opposite effect.

Forfar continued to press the home side with Templeman going close on the half hour mark with a looping header that landed on the roof of the net and then Robinson made a smart save from Danny Denholms effort.

Just before half time the visitors had their best chance of the half - Bolochoweckyj heading over from inside the six yard box. A real let off for the Doonhamers.

Queens came out for the second half looking slightly more in control but again nowhere near at their best.

However, they were doing enough and limited the frustrated visiting side to half chances before Johnstons men killed the game off with a classic Queens counter attack.

Lyle held the ball up expertly through the middle - releasing Clark exactly as he made his way by the last defender.

The countrys top scorer made no mistake as he ran through on the keeper - sliding the ball past the advancing Hamilton to secure all three points and take his tally to 26 goals for the season.

It was the first time Queens have won seven league matches on the bounce in 42 years.

Something visiting manager Dick Campbell believes his side and partly the referee made all too easy.

He said: Im absolutely appalled by the three goals weve lost.

You cant come here against the potential league champions, and they looked like champions, but I thought they were there for the taking today. Weve had three chances in the first half - we didnt take them.

The second goal was the most astonishing goal Ive seen. How can you score a goal from the 18 yard box with a header?

Christmas has come in January for Queen of the South today.

They got the three easiest goals theyll ever get.

Im not taking anything away from that - they probably territorially and possession-wise had more of it but dont tell me they werent there for the taking today.

There are no words in the English dictionary of what I think of the performance of the referee.

Im really disappointed as I wanted to come down here today and get a result.

Match facts

Queen of South: Robinson, Mitchell, Durnan, McGuffie, Holt, Burns, McKenna, Young, Carmichael, Lyle (Kevin Smith 83), Clark (Reilly 77). Subs not used: Atkinson, Black, Johnston.

Forfar: Hamilton, McCulloch, Faeroe, Bolochoweckyj, Iain Campbell, Hilson, Malin, Robertson (Ross Campbell 75), Denholm (Sellars 69), Templeman (King 75),Swankie. Subs not used: Soutar, Tulloch.

Attendance: 1,481

Referee: Brian Colvin