Championship Challenge for Queens

Jul 23 2008 by John Ballard, Dumfries Standard Wednesday

QUEENS fine pre-season form continued with a well deserved 1-1 draw against Burnley on Saturday.

A crowd of more than 1,800, including 700 travelling supporters, were at Palmerston for the English Championship sides visit, and they were treated to an entertaining encounter.

Burnley took the lead against the run of play on the stroke of half time but with 10 minutes remaining the Doonhamers levelled when Stewart Kean headed home his third goal in as many games.

Queens boss Gordon Chisholm told the club website: It was a really good workout against top quality opposition and had it not been for their keeper we could well have won.

Im not complaining though, when a team like Burnley go ahead its never easy to get back into the game.

But we did and Im delighted with the positive attitude we showed.

Both teams fielded strong sides, but with regular marksman Sean OConnor picking up an ankle knock last week, Chisholm took the opportunity to try out a new strike pairing as Kean lined up alongside trialist Gary Arbuckle.

Another two trialists Michael McGowan and goalkeeper Cameron Bell were also on the bench for the Doonhamers.

Queens started brighter than their Lancashire visitors as both Craig Barr and Arbuckle were thwarted by Burnley stopper Brian Jensen early on, and the Clarets had their giant goalkeeper to thank again when he kept Barr at bay on 30 minutes.

However, Queens dominance counted for little when Burnley took the lead through Martin Peterson.

After the hour mark Chisholm rang the changes, bringing Jamie Adams, McGowan and Bell on for Neil Macfarlane, Arbuckle and Bryn Halliwell, with Andy Aitken and Scott Robertson replacing Jamie McQuilken and Stevie Tosh 10 minutes later.

The Doonhamers equaliser was a well-worked goal with Paul Burns dummying Stephen Dobbies corner for Kean to head home at the far post.

Burnley boss Owen Coyle said: I was pleased with our overall performance and I thought we looked pretty sharp.

We scored a terrific goal but conceded a very soft one near the end.

Our keeper pulled off a couple of quality saves, but dont forget Queen of the South were Scottish Cup finalists and are a very good team.