Queens rue missed chances against Dumfermline

Aug 13 2008 by Our Correspondent, Dumfries Standard Wednesday

QUEEN of the South were given a lesson in finishing as Andy Kirk earned Dunfermline three points at East End Park.

The former Hearts’ striker scored twice in the second half and it was enough to deny Gordon Chisholm’s side the confidence boost they were seeking before embarking on Europe.

Chisholm had seen his side dominate the first half but fail to cash in on the number of chances they created and how Dunfermline made them pay.

Queen of the South started sharper and should have taken the lead when the impressive Gary Arbuckle broke free down the left but his dangerous ball across goal was well cleared by Scott Thomson.

Queens got the reward for their early dominance when they took the lead in 26 minutes with Stewart Kean capitalising on a Thomson slip to calmly slot the ball home.

Thomson had to come off after taking a bad fall that let Kean in for the goal and forced the home side to reorganise their defence with Greg Shields moving in to the centre of defence and substitute Calum Woods going to right back.

Dunfermline looked all over the place after the change with the Queens front line causing all sorts of problems.

They should have doubled their advantage before half time when a Craig Barr header went just wide following a Jamie McQuilken cross.

But it all changed after the interval as Dunfermline came out with all guns blazing in the second half.

Queens thought they had weathered the storm and should have made it two when, once again, McQuilken crossed for Barr, who forced Paul Gallagher into an excellent save.

However the visitors were made to pay for their missed chances on 53 minutes as Dunfermline snatched an equaliser.

Kirk marked his first appearance at East End Park with an unstoppable shot from 25 yards, which eluded an outstretched Bryn Halliwell.

The home side scored what proved to be the winner on 69 minutes with a carbon copy of the first goal.

Once again Kirk picked the ball up in the middle of the park and drove forward before unleashing an unstoppable shot past Halliwell.

Queens thought they had the opportunity to get back on level terms from the spot, but Gary Arbuckle was adjudged to have dived under a challenge of substitute Iain Williamson.

The visitors’ frustration boiled over towards the end as they finished the match with 10 men when Andy Aitken was given his marching order for a two-footed lunge on Graham Bayne.

Then, deep into injury time, a header across goal by Barr found Arbuckle who blazed over the bar when it seemed easier to score.

Teams

Dunfermline: Gallacher; Shields, Wilson, Phinn, S Thomson (Woods 28), McCann, Harper (Williamson 67), Glass, Bayne, Kirk, Burke (Muirhead 90). Unused subs: Willis, Reidford (Gk).

Queen of the South: Halliwell; Barr, McQuilken, McFarlane (Adams 79), Aitken, Reid, Kean, Tosh, O’Conner (Dobbie 76), Arbuckle, Burns. Unused subs: McGowan, Robertson, Bell (Gk).

Referee: S O’Reilly.

Attendance: 2,930