Dundee downed by Queens

Sep 3 2008 by Iain Pollock, Dumfries Standard Wednesday

TWO NEW signings by Queen of the South made themselves an instant hit with the fans as they helped their side to a 3-1 victory over a Dundee outfit that had previously been unbeaten in the league.

Tom Parratt, from Hamilton, was on from the start, and David Weatherston, from St Johnstone, was on the field for an hour in place of the injured Jamie Adams.

And Weatherston in particular helped provide the spark that was missing from the Dumfries side in the opening 25 minutes.

The 22-year-old was in fact making his second debut at Palmerston having taken the field for St Johnstone for the first time after joining them from Queens Park on a visit to the Dumfries ground a year ago.

He delighted the fans with some speedy runs down the wing one of which led directly to the “killer “ third goal that floored the Dens Park side.

He simply left his marker floundering after giving him a three-yard start to trail the ball to the by-line and cut it back for Stephen Dobbie to net.

He said: “That’s what I’m here for and I know I’ve got two of the best front men in the division in Stephen Dobbie and Sean O’Connor right there in the middle.”

The winger was taken off just before the end and said: “I was knackered when taken off – I’ve not been involved in a game since mid-July.

“I’ve been training hard, but it’s not the same as playing in a match, so I’ll be working hard to get up to full fitness.”

Queens certainly had manager Gordon Chisholm concerned in the opening stages as they allowed Dundee to dominate.

Chisholm said:“I think there may have been a little bit of a hangover from Tuesday in Denmark showing at the start.

“But the boys recovered well and were tremendous with the effort they put in and I was particularly pleased with our new signings.

With the new players I have the luxury of being able to change and freshen up the team when we have a few games on the trot.”

But Dundee made a whirlwind start and Queens had a let off in the opening minute when a free kick from former Palmerston star Eric Paton from 30 yards was deflected just outside the post.

And they made the breakthrough in 14 minutes but not without some protests from the Dumfries players.

Sean O’Connor seemed to be floored just outside the Dundee box as their defence sent a high ball into the Queens half.

And as the Queens men were calling for a foul, the ball went through to Chris Pozniak who ran in to neatly slip it past the helpless keeper.

Queens were forced to make a change in just 25 minutes when Jamie Adams went off injured and Weatherston was given his chance to show his pace.

And he was in action right away.

He sent the ball down the wing for a cross which saw keeper Robert Douglas pull off a tremendous save from Stephen Dobbie at the expense of a corner.

And from that corner Queens equalised in 27 minutes when Craig Barr beat the Dundee defenders to shoot home from Jamie McQuilken’s corner.

This seemed to settle the Dumfries side and a minute before the break Stephen Dobbie put the Dumfries men ahead when a long ball from Paul Burns was charged down by the Dundee defenders, and the striker was on the spot to sweep it past the diving keeper.

Queens almost increased their lead from the restart when Dobbie beat his marker and swung in a ball from an angle which keeper Douglas just managed to touch over.

But they did go further ahead in 68 minutes when Weatherston simply left his marker standing as he raced to the by line and cut the ball across for Dobbie to turn it into the net.

Dundee desperately tried to pull themselves back into the game but their front men just could not put their shots on target, and if anything it was more Queens who looked like stretching their lead.

Teams

Queen of the South: Bell; Parratt, McQuilken, Barr, Thomson, MacFarlane, Adams (Weatherston 25) (Robertson 87), Tosh, Burns, O’Connor, Dobbie (Kean 79).

Subs not used: Reid, Halliwell.

Dundee: Douglas; Cowan, Malone, Mackenzie, Williams (McKeown 61), McHale, Paton, Pozniak (Gilhaney 71), O’Brien, McMenamin (Davidson 71), Antoine-Curier.

Subs not used: Daquin, Roy.

Referee: Mr Iain Brines.

Attendance: 2,646.

Queens will enter the third round of the CIS Challenge Cup with an away trip to Falkirk. Date for the tie is either Tuesday or Wednesday, September 23 or 24.