Queens on losing end again

Nov 19 2008 by Our Correspondent, Dumfries Standard Wednesday

QUEEN of the South fell victim to Dundee’s revival under Jocky Scott as they slipped to their third successive defeat.

It was former Queens’ player Eric Paton who delivered the first telling blow and Bryan Deasley delivered the fatal wound late in the game.

Manager Gordon Chisholm was again unhappy at the nature of the goals his players gave up, particularly the second one but is adamant his side will return to winning ways when it is back at full strength.

Queens matched Dundee for long spells but could not hurt their opponents when it mattered.

Dundee almost broke the deadlock after just 12 minutes when Kyle Benedictus saw his shot come back off the crossbar after a corner from the dangerous Freddie Daquin.

The home side had the lion’s share of the possession in the first half but could not turn it into chances and their fans grew increasingly frustrated.

Queens had their moments too and it took an international class save from Rab Douglas to keep out an Andy Aitken header. Sean O’Connor was also in the mood and he was unlucky to see a net bound shot blocked by Craig McKeown before the half-time interval.

But it was Paton, the sponsor’s man of the match, who made the vital breakthrough with a stunning strike after 64 minutes.

Dundee thought they should have had a penalty when Chris Pozniak was felled on the edge of the area by Gary Arbuckle.

The Polish player claimed the offence occurred inside the area but referee Dougie McDonald insisted the foul was outside.

Dundee need not have fretted. Mickael Antoine-Curier touched the free-kick to Paton who curled a superb shot over the wall and out of the reach of Cammy Bell.

Queens battled to get back into things but the goal had spurred on Dundee who went in search of the clincher.

It came when Antoine-Curier cut the ball back for Deasley to net his first goal of the season with just 11 minutes left which secured the points.

“We came up here with only 15 players and that included me putting a player on the bench who was not fit,” manager Chisholm stated afterwards.

“This year, the league is there for anyone. It is totally wide open and we are still in with a shout.”

Teams

Dundee: Douglas, Paton, Malone, Williams, Benedictus (Lauchlan 50), McKeown, Daquin, Pozniak, Antoine-Curier, Deasley, O’Brien. Subs: Roy, Gilhaney, Dodds, Davidson.

Queen of the South: Bell, Parratt, McQuilken, MacFarlane, Aitken, Thomson, Burns, Tosh, O’Connor, Dobbie, Arbuckle (Weatherston 67). Subs: Halliwell, Robertson, Simmons, McGowan.