Lucky thirteen for Queens

Feb 4 2009 by Our Correspondent, Dumfries Standard Wednesday

QUEEN of the South may have fallen like autumn leaves since their last win in October but there was finally some cheer for Gordon Chisholm’s side at East End Park.

A goal in each half from Paul Burns and Stephen Dobbie gave them a deserved win after 12 games without a victory.

Not since beating Ross County on October 25 had Queens savoured victory and it made it all the sweeter, particularly as Airdrie United and Clyde both lost.

Chisholm will now be hoping his team can build on this result with the Doonhamers, although third bottom, only five points behind fourth-placed Dunfermline.

The Pars made a positive start to the game with Rory Loy, on loan from Rangers, forcing an early save from Lee Robinson and Graham Bayne also going close to scoring with a header.

Loy and Bayne then combined to set up a chance but Robinson was again alert to the danger and made another decent stop.

Queens hit back and made the breakthrough with a stunning goal after 29 minutes. Ryan McCann delivered an excellent cutback for Burns and his volley left Paul Gallacher with no chance.

The goal had an instant impact as confidence visibly flowed through the Queens’ team.

The lively Barry Wilson came close to a second when he skipped past Scott Wilson but his shot was just too high.

The Queens man injured himself in the process and had to go off to be replaced by Jamie McQuilken with six minutes of the first half remaining.

Dunfermline started the second half like they did the first and had Queens on the back foot from the restart.

Nicky Phinn troubled Robinson again with a firmly struck shot but it was too close to the goalkeeper and he was positioned well to block.

Scott Thomson then joined his attack but sent a header over the crossbar when he should have done better.

But Queens had the players to trouble Dunfermline on the break and, given the home side’s indifferent finishing, it became increasingly obvious that a second goal would kill off the contest.

So it proved midway through the half when Burns and Dobbie exchanged passes before Dobbie found the top corner of the net with a quality finish from just outside the area.

It was a fatal blow to Dunfermline who have struggled to find their form at home this season. If anything, Queens should have added to their lead in the closing stages.

Bob Harris went close after more good build-up work and then Dobbie was guilty of missing a gilt-edged chance in the final moments.

Teams

Dunfermline: Gallacher; Thomson, Wilson (Woods 80), Phinn, Shields, McCann, Graham (Kirk 64), Burke (Holmes 53), Bayne, Loy, Bell. Subs not used: Reidford, Williamson.

Queen of the South: Robinson; McCann, Harris, Scally, Barr, Lancaster, Wilson (McQuilken 39), MacFarlane, O'Connor (Kean 74), Dobbie (McGowan 90), Burns. Subs not used: Halliwell, Aitken.

Referee: C Boyle.

Attendance: 2,770.