Queens go four broke

Feb 18 2009 by Kieran Westbrook, Dumfries Standard Wednesday

QUEENS registered the club’s first win at Palmerston since October with a convincing 4-0 thumping of Airdrie on Saturday.

Before the match, manager Gordon Chisholm had admitted that with only four points separating the sides before the game, this was possibly the most important game of the season for the Doonhamers.

And with Clyde, Ross County and Morton all having their matches postponed, it provided the opportunity for them to move up to the dizzy heights of sixth in the league.

Queens dominated the early stages, with free kicks in dangerous areas and numerous half chances.

Stephen Dobbie and Sean O’Conner had good chances to put the home side ahead, and Martyn Lancaster’s header from a Bob Harris free kick was only inches wide.

But in the opening stages it was Airdrie who had the best chance.

With half an hour gone, Airdrie front man Paul Di Giacomo was homing in on Queens’ goal after a pass threaded through by Joseph Cardle.

He was ushered wide by a sprawling Lee Robinson who narrowed the forward’s angles and Di Giacomo’s hopeful cross/shot was headed off the line by Lancaster and cleared to safety.

Then came six minutes of madness from Airdrie they will surely look back on with regret come the end of the season.

In the 35th minute, a long clearance from Queens keeper Robinson found Paul Burns on the right.

Airdrie defender Marc Smyth looked to have the situation under control, getting between Burns and the ball.

But a calamitous mix-up between the big defender and his goalkeeper, Stephen Robertson, saw Smyth head the ball past the Airdrie number one who then clattered into Burns in the penalty area.

The ref had an easy decision to make, and pointed to the penalty spot.

Dobbie slotted the ball past the keeper, and Queens had the lead.

Minutes later, Airdrie went into self-destruct mode again, with Kevin McDonald’s reckless two-footed challenge on Neil Scally, who had just returned from a broken leg.

The Airdrionian was given a red card, and from then on the win never looked in doubt for Queens.

Queens started the second half looking like they could score in every attack, and really should have when Lancaster missed with a free header early on in the half.

And chance after chance came, until a superb Jamie McQuilken cross found Bob Harris’ head who directed the ball past the Airdrie keeper making it 2-0.

Dobbie then doubled his tally for the day with a nutmeg on the keeper, and rounded off an impressive display by turning provider for sub David Weatherston for Queens’ fourth in the closing minutes.

After the game, Queens boss Gordon Chisholm said: “I’m delighted.

“I think it was important that we bounced on the back of the Dunfermline performance and the result.

“Today I said this was probably one of the biggest games of the season and the most important thing was that we got the three points.

“I am delighted that we have done it, and we’ve done it with a wee bit of style.

“Airdrie would have come down here thinking this was a chance to drag us right into it, and if they had won today I think they would have.

“We play St Johnstone next week, which now we’re looking forward to.”

Man of the match Stephen Dobbie said: “The team’s playing better. We’re getting the goals again, and not conceding.

“That’s our second clean sheet in a row, and that’s how you win games.

“I’ve come back in and that’s four goals in three games, so I’m quite happy with that, and getting the win is the most important thing.

“It was a massive result.

“That gives us a wee gap between (Airdrie) and us, plus it puts us back in the mix with the teams above us.

“The league is that tight that anyone can beat anyone, and it’s tight on points too, so that was a massive win.”

Teams

Queen of the South: Robinson, McCann, Harris (Aitken 85), Barr, Lancaster, Scally, McQuilken (Weatherston 75), MacFarlane, Burns, O’Connor (Kean 65), Dobbie. Subs not used: Halliwell, Robertson.

Booked: O’Connor.

Goals: Burns 35 pen, Harris 52, Dobbie 67, Weatherston 84.

Airdrie Utd: Robertson, McLachlan, Hazley, Smyth, Nixon, McDonald, McDougall (Brown 64), McKenna, Cardle (McLaughlin 46), Di Giacomo, Lynch (Baird ). Subs Not Used: Collier, McGuire.

Sent Off: McDonald (41).

Booked: McLachlan, Robertson.

Attendance: 2,443.

Referee: A Muir.