Queens claw back three points

Apr 15 2009 by Our Correspondent, Dumfries Standard Wednesday

QUEEN of the South proved their need was greater than Partick’s as they plundered three points from Firhill.

The victory – courtesy of goals from Stephen Dobbie and Steve Tosh – was fully merited and it helped ease the strain on Gordon Chisholm’s side.

But it put a serious dent in Partick’s title ambitions, who now trail leaders St Johnstone by seven points.

Dobbie was making the point to the media afterwards that Queens were only concerned with their own plight and the team must try and take something from St Johnstone on Sunday, knowing their opponents could secure the title.

But what personnel are available to Chisholm remains to be seen with Martyn Lancaster, Jim Thomson and Sean O’Connor all picking up injuries in this game and failing to see out the 90 minutes.

It was, however, a thoroughly decent performance by the makeshift team.

Dobbie set up the victory with a typical finish after only 12 minutes, spotting the opportunity before curling in a superb shot off the underside of the crossbar after Alan Archibald had failed to clear.

Queens visibly grew in confidence and Dobbie was clearly in the mood and he tested Jonny Tuffey with a shot from the edge of the area which the goalkeeper did well to stop.

A mistake by Marc Twaddle gave Queens another opportunity before half-time and Dobbie set up Barry Wilson but he could not hit the target from just eight yards out.

Partick’s fans were clearly growing impatient at this point but there was a chance for Twaddle to redeem himself shortly before the break.

The ball broke to him in the penalty area but he failed to get any power in his shot and Lee Robinson was able to save comfortably.

Tosh replaced the injured Sean O’Connor early in the second half and he made an instant impact.

With his first kick of the ball, he delivered a stunning finish to beat Tuffey with a 22-yard shot to give his side a two-goal advantage after 53 minutes.

It left Partick with too much to do and they failed to muster much to trouble Robinson.

Wilson could have made it 3-0 with 12 minutes left when he caught a volley perfectly but Tuffey reacted well to block his shot.

Gary Harkins had a late chance to pull one back for Partick but sent his header wide after good work by Paul Paton.

Teams

Partick Thistle: Tuffey; Storey, Twaddle, Paton, Robertson, Archibald, McKinlay (Akins 59), Rowson (Maxwell 665, Doolan, Donnelly (Chaplain 55), Harkins; Subs not used: Hinchcliffe, Kinniburgh.

Queen of the South: Robinson; Reid, Harris, MacFarlane, Lancaster (Barr 18), Thomson (McQuilken 45), Wilson, Scally, O'Connor (Tosh 53), Dobbie, Burns; Subs not used: Halliwell, Weatherston.

Referee: M McCurry.

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