Seven goal thriller secures relegation escape

Apr 29 2009 by Our Correspondent, Dumfries Standard Wednesday

A BLISTERING display by Queen of the South and seven fantastic goals in a game crowned by the four-goal performance of striker Stephen Dobbie emphatically dispelled any fears of relegation.

Unfortunately for Queens, the cracking show by the 26-year-old striker whose contract is up at the end of the season was the perfect exhibition for half a dozen clubs believed to be in the stand watching him.

And he said: “I know of a couple of offers from clubs up here and down south, but I’m just waiting till the end of the season and aiming for as many goals for the club as possible.”

Dobbie, who joined Queens from St Johnstone just over two years ago, tops the clubs scoring chart with 24 goals for the season so far and admitted that it was the first time in his professional career that he had notched a foursome.

He was delighted with his contribution but said: “Everything came off for me but it was the team that was fantastic and so were the other goals by Kean, Tosh and Harris.”

And the fans simply loved it as the goals crashed in with manager Gordon Chisholm saying: “The result says it all – fantastic to watch, fantastic goals, just superb.

“All the goals were unstoppable against a team coming here fighting for their lives and none were from mistakes, they were just fantastic.”

It took Queens just four minutes to make the breakthrough and who else but Dobbie cracked in a tremendous 25-yard drive after picking up a pass from Stevie Tosh and waltzing past his marker.

And four minutes later they had doubled their lead with Stewart Kean this time cutting in from the left and again firing home from 25 yards.

It was almost three, minutes later when keeper David Hutton saved by diving at the feet of Kean.

But it was three in 21 minutes when Neil Scally worked a one-two for Tosh to crack the ball high into the net from the edge of the box.

Clyde pulled one back in 24 minutes when Willie McLaren fired home a free kick from 20 yards after Neil Scally had brought down Ruari MacLennan.

This seemed to rally Clyde and after this it was a ding-dong struggle with play raging from end to end.

Clyde switched their strikers at the break in the hope that Gary McSwegan and David McKay would give their attack more punch.

But it was Queens who forged further ahead within two minutes of the restart with Dobbie fastening on to a long ball upfield and cutting past his marker to left-foot the ball home from 15 yards.

Harris made it five for Queens in 55 minutes when the Clyde defence headed out a corner from Barry Wilson and the full back slammed it high into the net.

And a minute later Dobbie completed his hat-trick with a low drive from 10 yards.

The rout went on and Dobbie got his fourth in 61 minutes as he ran onto a pass from Wilson to hammer it into the net from close range.

After that it was simply a comfortable cruise home to the final whistle.

Teams

Queen of the South: Robinson, Reid, Harris, Lancaster, Thomson, Scally, Wilson (McCann 81), Tosh (McGowan 81), McQuilken, Kean, Dobbie (Weatherston 79).

Substitutes not used: Barr, Halliwell.

Clyde: Hutton, MacLennan, Waddell, Higgins, Brown, Lithgow, Trouten, Kettlewell (Stevenson 53), Winters (McSwegan 46), Clarke (McKay 46) and McLaren.

Substitutes not used: Gemmill, Cherrie.

Referee: Mr Euan Norris.

Attendance: 2,601.