Queen of the South 0 Dunfermline 1
Saturday, 6th Oct 2007Pars take full points in final game in first round of matches but only thanks to a 90th minute penalty save from Paul Gallacher.
Dunfermline showed four changes from the side that successfully progressed to the Challenge Cup Final. Stevie Crawford, Jim Hamilton, Calum Woods and Scott Muirhead all returned with Jim McIntyre, Owen Morrison, Iain Williamson back on the bench. Stephen simmons was out injured.
Queen of the South made four changes from the side that played Stirling Albion. Stevie Tosh was injured and there was no Neil McFarlane with Brian Gilmour and Eric Paton relegated to the bench. Gordon Chisholm brought in Stephen Dobbie, Robert Harris, Scott Robertson and Andy Aitken.
Dunfermline kicked off through Tam McManus and Jim Hamilton, skipper Crawford receiving the tap back and started a build up on the right but Queens intercepted, sent Sean O`Connor up the left channel for his squared ball to be met at the edge of the box by Robertson. Fortunately his attempt that came in just 15 seconds went wildly out of the ground.
The home side looked much more interested in the opening five minutes but eventually the Pars got forward with Burchill forcing a corner on the left and wining a free kick in a useful position on the right side. Both setpieces from McManus and Glass picked out Hamilton but he could not lay the ball off for any of his team mates.
Another good opportunity came Queens way in 16 minutes when Neil Scally did really well to keep the ball to keep the ball in play just in front of his dugout. The kick found Stephen Dobbie who cut inside from the right to pick out Robertson and Gallacher dropped to his right to save.
The Fifers were pegged back by their hosts and it was a relief that they remained shot shy. In 25 minutes a sharp counterattack yielded a cross from the right that Crawford drove on target from an angle on the left but defender Jim Thomson blocked the 12 yard shot.
The Pars kept up the pressure though with Calum Woods firing over the bar and Burchill being denied a penalty when he tumbled over Jamie McQuilken in the box. Burchill drove a 29th minute shot firmly and low that MacDonald took on his knees at the near post.
Two minutes later however Burchill drive from a similar situation 25 yards out could only be parried by the green shirted stopper and Tam McMANUS was lurking on the edge of the six yard box to turn the ball back on target and in at the right post.
Burchill was looking sharp and turned Aitken in 38 minutes to send in a left footed shot that MacDonald pushed up into the air but the challenges of Hamilton and then Glass couldn`t create the opening that was required.
The half ended with a Stephen Dobbie effort at a 30 yard free kick, that had earned Nick Phinn a yellow card. Again the sights were set too high and the ball sailed into the deserted terracing.
Half Time: Queen of the South 0 Dunfermline 1
The Doonhamers sprang a fright on the Pars in 53rd minute when Aitken`s back header on a Harris long throw from the left ran along the Pars crossbar to be turned behind for a corner. Wilson had some strong words for Woods before the corner was sent over from the right by Harris and Thomson headed over the top.
Next Dobbie took advantage of a Wilson slip to speed forward and release the ball left for David Bingham but Woods stepped in coolly to stroke the ball deep into the box for Gallacher to clear. The home support were on their feet to vent their wrath at the former Pars favourite but they had to feel more optimistic for their second half prospects.
It was the 63rd minute before Dunfermline troubled the Queens defence but Glass` shot from 35 yards was never going to get the better of Jamie MacDonald. Calum Woods let Harris in for another shot on target when a seemingly harmless ball in from the right was allowed to reach the Queens midfielder.
Yet another good chance dropped to Neil McGowan in 67th minute when Dobbie swung the ball wide into the right side of the penalty box. The shot was belted over the crossbar and that was his last involved as QOS subbed with with Brian Gilmour.
An injury to McManus stopped play but also cooled the QOS momentum. On the resumption the ball went back to Gallacher and was immediately fired up the park for Burchill to run on to and the keeper had to be out sharpish to prevent a second Pars goal.
Bizarrely Hamilton stroked the ball into the net after the Queens keeper had tried to prevent the all going out for a corner on the left of his goal but luckily for him the corner had already been indicated. This time McManus found Hamilton and he was able to head the ball back across the box in the direction of Bamba but the tall Ivory Coast man was not tall enough to head home.
There was real drama in the 89th minute when Brian Gilmour making away from goal on the right side of the box was adjudged to have been brought down by Scott Wilson and referee Willie Collum pointed to the spot. Wilson and Glass were both yellow carded for their protests giving Gordon Chisholm time to instruct Stephen Dobbie to take the penalty. He took it right footed to the keeper`s right and Paul Gallacher stretched the right way to pull off his second penalty save for the Pars.
The Pars fans made a great celebration of the save and even though Gilmour drilled a late shot at Gallacher the scenes at the end both on and off the park were joyous. Queens lost their unbeaten home record while Dunfermline clinched their first leaue win on the road in the First Division.
Despite rarely endangering the scoreline in the second half Tam McManus` first half goal was enough to give the Fifers all three points on their first visit to Palmerston Park since November 1988.
SUBS NOT USED: Eric Paton, Steve Grindlay (GK)
YELLOW CARD: Robertson (39)
DUNFERMLINE: Paul Gallacher; Calum Woods, Souleymane Bamba, Scott Wilson, Scott Muirhead; Nick Phinn, Stevie Crawford, Stephen Glass; Tam McManus (Owen Morrison 76), Jim Hamilton, Mark Burchill (Iain Williamson 85).
SUBS NOT USED: Scott McBride, Jim McIntyre, Sean Murdoch (GK)
SCORERS: Burchill (31)
YELLOW CARD: Phinn (45+1)
REFEREE: Willie Collum
WEATHER: Sunny 15°C
ATTENDANCE 2026
NEXT MATCH: (home) v Hamilton Accies, Saturday 20th October, kick off 3.00pm
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Preview Queen of the South
Wednesday, 3rd Oct 2007The Pars have won five of the last ten meetings, QOS only one and that was back in 1986.
Pre Season Friendly at Palmerston Park, Dumfries Season 2004-05
Its over seventeen years since the Pars last came across Queen of the South in competitive matches. Back on 28th August 1990 the Dumfries side knocked the Pars out of the Scottish League Cup by two goals to one at East End Park. The Pars goal that night scored by current Gretna Manager Davie Irons.
There have been 60 meetings between the clubs with the Fifers having won 28, QOS 21 and 11 have been drawn. Dunfermline won their last league win there but returned for Davie Hay`s second pre season friendly in 2004-05 at drew 1-1. Only Shields, Wilson, Thomson and Labonte remain at East End from the 15 used that day.
|
Milestones v Queen of the South (away) | |||
|
Last League Victory |
21/03/89 |
2-0 |
Div One |
|
Last League Defeat |
05/04/86 |
1-3 |
Div Two |
|
Best League Victory |
14/04/82 |
3-0 |
Div One |
|
Worst League Defeat |
13/12/75 |
2-5 |
Div One |
It sixth v seventh with Dunfermline a place higher by virtue of a superior goal difference.
| Queen of the South | Dunfermline |
| Current League Position | |
| 7 | 6 |
| Last Six League Form | |
| LWWDLD | DWDDLW |
| League Points | |
| 9 | 9 |
| Goal Difference | |
| -2 | -1 |
The Pars have won five of the last ten meetings, QOS only one and that was back in 1986.
Last Ten League Matches v Queen of the South | ||||
|
Date |
H/A |
F-A |
W D L |
League |
| 21/03/89 | A | 2-0 | W | Scottish Division One |
| 12/11/88 | A | 0-0 | D | Scottish Division One |
| 10/09/88 | H | 4-2 | W | Scottish Division One |
| 25/04/87 | H | 1-0 | W | Scottish Division One |
| 24/01/87 | A | 2-1 | W | Scottish Division One |
| 15/11/86 | H | 2-2 | D | Scottish Division One |
| 20/09/86 | A | 1-1 | D | Scottish Division One |
| 05/04/86 | A | 1-3 | L | Scottish Division Two |
| 09/11/85 | H | 2-1 | W |
Scottish Division Two |
| 07/09/86 | A | 0-0 | D | Scottish Division Two |
This is the final fixture of the first quarter. Dunfermline have yet to win away in the league this season and Queen of the South are unbeaten at home this season.
| League Form this season | ||||
| Queen of the South Home |
D Stirling Albion 2-2 |
D Clyde 1-1 |
W Livingston 1-0 |
D St Johnstone 3-3 |
| Dunfermline Away |
L |
D |
D Livingson 1-1 |
L Hamilton 1-2 |
Last Time Out
DUNFERMLINE (v Ayr United): Paul Gallacher; Scott Thomson (Scott McBride HT), Souleymane Bamba, Scott Wilson, Stephen Glass; Tam McManus, Stephen Simmons (Jim Hamilton 79), Nick Phinn, Owen Morrison; Iain Williamson, Jim McIntyre (Mark Burchill 62).
SUBS: Sean Murdoch, John McCulloch.
QUEEN OF THE SOUTH (v Stirling Albion): Jamie MacDonald; Eric Paton, Jamie McQuilken, Jim Thomson, Neil McGowan, Neil MacFarlane, Brian Gilmour, Steven Tosh (Jon O`Neill 62), Neil Scally, Shaun O`Connor, David Bingham (Scott Robertson 81), Stephen Dobbie
SUBS NOT USED: Robert Harris, Steve Grindlay
David Bingham is currently on loan to QOS from Gretna. He is now 37 years of age and his former clubs are St Johnstone, Forfar Athletic, Dunfermline Athletic, Livingston and Inverness Caley Thistle. Twelve years ago the Pars paid Forfar £100,000 for his services. He played 64 matches as a Par and scored 13 goals.
Referee will be Willie Collum, always to be remembered by Pars fans for his Christmas Saturday handling of the SPL match at home to Caley Thistle last season. He was in charge of the Challenge Cup tie when Dunfermline defeated Clyde 4-1 earlier this season. In ten games this season he has shown 38 yellows and four reds.
C`mon Ye Pars!
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