Dunfermline 4 Queen of the South 0
Saturday, 26th Apr 2008Curtain drops on the First Division season with a satisfying four nil victory
With fourth place out of grasp for Dunfermline, Manager Jim McIntyre made three changes from the side that lost the previous week at Cappielow; Scott Morrison, Iain Williamson and Mark Burchill replacing Stevie Crawford, Scott Muirhead and Darren Young. The bench included two seventeen year olds and 16 year old Paul Willis for this the final fixture of the season.
Gordon Chisholm also rung the changes for Queen of the South with only six of the team that started against Dundee in their last match starting against Dunfermline. Steve Grindlay played in goals instead of Jamie MacDonald. Jamie McQuilken, Stevie Tosh, Stephen Dobbie and Jim Lauchlan started in place of Robert Harris, Ryan McCann, Andy Aitken and John Stewart.
There was a huge and very vocal travelling support from Dumfries, many in fancy dress and all in party mood ahead of their Cup Final date with Rangers. The visitors kicked off attacking the goal in front of the less than half full McCathie Stand and forced an early corner when Scott Wilson was forced to turn a Paul Burns cross behind. That was cleared despite the attempts of O`Connor and Robertson to latch on to the delivery.
The Pars first showing was in eight minutes when Burchill headed a long ball up the left into the path of Alex Burke and he then placed a decent cross in to McIntyre 12 yards out but his attempt was taken comfortably by Grindlay, dropping to his right. It was another eight minutes before Grindlay had to be quickly out to hold a Morrison lob from halfway that McIntyre threatened to meet.
Queens forced several corners and enjoyed too much possession while for the Pars, Burke got the only opportunity to shoot but was well off target. Stevie Tosh dinked a useful ball deep into the Pars box and O`Connor was unlucky not to get on the end of it as he ran in.
In 25th minute Burchill fired a shot on target from 20 yards but that was blocked and then it was back to the other end with Dobbie`s shot from an O`Connor lay off suffering the same fate. Six minutes later Tosh released a fine pass that allowed Burns to take to the byeline but he cut back went to Thomson.
O`Connor then missed a good chance when Burns again found ground on the right to send in yet another good ball. Scott Robertson got an even better one just ten minutes from the interval breaking through the middle on to a through ball. He struck the ball well enough from 20 yards out but it sailed wide left.
It would have been a travesty for the Dumfries side had they gone in one down but they had the referee to thank for deeming Burchill`s challenge on Lauchlan in the D illegal. The departing striker despatched the ball beyond Grindlay but it didn`t count. The home side did force their first corner kick of the game in 42 minutes but Glass failed to find the delivery that was going to trouble the tall blue defence.
Gallacher was called upon to stop a good Burns chance and then Dobbie shot wide before a howl of boos from the home end greeted the half time whistle.
Half Time: Dunfermline 0 Queen of the South 0
After a less than exciting Pars performance a large element of those in hospitality were slow to return to their seats after the half time goodies and they missed Scott THOMSON`s first goal for the club since October 2004. It was just the Pars 33rd league goal of this campaign but at least the Testimonial man was delighted with his finish.
Dunfermline had gone to 3-5-2 in 47th minute with Sol Bamba coming on for the Manager. They won a corner on the right and all three central defenders went forward. Glass`s corner was defended but the ball was swung back into the Queens box where Wilson challenged for it only to deflect it for the awaiting Nipper at the back post who netted with a lifted ball into the far side of the net.
With their tails up it looked a different Athletic now and Scott Morrison sent in a cross that Grindlay came out bravely to take at Williamson`s feet. Then in 56th minute Grindlay could do little to stop a fine turn in by WILLIAMSON just five yards out, on the end of a Woods cross.
Six minutes later Dunfermline were three up. Morrison was blocked on the left and from the resultant free kick BURCHILL popped up at the far post the head home. Williamson limped off with what looked like a hamstring injury making way for 16 year old Paul Willis.
Stephen Glass was assisted off in 72nd minute and the U19 team centre back Stuart Dearden came on for his first team debut. Phinn had an opportunity that he thrashed wide right as the Cup Finalists appeared to have given up.
Next chance came to Willis and he should really have had something to celebrate after Phinn`s pass out to the right was collected by Burchill and then played along the six yard line. Somehow a last ditch tackle spoiled the younster`s day.
The home support roared as Sol Bamba took on the QOS defence and having worked his way deep hit a low drive that Lauchlan diverted behind for a corner. The fourth Pars goal (don`t often write that!) arrived five minutes from full time. Phinn provided the ball from the right that BURCHILL converted at an acute angle with much aplomb.
DUNFERMLINE: Paul Gallacher; Calum Woods, Scott Wilson (c), Scott Thomson, Scott Morrison; Nick Phinn, Iain Williamson (Paul Willis 68), Stephen Glass (Stuart Dearden 72), Alex Burke; Mark Burchill, Jim McIntyre (Souleymayne Bamba 47)SUBS NOT USED: Ryan Thomson, Sean Murdoch (GK)
SCORERS: S Thomson (48), Williamson (56), Burchill (62, 85)
QUEEN OF THE SOUTH: Steve Grindlay Craig Reid, Jim Thomson, Jim Lauchlan, Jamie McQuilken; Paul Burns (Jon O`Neill 60), Steven Tosh, Scott Robertson, Brian Gilmour; Shaun O`Connor (Eric Paton 75), Stephen Dobbie (John Stewart 55).
SUBS NOT USED: Jamie MacDonald, Neil MacFarlane.
REFEREE: John McKendrick
WEATHER: Sunny 15°C
ATTENDANCE 3444
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Preview Queen of the South
Wednesday, 23rd Apr 2008All these QOS players will be trying their very best to win a Scottish Cup Final start so no one should expect a typical lacklustre end of season affair with very little at stake
Everyone was hoping that the visit of the Scottish Cup Finalists would be a fourth place decider but following last Saturday`s disastrous defeat at Cappielow, Dunfermline now trail Gordon Chisholm`s side by four points and so are out of touch. Queens will no doubt get a warm welcome however, since their Semi Final victory over Jimmy Calderwood`s Aberdeen was possibly enjoyed just as much in Dunfermline as it was in Dumfries.
It is almost eighteen years since Queen of the South last won at East End Park. Then on 28th August 1990 the Dumfries side knocked the Pars out of the Scottish League Cup by two goals to one. The Pars goal that night scored by current Morton Manager Davie Irons.
| Pars v Queen of the South: The Full League Record | ||||||
| P | W | D | L | F | A | |
| At East End Park | 26 | 18 | 5 | 3 | 67 | 27 |
| At Palmerston Park | 30 | 9 | 5 | 16 | 36 | 54 |
| Division One (before 1975) | 16 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 31 | 25 |
| Division Two (before 1975) | 16 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 35 | 31 |
| First Division (since 1975) | 16 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 28 | 20 |
| Second Division (since 1975) | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 5 |
| TOTALS | 56 | 27 | 10 | 19 | 103 | 81 |
In the league Queens have only won three times and two of these were over 76 years ago in the old Division Two. The last league defeat at the hands of the Dumfries team was in season 1955-56. Since then Dunfermline have won nine and drawn five.
|
Milestones v Queen of the South (home) | |||
|
Last League Victory |
22/12/07 |
First Division | |
|
Last League Defeat |
24/09/55 |
0-1 |
Div One (old) |
|
Best League Victory |
30/12/72 |
6-1 |
Div One (old) |
|
Worst League Defeat |
08/03/30 |
0-2 |
Div Two (old) |
The Pars have won six of the last eight league meetings and are unbeaten in the last ten.
Last Twelve League Matches v Queen of the South | ||||
|
Date |
H/A |
F-A |
W D L |
League |
| 15/03/08 | A | 1-1 | D | First Division |
| 22/12/07 | H | 2-0 | W | First Division |
| 06/10/07 | A | 1-0 | W | First Division |
| 21/03/89 | A | 2-0 | W | First Division |
| 12/11/88 | A | 0-0 | D | First Division |
| 10/09/88 | H | 4-2 | W | First Division |
| 25/04/87 | H | 1-0 | W | First Division |
| 24/0187 | A | 2-1 | W | First Division |
| 15/11/86 | H | 2-2 | D | First Division |
| 20/09/86 | A | 1-1 | D | First Division |
| 05/04/86 | A | 1-3 | L | First Division |
| 09/11/85 | H | 2-1 | W | First Division |
The Pars are three points clear of Partick Thistle in sixth but need a draw to be certain of fifth place. Morton travel to Firhill seeking points to keep them out of the play off spot but Clyde, who are equal on points with the Greenock men are at home to the already relegated Stirling Albion.
| Dunfermline | Queen of the South |
| Current League Position | |
| 5 | 4 |
| League form: Last Six Games | |
| LLDLDD | WDLDWW |
| League Points | |
| 48 | 52 |
| Goal Difference | |
| -9 | +8 |
| Home/Away Record | |
| P17, W6, D5, L6 | P17, W5, D4, L8 |
Current Form
A victory in the last home match against Clyde was a welcome break for Dunfermline after four games without a win. The southern opponents drew at Stirling and lost at Livingston in their last two away league games but as Cup Finalists they will be buzzing and certainly will not be lacking in confidence. But then all these QOS players will be trying their very best to win a Scottish Cup Final start so no one should expect a typical lacklustre end of season affair with very little at stake.
| Recent Form | ||||||
| Dunfermline Home | Queen of the South Away | |||||
| Clyde | W | 2-1 | Stirling Albion | D | 0-0 | |
| Dundee | L | 0-1 | Livingston | L | 0-1 | |
| Hamilton | D | 1-1 | Clyde | W | 4-1 | |
| Livingston | D | 1-1 | St Johnstone | L | 1-2 | |
| Partick Thistle | D | 1-1 | Partick Thistle | D |
0-0 | |
Last Time Out
DUNFERMLINE (v Morton): Paul Gallacher; Calum Woods, Scott Wilson (c), Scott Thomson, Scott Muirhead; Nick Phinn, Darren Young (Stephen Simmons 71), Stephen Glass, Alex Burke (Souleymayne Bamba 60); Stevie Crawford (Mark Burchill 63), Jim McIntyre.
SUBS NOT USED: Sean Murdoch (GK), Iain Williamson
QUEEN OF THE SOUTH (v Dundee): Jamie MacDonald; Robert Harris, Craig Reid, Andy Aitken, Jim Thomson, Ryan McCann, Brian Gilmour, Scott Robertson, Paul Burns; Shaun O`Connor (Jon O`Neill 77), John Stewart (Stephen Dobbie 68).
SUBS NOT USED: Steve Grindlay, Steven Tosh, Jamie McQuilken,
Referee will be John McKendrick.
C`mon Ye Pars!
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