Dunfermline 1 Queen of the South 2

Friday, 29th Apr 2022

cinch Championship: five changes as Todd, Donaldson, Thomas, Polworth and O’Hara return. Josh Edwards (6) 1-0: Joe Chalmers o.g. (51) 1-1: Darragh O’Connor (71) 1-2:

The play offs were always the most likely outcome from this evening but to lose the final home league match of the season was a bitter pill for players and supporters alike.

Queen of the South will be playing in League One next season after their relegation was confirmed on Saturday with their 1-1 draw at home to Ayr United. Dunfermline’s task in this the last Championship fixture of the season was to avoid joining them there. The Pars in ninth had to better Ayr United’s result against Partick Thistle but a win for the home side at Somerset Park would send Dunfermline into the Championship play offs.

John Hughes reverted to his starting eleven that defeated Ayr United in the previous home match. Matty Todd, Coll Donaldson, Dom Thomas, Liam Polworth and Kevin O’Hara returned as Aaron Comrie, Leon Jones, Rhys Breen, Lewis McCann and Nikolay Todorov dropped out.

Willie Gibson’s Queens made one change with Ruari Paton starting in place of Ruben Soares Junior. The visitors entered the field from the East Stand but in marked contrast a large and vociferous home support welcomed their side who sprinted on to the park.

An extra large banner paid tribute to retiring Chairman Ross McArthur - “One of our Own” before play got underway with the Dumfries side attacking the goal in front of the McCathie Stand.

Lee Connelly flashed the ball across the Pars six yard box within 35 seconds but it was the home side that would take the early lead. O’Hara struck the ball wide to Todd and the 20 year old’s cross found Josh EDWARDS. His first effort was blocked by Willie Gibson bur Steven Lawless fed it back to him and his second attempt from six yards evaded both the keeper and a defender on the line. 1-0

Almost at the same time Aaron Muirhead converted a penalty for Ayr United to put them one up against Partick.

Edwards movement forward to pick out Polworth on the left side of the box nearly yielded a second. The cut back was perfect for the defender’s left foot put he pulled his shot 17th minute narrowly wide. Next minute Lawless fought his way deep into the Queens box and when the ball landed for O’Hara he tried to pass into the net and his effort was cleared.

The visitors were forced into a substitution at the midpoint of the half when Euan East was unable to continue and Roberto Nditi came on in his place. Queens forced a couple of corners on the right but they were unable to make anything of them.

Jakub Stolarczyk was forced to fist away a Connelly shot after the 22 year old had capitalised on a misplaced Efe Ambrose pass out of defence.

At the other end O’Hara’s 38th minute effort was deflected for a corner on the right but unfortunately that changed nothing. Edwards next created another opportunity for O’Hara in the Queens box but that was closed out. Then O’Hara raced in but just failed to turn in a Polworth ball to the left post.

It was a first half in which Dunfermline created several chances but took only one. The news from Somerset Park did not help, the home side 2-0 up.

Half time: Dunfermline 1 Queen of the South 0

Dunfermline came out of the traps fast forcing two early corners on the left but it was Queens who would get the next goal. A 51st minute Gibson free kick from the right was met by CHALMERS at the far post and he headed into his own net instead of out for a corner. 1-1

A 54th minute penalty appeal when Polworth was floored in the box was waved away by referee David Munro and there were ironic jeers from the crowd when a free kick was next awarded in the Pars favour. Thomas fired the free kick in and Ambrose’s attempt was kept out by the left upright before the offside flag was raised.

Thomas had a shot from the edge of the box blocked before in 63 minute he dispossessed Darragh O’Connor on the left and produced a great cross that O’Hara slid in to guide on target only for keeper Josh Rae to tip over his bar.

Graham Dorrans replaced Dan Pybus but it was the visitors who made the difference scoring from a 71st corner. It was swung in from the right by Connelly and O’CONNOR netted with a right footed shot at the far post past his former Leicester City team mate in the Fifers goal. 1-2

Lewis McCann and Bobby Kamwa were late subs and both came close. McCann from a Thomas cross and then Kamwa after controlling the ball on the left side of the box and sending his shot narrowly wide right.

The 3-1 scoreline at Ayr meant the play offs were assured long before the final whistle. A sad end to the league fixtures.

DUNFERMLINE: Jakub Stolarczyk: Matthew Todd, Efe Ambrose, Coll Donaldson (Lewis McCann 78), Josh Edwards: Dan Pybus (Graham Dorrans 66), Joe Chalmers: Steven Lawless (c), Liam Polworth, Dom Thomas (Bobby Kamwa 84): Kevin O’Hara,
SUBS NOT USED: Aaron Comrie, Nikolay Todorov, Ryan Dow, Rhys Breen, Reece Cole, Deniz Mehmet (GK)
SCORERS: Edwards (6)
YELLOW CARD: McCann (79)

QUEEN OF THE SOUTH: Josh Rae: Willie Gibson, Darragh O`Connor, Euan East (Roberto Nditi 22), Alex Cooper: Lee Connelly, Harry Cochrane (Niyah Joseph 59), Calvin McGrory, Josh Todd (c): Innes Cameron, Ruari Paton.
SUBS NOT USED: Shea Gordon, Sam Folarin, Kieran McKechnie, Ruben Soares Junior, Matthew Henderson, Charlie Cowie (GK)
SCORERS: Chalmers o.g. (51), O’Connor (71)
YELLOW CARD: Nditi (75), Rae (76)

REFEREE: David Munro
WEATHER: Dry 13°C
ATTENDANCE 5406

NEXT MATCH: Wednesday May 4, cinch Championship play-off semi-final, 1st leg (away) v Queen’s Park, kick-off 7.45pm at Firhill

50/50 Half Time draw winning ticket number – 01063 Prize amount - £900


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Preview Queen of the South

Friday, 29th Apr 2022

cinch Championship (home) v Queen of the South, Friday 29th April 2022, kick off 7.45pm

The last fixture of the Championship season and it’s ninth placed Dunfermline versus tenth placed Queen of the South. While the visitors had the seal placed on their relegation last Saturday, the home side can escape the Championship play offs if they can better Ayr United’s result at home to Partick Thistle. Manager John Hughes says "We`re going into a game on Friday where we know what`s at stake, we have to take care of business.

"I send all my commiserations to Queen of the South, every time we`ve played them, they`ve been a fantastic opponent, and we`re just hoping that on Friday, we can win the points, and the results go for us elsewhere.”

Milestones Queen of the South (Home)


Last Victory | 17/04/21 | 3-1 | Championship

Last Defeat | 20/10/18 | 0-1 | Championship

Best Victory
30/12/72 | 6-1 | Div One (old)
16/04/11 | 6-1 | First Division

Worst Defeat | 09/12/17 | 2-5 | Championship

Last Goalless Draw | 01/09/76 | 0-0 | League Cup

First Ever Meeting | 12/12/25 | 4-0 | Second Division



Dunfermline have lost only eight of 44 league games at home to Queen of the South. They have won 28 and drawn eight. 



Last Meeting at East End Park
Cinch Championship

Dunfermline 3-3 Queen of the South
Sat, 11th Dec 2021

Queens took an early lead in third minute when Lee Connelly broke and played Josh Todd into the left side of the Dunfermline penalty box and from the byeline he cut back for Alex COOPER to drill home 0-1

On 20 minutes Macdonald’s bravery won a free kick on the edge of the box. Kai KENNEDY curled the ball around the five man wall and found the net in off the right goalpost, his first and only Dunfermline goal made it 1-1.

The second half started the same way as the first with the home side losing a goal within three minutes. A weak pass back set up Cameron to break down the left channel and slip the ball right to Lee CONNELLY whose shot from 20 yards out flew into the Pars net. 1-2



Kennedy was brought down by Nditi 27 yards out as the on loan Ranger made an attempt to break through what was becoming an increasingly solid Queens team. From the 54th minute free kick Kennedy picked out Mark CONNOLLY in front of goal and his header marked his one and only goal for Dunfermline. 2-2

Queens took the lead for a third time when Johnston sent a 65th minute corner in from the left and CAMERON rose above everyone to head in from five yards out. 2-3

Two minutes from time Kennedy’s corner from the left was glanced in by Lewis McCANN for a well received equaliser.

DUNFERMLINE: Owain Fôn Williams: Aaron Comrie, Mark Connolly, Rhys Breen, Josh Edwards: Graham Dorrans (c): Kyle Macdonald (Dan Pybus 57), Ryan Dow (Nikolay Todorov 70), Matthew Todd (Kevin O’Hara 57), Kai Kennedy: Lewis McCann
SUBS NOT USED: Ross Graham, Craig Wighton, Paul Allan, Deniz Mehmet (GK)

QUEEN OF THE SOUTH: Solomon Brynn: Max Johnston, Willie Gibson (c), Euan East, Alex Cooper (Ally Roy 84): Calvin McGrory, Ruari Paton, Innes Cameron, Lee Connelly, Josh Todd, Roberto Nditi.
SUBS NOT USED: Kieran McKechnie, Niyah Joseph, Ruben Soares Junior, Josh Rae (GK).

Last Twelve League Matches v Queen of the South



In the last twelve meetings, Dunfermline have won six, Queen of the South three and three have been drawn including the most recent at East End Park in December.



Date: . . H/A WDL F-A League

29/01/22: (A) | W | 2-0 | Championship
11/12/21: (H) | D | 3-3 | Championship

02/10/21: (A) | L | 0-1 | Championship

17/04/21: (H) | W | 3-1 | Championship

27/02/21: (A) | L | 0-1 | Championship 

31/10/20: (H) | W | 3-2 | Championship

07/03/20: (H) | D | 1-1 | Championship

01/02/20: (A) | W | 3-2 | Championship

02/11/19: (H) | W | 2-0 | Championship

10/08/19: (A) | D | 1-1 | Championship 

20/04/19: (A) | L | 1-2 | Championship 

02/03/19: (H) | W | 1-0 | Championship



Recent Form

Dunfermline have won three and lost three of their last six matches. Queen of the South have won one, drawn one and lost four of their last six fixtures but they have recorded only one away league win in 2022 while the Pars are unbeaten at home in 2022.

Last six matches



DUNFERMLINE

Partick Thistle (A) L 0-1

Ayr United (H) W 2-1

Kilmarnock (A) L 0-2

Raith Rovers (H) W 2-0

Inverness Caledonian Thistle (A) L 0-2

Partick Thistle (H) W 4-1



QUEEN OF THE SOUTH

Ayr United (H) D 1-1
Inverness Caledonian Thistle (H) W 2-1
Arbroath (A) L 1-5
Partick Thistle (H) L 0-1
Raith Rovers (A) L 1-3
Hamilton Academical (A) L 0-1


League Record



DUNFERMLINE

League Position: 9th

League Points: 35

Goal Difference: -16

Home League Record: P17 W5 D8 L4 GF21 GA22

Last Six Match Form: WLWLWL


QUEEN OF THE SOUTH

League Position: 10th

League Points: 30

Goal Difference: -19

Away League Record: P17 W3 D4 L10 GF22 GA 34

Last Six Match Form: LLLLWD

Last Time Out

DUNFERMLINE (v Partick Thistle): Jakub Stolarczyk: Aaron Comrie (Matthew Todd 76), Leon Jones (Liam Polworth 76), Efe Ambrose, Rhys Breen, Josh Edwards: Dan Pybus (Dom Thomas 82): Steven Lawless (c), Joe Chalmers, Lewis McCann (Kevin O’Hara 76), Nikolay Todorov.
SUBS NOT USED: Ryan Dow, Miller Fenton, Reece Cole, Bobby Kamwa, Neil Alexander (GK)

QUEEN OF THE SOUTH (v Ayr United): Josh Rae: Willie Gibson, Darragh O`Connor, Euan East, Alex Cooper, Lee Connelly, Harry Cochrane (Shea Gordon 65), Calvin McGrory (Sam Folarin 88), Josh Todd, Innes Cameron, Ruben Soares Junior (Ruari Paton 57)
SUBS NOT USED: Josh Debayo, Niyah Joseph, Kieran McKechnie, Roberto Nditi, Mattyew Henderson, Charlie Cowie (GK)

Referee will be David Munro, his fourth Pars match this season and his second visit to East End Park. Most fans will remember this referee for showing Graham Dorrans a red card at Hamilton in December.

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