Queen of the South 0 Dunfermline 2

cinch League One: Joe Chalmers starts in Chris Hamilton. Nikolay Todorov (19) 0-1: Rhys Breen (45+1) 0-2: Deniz Mehmet penalty save (53) 0-2:

A commanding first half performance earned the Pars an important victory at Palmerston Park.

Dunfermline travelled to Dumfries to meet the club in League One who they have played most in recent times. Those meetings were in the Championship and this was a game that both wanted so much to win in their efforts to get back to where they came from.

James McPake made one change from the side that drew with Airdrieonians the previous week with Joe Chalmers coming in for Chris Hamilton. Queen of the South manager Wullie Gibson named the same eleven that played Rangers on Tuesday night at Ibrox in the Premier Sports Cup. Former Pars Harry Cochrane and Gavin Reilly started and Iain Wilson was on the bench.

The home side kicked off as light rain dampened Palmerston Park but Nikolay Todorov engaged the Queens keeper Max Currie within 38 seconds heading a Kyle Macdonald cross on target but with little behind it. Currie was in action to turn a Josh Edwards shot around his left hand post but when the fifth minute corner was delivered Rhys Breen has penalise for climbing at the back post.

Two minutes later the sting was taken out of a Chris Mochrie shot by Stephen Hendrie and Currie gathered. It had been all Dunfermline for the first ten minutes with Breen and then Todd having attempts to net from a long Edwards throw in. Mochrie won an 11th minute corner and Chalmers took that short and Macdonald arrived to connect but he hit his effort over the crossbar.

Chalmers popped a longer range effort over that bar before just reward for all their pressure earned the Fifers the opener. Macdonald provided the cross and TODOROV rose about his defender to deflect the ball home. The striker’s fifth goal of the season, 19 minutes on the clock and the visitors one up.

In 26 minutes Macdonald exchanged passes with Matty Todd out on the right before edging his way into the Queens box and surprised the defence by smacking a strong effort just outside the far post. The Dumfries side’s first effort came from left back Hendrie and many in the home stand thought he had scored but he ended his run up the left with a low effort that went wide left.

Macdonald got even closer when his 34th minute shot was kept out by the right goalpost. The rebound evaded Todorov but O’Hara was able to gather and crash a low shot on target from 15 yards out but the keeper kept the ball out. Todd connected when Ciaran McKenna swung a cross in from the right but the attempt was way off target.

There was a really good chance from a Mochrie breakaway but although he pulled out a good shot it was not enough to beat the advancing Currie who grabbed the net bound ball. Then after David Mackay was shown yellow in conceding a free kick 25 yards out on the right side, the Fifers converted from the setplay in the first minute of time added on.

It was not without controversy however since the assistant referee raised his flag for offside. Rhys BREEN had slid in to net at the far post to meet Chalmers delivery and after referee Stewart Luke consulted his linesman he awarded the goal it being deemed that the ball reached Rhys off Cochrane, an opposition player. Following the previous week’s disallowed goal Breen was eventually able to celebrate.

The two goal lead at the interval was no less than Dunfermline deserved, they had played the better game, completed more passes while enjoying 59% first half possession and made 11 shots to their hosts two.

Half time: Queen of the South 0 Dunfermline 2

Queen of the South freshened things up for the second half going three at the back with wing backs matching up to Dunfermline. Rico Quitongo came on for Harry Cochrane before the second half got underway. The Queens sub was yellow carded within five minutes of his introduction for a robust tackle on Mochrie and the Doonhamers showed a bit more bite with Ruari Paton making a dangerous break.

Breen covered back to make a timely tackle but in 52nd minute his tackle on Reilly clipped the Queens striker and the home side were awarded a penalty. Paton stepped up and struck a firm, low shot to the left side of the goal where Deniz Mehmet dived and turned the ball around his right hand post.

Lewis McCann was the first Dunfermline sub replacing Kevin O’Hara in 58 minutes. Lewis first involved earned a free kick on the left apex of the home penalty area and when Mochrie took the setplay he forced Currie to save the on target effort. Having ridden the early second half enthusiasm from Queen of the South, Dunfermline were beginning to control the match again and Edwards was unlucky when after a run up the left his cut back only found an opponent.

With 63 minutes on the clock Wullie Gibson decided that it was time for him to enter the fray replacing Ruari Paton at the same time as Connor Murray came on for Ciaran McKenna. Little changed with Todorov presented with another headed chance that was just too high.

Further Queens subs saw Iain Wilson and Michael Ruth come on for Calvin McGrory and Lee Connelly, and then Sam Fisher making his Dunfermline debut in replacing Kyle Macdonald seven minutes from the end. In between Mehmet made a fine save from Ruth’s first close in attempt.

The home side pressed for what would only have been a consolation goal but the Pars saw the match out to go top of the table as a consequence of Airdrieonians heavy home defeat to FC Edinburgh.

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