Dunfermline 0 Queen’s Park 0

cinch Championship: Sam Fisher and Chris Hamilton start in place of Ewan Otoo and Joe Chalmers

For the return of Queen’s Park Manager James McPake brought in Sam Fisher and Chris Hamilton in place of Joe Chalmers and Ewan Otoo, the latter out with a knee jury sustained in the match against Airdrieonians the previous week.

Former Par, Dom Thomas returned for Callum Davidson’s Glasgow side which also saw the return of Charlie Fox and two further changes as Stuart McKinstry and Zach Mauchin started. The visitors sat ninth on 36 points while Dunfermline were four places above them on 42 points. With nine points left to play for, a win for the Pars would see them clear of the play-off place at the foot of the table but a win for Queen’s Park would take them above Inverness Caley Thistle and leave the home side still not assured of their Championship status.

The Spiders kicked off playing into the sun and so attacking the goal at the McCathie Stand end. First attempt on goal came in fifth minute when a Josh Edwards cross found Miles Welch-Hayes 12 yards out but his on target header was cleared.

Three minutes later a Matty Todd pass sent Welch-Hayes up the right and his cut back allowed Chris Kane to shoot but the ball went wide left. Right away Lewis McCann was presented with a chance but his effort was stopped by the advancing Queen’s goalkeeper, Calum Ferrie.

Queen’s Park then had two chances of their own. Firstly in 17 minutes Thomas cut the ball across the face of goal and thankfully Mauchin was closed out at the far post. Three minutes later Ruari Paton fed McKinstry a chance on the left side of the box but he delayed his execution and his effort was blocked.

A Sean Welsh challenge on Kane earned the Pars a 26th minute free kick 35 yards out on the right side. Edwards went over to deliver a dangerous cross into the Queen’s box and although Welch-Hayes headed the ball down the defence cleared. Ferrie then held a header from Malachi Fagan-Walcott as he got on the end of an Edwards long throw.

Queens overhit a 36th minute free kick and two minutes later after a crucial block by Hamilton, a corner kick from the left was swept away by Kane. The visitors had certainly got their game going and the home crowd were growing increasingly frustrated. A McCann pass picked out Todd who quickly touched it on to Kane on the edge of the box but his attempts to play a one-two were dashed by the defence.

The half time whistle was delayed after Jack Thomson required treatment from the physio but he returned and his first action was a weak back pass that Kane almost cashed in on but the keeper blocked. In the first minute of time added on Kane put Todd through on the right but he blasted a shot that cleared the crossbar.

Half time: Dunfermline 0 Queen’s Park 0

Kane Ritchie-Hosler was pushed up for the second half with Matty Todd switched to play in the middle beside Hamilton. Just a minute into the first half Fagan-Walcott injured himself in his attempt to get on an Edwards cross into the near post. After treatment the big Londoner was able to return.

Welch-Hayes forced Dunfermline’s first corner of the game in 55 minutes but when Edwards swung the ball in from the right the on-loan Livingston player’s header cleared the crossbar. McCann burst through four minutes later but the defence tracked back to deny him. As play switched to the other end Ruari Paton smashed an effort over the bar from 20 yards out. Then in 62 minutes Deniz Mehmet made a fantastic save as he held a McKinstry shot from close in.

Queen’s Park earned another corner in 65 minutes when Longridge’s cross deflected behind off two Dunfermline heads. That was defended with Edwards quick thinking sending Todd up the park with little defence in front of him but he was forced right and slipped as he tried to pick out Kane and the opportunity was lost.

Alex Jakubiak was introduced midway through the second half with Miles Welch-Hayes making way for him. Next an Edwards cross from the right was deflected net bound but Ferrie yet again denied the Fifers.

A mix up in defence ended up with Hamilton putting in a last ditch tackle that earned him a yellow card and Queen’s a free kick 24 yards out. Paton took responsibility for the set play. The striker’s shot cleared the five man strong wall and hit the stantion on the right holding up the net.

Brad Holmes came on for Lewis McCann for the final ten minutes. Continuing with three strikers Jakubiak crossed from the left but too high for Holmes at the back post. A Pars corner from the right was defended and then in 89 minutes Kane headed dramatically over the bar when a long throw in from Edwards was edged towards him.

Time ran out for both sides, neither would be happy with just one point and so it is on to next week when Dunfermline are at home to Inverness Caley Thistle. Queen’s Park travel to play already doomed Arbroath.