Queen of the South 0 Dunfermline 1

Pars 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.