QUEEN OF THE SOUTH 0 DUNFERMLINE 2

Saturday, 25th Feb 2023

cinch League One: two changes as Joe Chalmers and Nikolay Todorov start in place of Chris Hamilton and Robbie Mahon. Craig Wighton (22) 0-1: Josh Todd (o.g.47) 0-2:

Dunfermline Athletic returned to Palmerston Park to take on a Queen of the South side now under the managership of Marvin Bartley. By his own admission Queens had mixed performances of late, the most recent a 3-0 defeat at Kelty but he relished the test provided by this meeting at home to the league leaders.

Both sides made two changes to their starting elevens. James McPake went with Joe Chalmers and Nikolay Todorov which meant Chris Hamilton and Robbie Mahon dropped to the bench. Martin Bartley brought in Cammy Logan and Kieran McKechnie in the absence of Paul McKay and Lewis Gibson who was on the bench.

The Fifers kicked off attacking the goal at the stand end and the match opened in competitive manner. Jaze Kabia was penalised for his challenge on Deniz Mehmet as he tried to finish a McKechnie cross and in six minutes Chris Mochrie drove a shot narrow wide right from 18 yards out.

Josh Edwards delivered a dangerous ball in from the left that Kane Ritchie-Hosler fed to Craig Wighton in the middle of the Queens box but the striker was closed out and could not get a shot away. Play halted for an injury to Kabia, treatment failed to remedy his injury so Lewis Gibson was brought on as a 15th minute sub for the home team.

Todorov came close to making a telling finish on Edwards 20th minute cross but two minutes later it was Ritchie-Hosler’s run up the right that created the opening for WIGHTON to net despite the efforts of defender Jack Brydon to keep it out. 0-1

A McKechnie cross in from the right was met by Ruari Paton but his header at the far post was misdirected. Next a Gibson ball in from the left saw McKechnie head on target and Mehmet had to drop to his left to hold.

The Fifers next attempt came from Matty Todd who travelled up the left, cut in and blasted a right footed shot over from the edge of the box. At the other end Mehmet palmed behind a Josh Todd effort for a corner which he subsequently held. Then Mochrie broke up the visitors left but unfortunately he sent his shot just wide of the far post.

Good link up by Queens got Stephen Hendry close enough for a pop at goal but that went over the bar. The home side kept up the pressure seeking an equaliser before the break. Mehmet held from a Murray free kick before Comrie was up to try a shot that rebounded off Josh Todd.

Chalmers cleared another McKechnie cross and Murray’s 45th minute corner from the right led to another and some resolute defending before the completion of just over two minutes of time added on. Despite being less than convincing, the Pars went in ahead having had 59% possession but trailing the hosts on shots.

Half Time: Queen of the South 0 Dunfermline 1

The Pars second half got off to the best possible start. Comrie’s attempted cross was deflected behind for a 47th minute corner on the right. Chalmers crossed and Kyle Benedictus challenged for the ball, it broke off Josh TODD and in off the crossbar to make it 2-0 from six yards out.

In tenth minute of the second half new loan signing Paul McGowan replaced Chris Mochrie. A slick move with Wighton picking out Ritchie-Hosler saw Edwards arrived on the left side of the Queens box but his screamer was high. Wighton then had the ball in the home net but that was ruled out since Todorov had taken out both Euan East and his keeper, Kevin Dabrowski in taking down the ball.

Wighton’s 62nd minute pass picked out Todd in front of goal but Dabrowsk saved. Queens defended another Chalmers from the right but then conceded a free kick in taking down Matty Todd. Chalmers setpiece from 30 yards out was sliced by Harry Cochrane into the arms of his keeper.

Kevin O’Hara had already come on for Craig Wighton before, with twelve minutes to go Lewis McCann replaced Nikolay Todorov and Chris Hamilton Matty Todd.

Breen and Benedictus both had headers away from inside their penalty box before Hendrie powered a shot from 25 yards out narrowly over the bar. McGowan was bowled over by Todd to give McCann an opportunity from a free kick 27 yards out but he smashed the ball wide left of target.

Hamilton and O’Hara both had shots blocked and an O’Hara was deflected wide for a 90th minute corner on the left that the home side defended. Dunfermline comfortably saw out the game to take the three points north. The Pars third successive 2-0 wins at Palmerston Park. With Falkirk winning at Airdrie the gap between first and second remained five points.

QUEEN OF THE SOUTH: Kevin Dabrowski: Stephen Hendrie, Paul McKay, Euan East, Jack Brydon, Cammy Logan, Josh Todd (c), Harry Cochrane, Connor Murray (Lee Connolly 67), Ruari Paton, Jaze Kabia (Lewis Gibson 15), Kieran McKechnie.
SUBS NOT USED: Ross Irving, Calvin McGrory, David McKay, Michael Ruth, Dom McMahon, Ryan Muir, Gordon Botterill (GK)
YELLOW CARD: McKechnie (27)

DUNFERMLINE: Deniz Mehmet: Aaron Comrie, Kyle Benedictus (c), Rhys Breen: Kane Ritchie-Hosler, Joe Chalmers, Matthew Todd (Chris Hamilton 78), Josh Edwards: Chris Mochrie (Paul McGowan 55): Craig Wighton (Kevin O’Hara 62), Nikolay Todorov (Lewis McCann 78)
SUBS NOT USED: Kyle Macdonald, Ewan Otoo, Paul Allan, Robbie Mahon, Max Little (GK).
SCORERS: Wighton (22), J Todd (o.g. 47)
YELLOW CARD: Breen (16)

REFEREE: Chris Fordyce
WEATHER: Cool 7°C
ATTENDANCE 1298