Queen of the South 0 - 1 Dunfemline Athletic

The Pars got an important 1-0 win at Dumfries with a very astute and professional performance. A late penalty was saved by Gallacher which was merited as the penalty decision was harsh.

Souleymane Bamba v Sean O`Connor.

Scott Muirhead made a return to the side slotting in at left back which allowed Glass to move into midfield. Gallacher started in goals with a back four of Woods, Wislon, Bamba and Muirhead. A much narrower midfield with Crawford, Glass and Phinn. Tam McManus was the wide player floating between midfield and attack with Burchill and Hamilton the out an out strikers.

The home side started well with Robertson hitting a good shot over as the Pars stood back and watched in the first minutes. Perhaps not surprising the home side were taking the game to the Pars and again Bamba made a good block from Robertson again in 6 minutes. Burchill won a corner for the Pars in 8 miutes which was just as well as he had no support.

Scott Wilson played a nice ball through to Glass on the edge of the Queens area but he struggled to control in a good position. Robertson had another shot in 16 minutes that was saved by Gallacher but the move should have been flagged for offside.

The Pars were at last starting to play the ball around well and McManus did well to win a corner in 18 minutes that was headed over the bar by a defender for a second corner. But it must be said the quality of the Pars crosses from set pieces has been anaemic!

Mr Collum the referee managed to get a throw in decision completely wrong in 22 minutes giving it to the home side and then there was a handball decision the home side claimed in the Pars area. Nicky Phinn was working hard gettign up and down th epark and made a good defensive header in 23 minutes. Calum Woods was getting forward well and had a shot well over the bar in 25 minutes.

Burchill had a great effort in 28 minutes when he cut in from the right and his shot was well saved by McDonald.It was in fact a repeat performance a couple of minutes later but this time McDonald could not hold the shot and McManus scored from a tight angle to put the Pars in the lead 1-0. It was no more than they had deserved at that stage of the game.

Bamba got himself in the way of a powerful shot as the home side tried to hit back quickly. Burchill was having much more impact in this game than usual and he won another corner in 35 minutes with some good running. Stephen Glass hit a good shot after being set up by Burchill.

Calum Woods was cynically tripped by Robertson in 39 minutes and he was booked for his efforts. Phinn also picked up a yellow which seemed harsh as it was one of those situations with players crossing paths and feet and heels connecting.Half time 0-1.

Burchill wins a corner in 52 minutes but again it is wasted with an insipid corner kick. The Doonhamers came close to an equaliser in 53 minutes with a header that slapped off the bar and Muirhead was able to clear for a corner. Gallacher made a good save from Harris in 56 minutes. Woods also slipped up in 56 minutes but the danger was eventually cleared. McGowan was alone at the back post in 67 minutes but his lobbed effort back across goal was poor. Indeed, that was McGowans last contribution as he was replaced by Gilmour.

Burchill wasted a good chance 72 minutes when at last Hamilton won a header and laid it into the path of Burchill who was through on the keeper but McDonald managed to smother his attempted shot.

The Pars seemd to be quite comfortable at thsi stage despit ethe narrow lead and it apeare dthey had increased th elead when Hamilton put the ball in the net after a cock up by the Queens defence. A ball played back to the keeper from the left back area was close to going out for a corner kick but McDonald appeared to have kept it in but he did not hold and it fell to Hamitlon who rolled it in the net. Needless to say the keeper was then arguing the ball had gone over for a corner, which was given!