Archives | Queens Park 2 Dunfermline 1

Ninth placed Dunfermline travelled to the National Stadium to play fifth placed Queen`s Park hoping for a win to reduce the gap between the Pars and the Spiders to seven points.

After naming an unchanged starting eleven the previous week manager James McPake made three changes for this game. Chris Kane was missing after his head knock against Partick Thistle, Chris Hamilton and Sam Young found themselves on the subs bench meaning starts for Tommy Fogarty, Kane Ritchie-Hosler and Ewan Otoo.

Queens Park manager Callum Davidson was forced into making one change from his team against Livingston, 20 year old Ryan Duncan starting in place of Roddy Macgregor who was serving a one match suspension after seeing red against Livi.

The teams lined up around the centre circle after the two captains placed poppy wreaths and a minute`s silence was observed in memory of those who lost their lives for the cause of their country. Dunfermline kicked off and immediately took the game to Queens but it was Tobi Oluwayemi who was the first keeper called upon, holding a Cammy Kerr cross in second minute.

Ritchie-Hosler had an attempt blocked before Otoo worked the ball to Dapo Mebude in front of goal but Sean Welsh stepped in to clear. David Wotherspoon popped a shot over the crossbar as the Pars certainly showed early intent. Dunfermline were caught offside as Kieran Ngwenya delivered a 17th minute free kick from the right touchline but two minutes later there was a let off at the other end. Zak Rudden drew the keeper and his shot was deflected wide left for a corner.

Dunfermline defended that one and another from the right in 23 minutes. The home side were beginning to see more of the ball. A sweeping move including seven different players ended with Rocco Hickey-Fugaccia crossing to the far post and Aaron Comrie having to concede yet another corner. Again the defence came out on top but when Will Tizzard tried a shot in 26 minutes it struck Craig Clay`s hand and Seb Drozd had an opportunity from a free kick 27 yards out that he rocketed wide and high.

The Spiders pressure eventually told in 31st minute. Rudden broke into the left side of the Pars box to then pick out Duncan in front of goal and the left foot of the on-loan Aberdeen player drove the ball into the Fifers net. 1-0

Hickey-Fugaccia showed off his close control skills to cut in from the right and then carve out a chance for himself that was beaten away. The same player had another great opportunity in 39 minutes but Fogarty slid in with a timely block. The Pars attempts to get up the part were then led by Otoo and McCann but the home defence was proving to be effective.

In 43 minutes Ritchie-Hosler forced the Fifers first corner but Ngwenya`s inswinger from the right was headed away by Murray. After one minute of time added on the first half ended with the Pars one down. It was a 45 minutes in which they had not taxed keeper Calum Ferrie and he had yet to make a save.

Half time: Queen`s Park 1 Dunfermline 0

Part two began after a triple substitution for Dunfermline. Chris Hamilton, Joe Chalmers and Matty Todd came on as Tommy Fogarty, David Wotherspoon and Craig Clay were subbed. Within a minute Todd clipped an inviting ball into the Queens box for McCann but he was pushed off the ball with the travelling support appealing for a penalty.

Todd in 49 minutes and Hamilton in 50 both had shots at goal. Todd`s from 30 yards out whistled wide of the right post and Hamilton`s was tipped over for a corner. Two corners followed but the next attempt came from McCann, his left footed shot from 18 yards blocked. Then in 54 minutes Dunfermline were denied a penalty for a clear hand ball that the officials failed to see.

The goal that Dunfermline`s second half performance deserved did come however in 61 minutes. McCann`s driving run took him deep into the left side of the Queen`s box and his cut back was perfect for TODD to meet with one of his well timed runs. 1-1

A Chalmers free kick in 69 minutes, given after sub Jack Turner tumbled Hamilton, was delivered to the far post where Comrie just couldn`t get enough on the ball to convert. The Queen`s sub would then turn it on at the other end. Capitalising on a loss of possession in their own half, Dunfermline paid dearly as TURNER lived up to his name to create the chance to net low into the Dunfermline net from the edge of the box.

Taylor Sutherland was introduced for Dapo Mebude with quarter of an hour to play and immediately he and Todd forced a corner on the left. Two more followed from the right with eventually Ritchie-Hosler getting in the shot that Ferrie held. Free kicks were also earned for challenges on Hamilton and then Ritchie-Hosler. Chalmers deliveries were troublesome and Ferrie only just kept his second out prompting a scramble in the six yard area but the Pars just couldn`t force the ball into the net.

Hamilton was impeded in the Queen`s box and there were cries of hand ball but no Dunfermline penalty. Ngwenya shot wide from a Chalmers assist, Todd got half a chance at the end but the Fifers went down fighting having given the Glasgow side one huge defensive exercise.

QUEEN`S PARK: Calum Ferrie (c): Henry Fieldson, Dane Murray, Will Tizzard, Cammy Kerr, Jack Thomson (Louis Longridge 66), Jack Turner, , Sean Welsh, Ryan Duncan (Jack Turner 66), Seb Drozd (Josh Scott 87), Rocco Hickey-Fugaccia (Josh Hinds 73), Zak Rudden (Liam McLeish 87).
SUBS NOT USED: Max Thompson, Zach Mauchin, Timam Scott, Jack Wills (GK)
SCORERS: Duncan (31), Turner (72)
YELLOW CARD: Rudden (83)

DUNFERMLINE: Tobi Oluwayemi: Aaron Comrie, Tommy Fogarty (Matty Todd HT), Kyle Benedictus (c), Kieran Ngwenya: Craig Clay (Chris Hamilton HT): Kane Ritchie-Hosler, David Wotherspoon (Joe Chalmers HT), Ewan Otoo, Lewis McCann: Dapo Mebude (Taylor Sutherland 75)
SUBS NOT USED: Craig Wighton, Sam Fisher, Sam Young, Josh Cooper, Deniz Mehmet (GK)
SCORER: Todd (61)
YELLOW CARD: Otoo (30)

REFEREE: Graham Grainger
ATTENDANCE: 1331
WEATHER: Dull 10°C

NEXT MATCH: (home) v Alloa Athletic, Tuesday 12th November 2024 kick off 3.00pm at KDM Group East End Park
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