Archives | Queen of the South 4 Dunfermline 3

Eighteen days had passed since the teams last met in the Scottish Cup when Dunfermline won 2-1 at KDM Group East End Park. Now it was Queen of the South`s turn to be the hosts in the KDM Evolution Trophy.

There were eight changes in the Dunfermline side that kicked off against Queen`s Park the previous Saturday with only Chris Hamilton, Charlie Gilmour and Keith Bray retaining their places. That meant starts for the three players who had been out long term `“ Kyle Benedictus, Josh Cooper and Zak Rudden. Kieran Ngwenya started his first match of the season

For Queen of the South, Peter Murphy made five changes Jack Stott, Michael Hewitt, Ben Johnstone, Niall Rogerson and Kian Leslie started in place of Zander Mackenzie, Benjamin Luissint, Brennan Dickenson, Kai Kennedy and captain Matty Douglas.

The Pars in red away strips kicked off attacking the goal in front of the home fans. It was the home fans who were celebrating first when their side opened the scoring on six minutes. Although it had been all Dunfermline until, Liam Smith embarked on a run down the left evading challenges to cross a perfect ball for Kurtis GUTHRIE to head into the Pars net. 1-0

Five minutes later it was Smith again who powered his way through the middle after the visitors had lost possession in the Queens half. He timed his pass really well to allow Jack STOTT to run on and slot the ball home from the edge of the box. 2-0

In 21 minute Ngwenya supplied a good cross that Rudden was unlucky not to control at the back post. Dunfermline were allowed plenty of possession for a period but created nothing that enable a decent shot at goal. Another swift counter saw Guthrie bend a shot from the edge of the box narrowly wide left.

On the half hour Ngwenya forced a corner on the left but when taken short from Cooper to Macleod the cross was behind the attackers. Then in 36 minutes again it was Ngwenya who fed Cooper the chance to shoot from 18 yards out but his effort was blocked by Jack Hannah. Bray and Rudden fought for the ball as it broke to the far post but they lost out to the defence.

Four minutes from the interval the Pars struck back with their first shot on target. Ritchie-Hosler`s cross in from the right was touched back for Rory MACLEOD to crash the ball into the home net. 2-1

In time added on at the end of the half, Mehmet pulled off a fine save, fisting a spectacular Stott effort over the crossbar. The corner kick from the right was overhit and that concluded the first 45.

Dunfermline had looked vulnerable every time the Doonhamers midfield drove forward with the ball. The League One side had switched the ball about with pace, they had taken their chances well and left the Fifers with an uphill battle. MacLeod`s goal had rekindled the visitors` hopes for the second half.

Half Time: Queen of the South 2 Dunfermline 1

There were two substitutions before the second half got underway, Benedictus and Rudden going off with Tashan Oakley-Boothe and Barney Stewart going on. Gilmour dropped back into the centre of the back four as Dunfermline took a strong attacking brief into the second 45.

Taylor Charters was yellow carded in 52 minutes for cutting down Bray as he threatened to reach the Queens box. Cooper took charge of the setplay but blasted the ball into the terracing. Things turned for the worse when Otoo`s challenge on Guthrie handed Queens a penalty that Stott assumed responsibility for. The 22 year-old from Middlesbrough had not reckoned for Deniz`s record in saving spot kicks and when the Pars keeper parried the shot away to his left, Chris Hamilton was first to clear the loose ball.

Matty Todd replaced Josh Cooper and immediately he was involved to two sorties that showed the intent but unfortunately without the end result. The home side had made two substitutions as well but it was the Fifers who displayed the most life about them. The game was being played deep in the opposition half and Otoo had a shot but too high.

A Todd cross from a corner, a Bray ball through the box, a Ross Stewart tip away from another Todd corner, all kept up the pressure. Lucas Fyfe replaced Kane Ritchie-Hosler before Bray launched a shot from wide right that landed on the roof of the net.

Dunfermline were completely dominating the game, the Queens fans were silenced but a weak pass back by Otoo towards his keeper let sub Freddie O`DONOUGHUE in to nick the ball into the net. His 74th minute goal restoring the two goal lead. 3-1

Just two minutes later Benjamin Luissint smashed a shot from 20 yards out that rebounded off the right goal post and Brennan DICKENSON accepted the chance to place the ball in the net. 4-1

It looked all over but two goals from on-loan Barney Stewart brought the tie back to life. Firstly in 79 minutes Rory Macleod`s cross from the left was headed home by STEWART and then four minutes later Bray`s cross was met by STEWART as he slid in to notch his second. 4-3

Lucas Fyfe fed the ball back into the six yard box for Stewart to net again but the offside flag denied the Pars an 89th minute equaliser. The last chance came close, Fyfe swung the ball over from the right and Bray`s effort dropped wide right.

It was the home side that progressed to meet Raith Rovers in the next round of the KDM Evolution Trophy. Dunfermline were obviously disappointed with the result and to be out of the competition, but they did get valuable minutes into their squad players and those returning from injury. Some displayed qualities playing outside in their normal deployment and the strikers did score three goals.

QUEEN OF THE SOUTH: Ross Stewart: Michael Hewitt, Ben Johnstone (Benjamin Luissint 71), Jack Hannah, Taylor Charters: Reece Lyon (c): Liam Smith, Jack Stott (Kai Kennedy 90+1), Niall Rogerson (Matty Douglas 90+1), Kian Leslie (Freddie O`Donoughue 57), Kurtis Guthrie (Brennan Dickenson 57).
SUBS NOT USED: Euan Ross, Joe Thomson, Lawton Green (GK)
SCORERS: Guthrie (6), Stott (11), O`Donoughue (74), Dickenson (76).
YELLOW CARDS: Johnstone (39), Charters (52), O`Donoughue (82), Stewart (90+3)

DUNFERMLINE: Deniz Mehmet: Chris Hamilton, Kyle Benedictus (c)(Tashan Oakley-Boothe HT), Ewan Otoo, Kieran Ngwenya: Kane Ritchie-Hosler (Lucas Fyfe 71), Charlie Gilmour, Keith Bray, Josh Cooper (Matty Todd 57), Rory Macleod, Zak Rudden (Barney Stewart HT)
SUBS NOT USED: Robbie Fraser, Billy Terrell (GK)
SCORERS: Macleod (41), Stewart (79, 83)
YELLOW CARDS: Hamilton (82), Oakley-Boothe (90+6)

REFEREE: Jamie Wilkie
ATTENDANCE: 484
WEATHER: Fine 3°C

NEXT MATCH (home) William Hill Championship v Ayr United, Saturday 20th December 2025, kick off 3.00pm

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