Archives | Queens Park 0 Dunfermline 1

William Hill Championship
Saturday 24th October 2026
The city Stadium

It was a horribly wet afternoon in Glasgow but Dunfermline took on Queen`s Park hoping that it would be their goals that they would be raining in at The city Stadium. Neil Lennon made one change from the Pars eleven that starting in midweek against Partick Thistle - Josh Cooper coming in for Keith Bray. In the absence of former Par Euan Murray, Aidan Connolly captained the Queen`s Park team with Zach Mauchin returning in defence.

The visitors played into the strengthening wind and rain in the first half and were unlucky not to bag an early lead. Olamilekan Adams closed down Queens Park and was able to produce a good chance for Andrew Tod in fourth minute but home keeper David Mitchell dropped to the ground to hold the shot. Adams was fed an opportunity minutes later into the left side of the box but centre back Carlo Pignatiello denied a shot.

The Pars continued to pile the pressure on their hosts with Adams finding Tod again. Andrew got his shot away but it was blocked before Allan Oyirwoth launched the ball over the Queens crossbar. The home side were taking no prisoners with Nurudeen Abdulai badly caught by Michael Ruth in 13th minute and then Scott Martin yellow carded almost immediately for another bad foul.

Abdulai recovered to threaten from a 16th-minute corner, and when Aaron Donnelly returned the ball for Tod at the back post, he could not get enough purchase on his effort. Two minutes later the Fifers` relentless pressure paid off as Rory MACLEOD smashed home what proved to be the winner. It was Tod who provided the cross, Oyirwoth`s failed attempt to convert wrong footed the keeper and his defence leaving the Pars no.16 to net from five yards out. 0-1.

As the rain intensified Macleod crossed for Cooper to connect but he sent his shot wide left. A Tod cross was turned out for a corner but it was a Dylan Lobban run in 32 minutes that created the next chance, punctuating his sortie with a decent shot but wide left. Oyirwoth forced another corner with cries of `handball` from the travelling support who were looking for a penalty.

A misplaced Queen`s Park pass was latched on to by Adams but his ball for Cooper on the left side of the opposition box was swept clear. Queen`s Park exercised Aston Oxborough in the final minute of the half when Martin, making use of the windy conditions, snapped a shot from 30 yards out. The final chance of the first half deserved a goal: Adams sent the ball in from the left, Cooper on the edge of the box spun to tee up Macleod but Mitchell saved the 29 year-old`s left footed shot.

At the interval Dunfermline were well ahead on shots and corners but with only one goal between the teams there was still much to do in the second half.

Half Time: Queen`s Park 0 Dunfermline 1

There were chances at both ends in the opening ten minutes of the second half. A Tod shot from 25 yards out went wide left. At the other end Matthew Shields was further off target with his attempt before Adams headed over from an inviting Tod cross. Then from a corner won by Tod a Donnelly cross just evaded Cooper at far post.

The home side made a double substitution introducing Callum Smith and Tyrece McDonnell but an Aaron Donnelly break found Macleod on the right and he cut inside to try a shot from the edge of the box that went wide left. Adams and Tod continued to cause concern to the Glasgow side`s defence, but Macleod was caught offside before Adams was shown yellow for going down all too easily in the box.

Neil Lennon made a double substitution on 74 minutes taking Adams off for Oli Shaw and Cooper off for Callumn Morrison. Immediately the subs combined to carve a whole in the Queens defence but the final ball just evaded Macleod. The home goal continued under threat with Oyirwoth and Morrison having shots blocked.

Abdulai had to clear off the line as Queens Park replied. Then when Connolly swung over from the right cross Smith contrived to claim the miss of the match when it looked easier to score at the far post. Mauchin made Oxborough save his 88th minute right footed shot and the Fifers saw the time and three added minutes out safely in the opposition half.

It was no classic on a day when a dog would have looked out and passed on venturing out for its walk. Three points for the first time in four games were reward for defeating both Queen`s Park and the elements.

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