Archives | Dunfermline 1 Queen`s Park 0
Dunfermline kept up the momentum from Tuesday night to record an important win that lifted them back into a play-off position for the first time since late January.
Dunfermline welcomed Queen`s Park to KDM Group East End Park after both sides salvaged late equalisers on Tuesday night. The Pars drew level against title-chasing Partick Thistle to end a four-game winless league streak, while the Spiders came from behind to hold league leaders St Johnstone at The city Stadium, stretching their unbeaten run to three games.
The table told a tight story too. Dunfermline sat sixth, just two points ahead of Queen`s Park in eighth, with both clubs having played the same number of games, all meaning three points this afternoon could prove pivotal in either direction.
Neil Lennon made three changes to his starting eleven `“ Alfons Amade, Josh Cooper and Olly Thomas came in for Freddie Turley, Matty Todd and Chris Kane. For the visitors manager Sean Crighton made two changes to his line up `“ Roddy McGregor and Nikolay Todorov being preferred to Magnus Mackenzie and Scott Martin. Todorov, Euan Murray, Aidan Connolly, Louis Longridge and Callum Smith making it five former Pars players in the Queen`s Park team.
The teams changed ends prior to Amade kicking the game off with the Pars attacking the McCathie Stand end. Thomas forced a corner within 90 seconds but the ball got caught up in Callumn Morrison`s feet before he could pull the trigger on a shot. The home side continued to keep up the pressure on Queen`s with Thomas breaking into the left side of the penalty box to ping over an invitation that first Cooper and then Tod were prevented from netting.
In ninth minute a Cooper pass sent Thomas racing up the left but when faced with Calum Ferrie, the keeper blocked the shot. The Fifers were all over their opponents and Thomas was presented with another good opportunity in the next minute, Andrew Tod`s cross ended up in the keeper`s hands after Thomas headed on target.
The visitors created their first chance when a kick from Ferrie bounced up for Smith to feed Todorov but his shot from 25 yards out dipped over the bar. Then in 12 minutes, Todorov head on a cross from the right and Euan Murray had two attempts, his second shot being well saved by Aston Oxborough. Next Callum Smith`s shot was deflected behind for a corner that was suitably defended. Dunfermline got back in control but still found it hard to score. A cross by Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen had Charlie Gilmour leading the challenge in front of goal but Queens cleared.
Cooper had a 23rd minute shot from just outside the box blocked but then Dunfermline were awarded their first penalty of the season. The Pars had teased several moves around the Queens box but when Fraser cut the ball back Seb Drozd took down Gilmour and referee David Dickinson pointed to the spot. Gilmour required the physios` attentions while Callumn MORRISON stood with the ball tucked under his arm. When his moment came he sent the penalty into the left side of the Spiders` net for 1-0.
The Spiders almost levelled immediately after Drozd hit the crossbar and Connolly sent the follow up wide. Back to the other end and Tod drill a low effort that Ferrie dropped to his right to hold. Cooper smack another low shot narrowly wide left. Then in 37th minute on the top of the box, Tod laid the ball off to Cooper to his left and his shot skinned the right goalpost.
A 43rd minute Queen`s Park free kick 35 yards out taken by Connolly picked out Todorov but Oxborough plucked the on target effort out of the air.
The first half possession stats might well have shown little between the teams but in terms of danger created the Fifers were well ahead. However, with just one goal separating the sides there would still be a lot of work to be done in the second 45.
Half Time: Dunfermline 1 Queen`s Park 0
The positivity continued at the start of the second half with an early corner and a sweeping pass by Kieran Ngwenya that sent Tod up the left but when the teenager cut inside the defence proved too great. Amade`s 57th minute pass set up Tod for a shot from 25 yards out but Murray blocked it.
A good Drozd effort on the hour was turned behind for a corner on the right and the setpiece proved hard to deal with. Several opponents got a touch before newly introduced sub Michael Ruth crashed a good opportunity wide left from 12 yards out. You could sense the East End crowd growing anxious and on counters neither Tod nor Morrison could alleviate the tensions.
66 minutes in Chris Kane and Matty Todd were introduced replacing Olly Thomas and Andrew Tod. An Abdulai challenge handed Queen`s a free kick 28 yards out and there were cheers when Drozd sent his effort into the McCathie. Two more subs came on in 72, Shea Kearney and Freddie Turley in place of Chilokoa-Mullen and Morrison. Within a minute Kearney produced a fine cross from the right byeline that Kane headed down for Todd 12 yards out but he contrived to clear the bar with his shot.
With just a one goal deficit Queen`s posed a threat to the Pars three points. An 79th minute free kick was successfully defended but the Glasgow side fought to the end. After Todd`s chance to double the lead the home side never got close to keeper Ferrie.
Three welcome points that combined with results in the Pars favour elsewhere, lifted them into fourth place.
DUNFERMLINE: Aston Oxborough: Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen (c) (Freddie Turley 72), Nurudeen Abdulai, Kieran Ngwenya, Robbie Fraser: Callumn Morrison (Shea Kearney 72), Alfons Amade, Charlie Gilmour: Josh Cooper (Lucas Fyfe 82): Olly Thomas (Chris Kane 66), Andrew Tod (Matty Todd 66)
SUBS NOT USED: Kyle Benedictus, Chris Hamilton, Keith Bray, Deniz Mehmet (GK)
SCORER: Morrison (25 pen.)
YELLOW CARD: Fyfe (90+3)
QUEEN`S PARK: Calum Ferrie: Carlo Pignatiello, Euan Murray (c), Matthew Shiels, Henry Fieldson, Louis Longridge, Roddy MacGregor (Liam McLeish 81), Aidan Connolly (Magnus Mackenzie 81), Callum Smith (Scott Martin 59), Seb Drozd, Nikolay Todorov (Michael Ruth 59).
SUBS NOT USED: Jamie Bradley, Ricky Waugh, Ross Mclean, Michael Collie, Milosz Sliwinski (GK)
YELLOW CARD: Todorov (22)
REFEREE: David Dickinson
ATTENDANCE: 4783 (inc 161 away fans)
WEATHER: Overcast then rain 5°C
50/50 Winning ticket no. 67889 won prize of £821.
NEXT MATCH (home) William Hill Championship v Ross County, Tuesday 3rd March 2026, kick off7.45pm at KDM Group East End Park
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