Gordon Chisholm went with three at the back once again today as he looked to get back to winning ways against Dunfermline. Mikey McGowan came straight back into the starting eleven as he began on the right hand side of the midfield with Steve Tosh missing through illness. Loan Ranger Steven Kinniburgh didn't get a seat on the bench but Gary Arbuckle did as he recovered from injury.

A strong looking Dunfermline side took the lead within the first four minutes as Nicky Phinn headed past Bell for what looked like a text book move with the three Queens defenders looking helpless. Sixteen minutes later Queens were level, against the run of play as Jamie McQuilken saw his effort pushed into the net by Gallacher in the visitors goal. It has to be said though that Dunfermline were the better side for the remainder of the half.

Phinn sends in a header that beats Bell to open the scoring

A minute after the McQuilken equaliser Graham Bayne broke through one-on-one with Bell but the young 'keeper stood up well and blocked the effort by the Pars front man. Bayne again had a clear chance, this time from the edge of the 'D' but his effort skidded past the post. Another seven minutes on and Bayne again was through one-on-one with Bell but this time his effort was early but so too was Bell's reaction as the young 'keeper from Annan made another good save. Bell however put himself in trouble shortly after as he failed to make a good enough clearance. The ball fell to Greg Shields who, after clashing heads with Jim Thomson put in a decent effort that Bell did very well to block away.

Bell makes amends - but was he out of his box?

The second half started with Queens in a 4-4-2 formation and missing Jim Thomson who was replaced by David Weatherston. The defender's place being taken by Stephen Simmons with Weatherston taking up a role on the left wing. McGowan dropped back to right back and McQuilken to left back although it wouldn't be his only positional change of the day!

Queens started the second half much more promisingly with a stable 4-4-2 formation. However it took a combined defensive effort to block a Bayne effort away within the first three minutes of the half. With a quarter of an hour of the half gone Paul Burns was breaking through on goal with only a sole defender to beat when a crunching tackle by Greg Shields finished the midfielders game as an ambulance was called to take Burns to hospital. Shields was fortunate that the referee adjudged the tackle to be only bookable as many would have expected a red card. It was obvious instantly that Burns was seriously injured as the 'wee man' never over reacts to a challenge and this time Burnsy was static on the deck.

Scott Robertson was brought on in place of Burns when many though that Dobbs would come on upfront with Keano dropping back to right hand side of midfield would have worked well. However the tall midfielder did enough to justify his inclusion. Just after the introduction of Robertson Craig Barr forced Gallagher into a great save with a stop on the line from a header from a free kick.

On the line from a Barr header

Moments later Stephen Simmons almost silenced his tormentors in the visiting support as he forced clearance off the line from Gallagher following a corner that had come as a result of a good save from a Robertson effort from outside the box. Stewart Kean forced another good save out of Gallagher when he flicked on an effort toward goal.

With just fifteen minutes to go Stephen Simmons was brought down on the edge of the box and the resulting free kick was crashed goalward by Simmons only to see it hit the foot of Gallagher and bounce to safety luckily for the East End Park side.

Stephen Dobbie was finally introduced with just ten minutes to go to complete the regulation substitutions for Queens. However just a few minutes later another sub would have been welcome as Cammy Bell came for a cross and appeared to be fouled as a Pars forward backed into the 'keeper. As Bell laid on the deck the Pars striker took the ball and rolled it into the net. Much to everyone's amazement the referee allowed the goal and the game was over. Jamie McQuilken took over in goal for the last few minutes but in truth there was no further action as the Queens players seemed to lose heart. Craig Barr though was lucky to stay on the pitch as his high stud showing tackle only served to demonstrate the frustration felt by the entire team.

Bell gets taken out

Jamie McQuilken, goalscorer, sponsors man of the match, left midfielder, left back and goalkeeper - all today!

The real result should have been at least a draw following a strong second half performance and had it not been for both 'keepers today then a much higher scoring draw would have been witnessed.

Colin Johnstone

For all of the photos from the game today click on the link http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/queenofthesouthfc