QUEEN OF THE SOUTH 4-0 AIRDRIE UNITED 14th February 2009

TEAM LINE-UP Robinson McCann Lancaster Barr 1 S3     Harris Burns Scally MacFarlane S2           McQuilken S2         O'Connor 2         Dobbie SUBSTITUTES S1 - 65         Kean S2 - 75 1     Weatherston S3 - 85         Aitken Robertson Halliwell MATCH REPORT There was only one change today from the side that had brought back the three points from East End Park two weeks ago. It was an enforced change at that with Barry Wilson not quite ready to make a return following his injury at Dunfermline. Jamie McQuilken took his place on the left hand of the part and proved to be instrumental in two of the goals as it turned out. The pitch was in fine condition despite the snow and frost earlier this week. Groundsman Kevin McCormick, his assistants and those fans who gave up their time to ensure that the pitch had the best chance possible of hosting a game certainly got their reward at the end of the ninety minutes. It was an evenly contested first half with the lively forwards of Airdrie United getting little change out of a solid looking Queens defence whilst it looked as though Stephen Robertson in the visitors goal was going to defy the Queens strike force once again as he first denied a Bob Harried effort from a free kick then turned a Paul Burns flick round the post following a square ball from Stephen Dobbie. With a quarter of an hour gone Stephen Dobbie hit an effort that just bobbled past the post and then was involved ten minutes later as the ball was fired across the box missing everyone on it's way from right to left then back again left to right - on both occasions Sean O'Connor was inches away from contact. Bob Harris then fired another free kick, this time just past the post. Paul Burns had a great opportunity to open the scoring as the ball fell to him outside the box with Robertson scrambling back to his line, Burnsy lifted his effort but this week it was just too low and the 'keeper collected without too much fuss. Airdrie came more into the game from the half hour mark and a loose ball by Neil Scally in the centre of the park turned attack into defence and almost paid the price as first Martin Lancaster had to head off the line then Lee Robinson pushed the ball out for a corner. From that corner Queens broke forward and Stephen Dobbie fed a great ball through for Paul Burns to chase down. Burns was racing with Marc Smyth whilst Stephen Robertson was racing from his line, both the 'keeper and defender managed to get in each others way with the result that Robertson hauled down Paul Burns in the box to hand Queens a penalty and earn himself a yellow card. Stephen Dobbie slotted home the penalty although Robertson made a decent effort to get to it but it was just too well placed in the corner. Dobbs slams home the penalty - Photo from Sandy Robertson On the stroke of half time Stephen Dobbie looked to move the ball out of his half but turned back and fed it into Neil Scally, Scall's collected the ball but also collected two feet from Kevin McDonald. The linesman was on the spot and his flag immediately rose just before the referee pulled out the red card for McDonald. It was the kiss of death for his side and gave Queens a man advantage for a full forty five minutes. Where the first half had been a tousey affair between two evenly matched sides the second half was pretty much one way traffic aimed at the visitors goal. Martin Lancaster won almost every defensive header today and almost got himself on the scoresheet within eight minutes of the restart as he met a Bob Harris corner but could only direct the header at Robertson. The second goal was only delayed a couple of minutes though as Jamie McQuilken, racing down the left looked up and saw his left sided defensive partner Bob Harris racing down the right, Jamie's deep cross was met by Bob and he fairly bulleted the ball back across the 'keeper and into the far corner of the net. He did however receive a yellow card for over celebrating. Bob Harris sends the ball into the back of the net for number 2 - Photo from Sandy Robertson Stephen Dobbie was next to try his luck as he was fed through by a superb first time ball from Bob Harris, Dobbs controlled he ball and poked it toward the bottom corner, it looked in but somehow bobbled past the post on the wrong side. Sean O'Connor was left scratching his head after being booked for persistent fouling, some may argue that it was being persistently fouled but the referee made it clear that it was the other way around. Shortly after O'Connor was replaced by Stewart Kean as fresh legs would cause the stretched ten men of Airdrie more problems. The move paid off immediately as Martin Lancaster played a neat ball to Stephen Dobbie, Dobbs shrugged his shoulders, turned his man and went one-on-one with the 'keeper. It was Dobb's who came out on top as he put the ball through the legs of Robertson to make it 3-0. Straight through the legs Jamie McQuilken had put in a good shift and looked to have a bit of a knock so Gordon Chisholm too the opportunity to inject some more pace as he swapped McQuilken for David Weatherston. You could however tell that it wasn't Airdrie United's day as with only minutes to go an Airdrie forward had the goal at his mercy with Lee Robinson scrambling back yet somehow managed to see his effort saved by the keeper who recorded another clean sheet today. With Airdrie pushing up the speed of Queens forward line was causing them problems and with Stephen Dobbie orchestrating the moves it was no surprise that number four was netted before the game ended. This time Dobbie laid the ball out to the left for David Weatherston to run in and slot past Robertson. Weatherston pops it over Robertson for number four In the dying minutes Andy Aitken was put on in the place of Bob Harris to a great round of applause for both men. The final action of the game should really have seen number five scored as Stephen Dobbie again set up David Weatherston, this time Weatherston crossed and Stewart Kean raced in to prod the ball goalward, his effort though went past the upright and Queens had to be content with four goals. This was a good second half performance against ten men but the first half was a much more even affair, the sending off was crucial in influencing the final outcome. Colin Johnstone For all of the photos from the game today click on the link http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/queenofthesouthfc