QUEEN OF THE SOUTH 2-2 PARTICK THISTLE 24th January 2009

TEAM LINE-UP Robinson McCann Lancaster Barr Harris Burns Scally Tosh       S1   Wilson O'Connor Dobbie SUBSTITUTES S1 - 84         Weatherston Kean McQuilken MacFarlane Halliwell MATCH REPORT There were four home debuts today in the Queens side that lined up in a 4-4-2 formation, goalkeeper Lee Robinson, right back Ryan McCann (for the second time), central defender Martyn Lancaster and midfielder Barry Wilson. Also making his long awaited return to the starting line up was Neil Scally as he took the place of Neil MacFarlane in the middle of the park. Sean O'Connor and Stephen Dobbie both started the match for the first time for a while. Things started brightly for Queens as they enjoyed the bulk of the early possession. Their pressure was rewarded with just ten minutes on the clock as Stephen Dobbie produced a sharp turn and shot that left Jonny Tuffey in the Partick goal motionless as the ball hit the back of the net to open the scoring. Queens continued to have the better of the exchanges as Neil Scally reminded the fans what they had been missing as he challenged for every ball in the middle of the park. Queens defend a free kick With twenty minutes on the clock Ryan McCann conceded what looked like a soft free kick on the left hand side of the park, the resulting cross was missed by everyone apart from Kris Doolan who nipped in behind the defence and headed past Robinson from six yards out. Minutes later Bob Harris forced a good save from Tuffey as the keeper got down well to deny the left back. It was Harris again who was set up moments later but could only fire the ball directly at a defender from around ten yards from goal. Doolan nips in to score The second half started as well for Queens as the first had despite Lee Robinson having to get down well to his far post to deny an effort from Steven McKeown. It was Queens who re-took the lead with ten minutes of the half gone as Bob Harris had his trailing leg clipped away from him as he burst through between two defenders into the box. The resulting penalty was converted without any fuss by Steve Tosh. Controversially the referee allowed play to continue following an aerial challenge that saw Sean O'Connor holding his head whilst flat on the ground, as play raged on a number of Queens players expressed their concern to Mr Norris but the whistler took exception to their calls for attention and booked Barry Wilson for his trouble. Eventually Sean was attended to for a few minutes. Queens still looked the stronger of the two sides and Barry Wilson should have done better as he glanced a Sean O'Connor cross just wide of the post. Half an hour into the half Stephen Dobbie worked himself an opening and burst though onto goal, it was Tuffey against Dobbie, Dobbs looked up and selected his spot, he sent the ball goalward but somehow Tuffey managed to get enough of a touch on it to deflect it away from its chosen spot. Tuffey denies Queens again With twelve minutes of the match remaining Martyn Lancaster conceded a foul on the right hand side of the park, he also collected a booking for the challenge although it did seem rather harsh. From the free kick the ball ended up in the net, this time via Marc Twaddle who set up Scott Chaplin to fire in tight against the upright. Gordon Chisholm made just the one substitution as David Weatherston was introduced for the tiring Barry Wilson. Queens pressed for the winner and Neil Scally believed that he would get it when he rose to head a ball coming back from Stephen Dobbie following a neat one-two as he charged in on goal. However Jonny Tuffey produced an acrobatic save to deny Queens their first win in twelve. Tuffey denies Queens again - Photo from Sandy Robertson All in all it was a good performance from Queens and a good game between two evenly matched sides. Colin Johnstone For all of the photos from the game today click on the link http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/queenofthesouthfc