With Queens still needing a point to be sure of first division football today it was important that the side was as strong as possible. Gordon Chisholm sent out his side in a comfortable 4-4-2 with every player selected playing in his strongest position. Bob Harris returned at left back, Barry Wilson took up a wide right role as Paul Burns failed to make the line-up, Steve Tosh replaced the injured Neil Macfarlane in the centre of midfield, Jamie McQuilken moved up to play left side of midfield and Stewart Kean made a start in place of Sean O'Connor.

The fluency of the side was there to see from the first whistle and in less than four minutes the lead was gained as Stephen Dobbie collected the ball wide on the left, cut across the box and fired the ball past Hutton in the Clyde goal for a trademark Dobbs strike.

It was all Queens from the go and five minutes later Stewart Kean looked to have taken a leaf out of Dobbs book as he cut across the edge of the box and fired a superb effort into the top corner to give Hutton no chance once again. Keano had another effort smothered by Hutton shortly after and Stephen Dobbie was on the end of a superb midfield movement that saw the striker smash the ball just past the post.

On twenty one minutes another top quality goal was scored as Neil Scally and Steve Tosh played a nice one two that left Tosh twenty five yards from goal as he received the ball, he struck it first time into the top of the net to make it 3-0 after less than a third of the match. Second later and another quality move down the right hand side saw Dobbs inches away from bursting the net as volleyed an effort just past the upright.

Neil Scally was then booked as he was late into a challenge on the edge of the box. The resulting free kick was expertly curled into the net by Willie McLaren although Lee Robinson was given some stern 'advice' by the experienced pairing of Tosh and Wilson. Hopefully it is a lesson learned for the 'keeper.

Just before the half time whistle Steve Tosh was booked for a blatant tug of the shirt. Clyde had come back into the match and it was Queens who were probably the happier side to hear the half time whistle.

John Brown made a couple of changes at half-time taking off his front two of Winters and Clarke and replacing them with McSwegan and McKay. He retained his 3-5-2 formation though as he obviously felt he could contain the Queens front line with just the three at the back. Brown's changes at half time were proven ineffective after just two minutes as Stephen Dobbie collected a long ball out of defence, twisted one way then the other, leaving two men in his wake and slid the ball under Hutton to make it 4-1.

With ten minutes of the half gone Queens won a corner on the right, the ball came to the back of the box where Bob Harris met the ball sweetly to give Hutton no chance yet again 5-1.

Almost from the restart it was 6-1 as Stephen Dobbie again turned the Clyde defence inside out and slammed the ball into the back of the net for the sixth and his hat-trick.

The next goal took an age to come, almost four minutes! It was great work by Barry Wilson this time as he drew Hutton and the Clyde defence toward him as he used his experience to open up the goal. Once he had them there he slipped the ball to Stephen Dobbie who scored his easiest of the afternoon to make it 7-1 to Queens.

The game settled down then with the result beyond doubt. Stephen Dobbie was given a rest and replaced by David Weatherson on 79 minutes then two minutes later Tosh and Wilson were replaced by McCann and McGowan respectively. The last goalscoring opportunity fell to the pairing of Weatherston and Kean with eight minutes left but nether could open up the goals to get a shot in.

The Palmerston crowd left the ground delighted at seeing the biggest win for their favourites for many a day. Clyde had no chance, Queens played them off the park, the only question on the lips of the fans was 'what if'!

And a quick mention for the Clyde fans who remained good humoured and were there until the end.

Colin Johnstone

For all of the photos from the game today click on the link

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/queenofthesouthfc