Queens Team:

1 L Robinson, 2 R McCann, 3 R Harris, 4 N Scally, 5 C Barr, 6 M Lancaster, 7 B Wilson, 8 N MacFarlane, 9 S O'Connor, 10 S Dobbie, 11 P Burns

Subs: 12 B Halliwell, 14 S Kean, 15 J McQuilken, 16 A Aitken, 17 M McGowan

Dunfermline Team:

1 P Gallacher, 2 S Thomson, 3 S Wilson, 4 N Phinn, 5 G Shields, 6 A McCann, 7 D Graham, 8 A Burke, 9 G Bayne, 10 R Loy, 11 S Bell

Subs: 20 C Reidford, 12 C Woods, 14 A Kirk, 15 G Holmes, 16 I Williamson

Gordon Chisholm was without the services of the suspended Stevie Tosh for the tricky looking trip to Fife to face high-flying Dunfermline but resisted the temptation to make more changes than necessary. Neil MacFarlane was a straight replacement for Tosh in a solid looking midfield pairing with Scally. There were places on the bench for the recently out of favour Andy Aitken and Michael McGowan as David Weatherston was also left out of the squad whilst captain Jim Thomson was still not considered ready to return after his broken toe. The 'Pars' fielded a strong side including former Queens players Steven Bell and Alex Burke alongside the Dumfries-born Rory Loy, on loan from Rangers to the end of the season. Surprisingly though top scorer Andy Kirk was relegated to the bench. Match referee was Chris Boyle, whose previous Queens encounter this season was the 6-1 win over Livingston.

After an encouraging opening by Queens it was the home side who nearly opened the scoring in 10 minutes. Rory Loy caught everyone off-guard with a flashing shot on the turn to the near post that Robinson saw late and only just got fingertips too. When the ball was lifted back into the box Bayne's header seemed goal-bound from six yards but Craig Barr appeared to throw himself in the path of the ball and block it away bravely. Five minutes later, a last ditch foot in a tackle by Barry Wilson denied another opportunity for the Pars. Midway through the half Robinson again parried from Loy after Bayne had escaped the offside trap to set him up.

Queens first serious attempt on goal arrived in 25 minutes when Robinson's long free kick was nodded on by O'Connor and Dobbie turned inside Thomson before sending a curling shot goalwards that Gallacher moved superbly well to tip round his post. Not that Mr Boyle noticed that part, a goal kick was awarded to general incredulity! The opening goal was delayed only seconds though. A fine move down the left side saw MacFarlane send Scally scurrying to the touchline and, from his lifted cut-back, Paul Burns sent a lobbed effort over Gallacher and into the far corner of the net. Suddenly Queens had their tails up and a minute or so later another Burns shot was headed on towards goal by O'Connor and only just grasped by Gallacher at his line.

Neil MacFarlane picked up the game's first booking on 35 minutes for breaking too early from the wall to charge down a Scott Thomson free kick. A minute later though Barry Wilson burst through the home defence and should have doubled the lead but hammered his shot over the crossbar from about six yards out. He picked up a knock in the process though and was unable to continue, Jamie McQuilken replacing him. There was no further goalmouth action though and the half time whistle went with Queens in a surprise, but probably just about deserved, lead.

Queens started the second period positively with Dobbie in particular willing to run at the home defence. His dipping shot on 50 minutes worried Gallacher but went over the top. Seconds later though Robinson had to move smartly having punched a ball clear to get back to his line before he could be chipped and he also had to deny David Graham a goal moments later. Jim McIntyre decided it was time for a change and Graeme Holmes replaced Alex Burke before Dobbie interchanged passes with Burns before curling a shot over the crossbar again.

Bob Harris picked up a second booking for Queens on the hour mark for a foul on Scott Thomson after the veteran had skipped past him out wide. Shortly afterward the Pars introduced Andy Kirk in place of David Graham and Scott Thomson immediately went close in poking the ball wide at a corner.

The lead was doubled on 68 minutes immediately after the Pars had a very soft penalty claim rightly turned down by Chris Boyle. Queens broke forward and suddenly Burns, O'Connor and Dobbie were three on three with the home defence. Stephen Dobbie laid the ball to Burns and then took a return pass, as O'Connor took defenders away, before fairly lashing the ball into the top left corner from 25 yards out. Three minutes later a Harris free kick fairly fizzed at goal and was fumbled away by Gallacher. Queens were in the mood now and Dobbie tested the former international keeper again from 20 yards on 73 minutes. This time he was equal to the low shot though. In a by now rare foray forward, Graham Bayne headed a free kick wide of target soon after. Robinson also did well to deny Loy a lobbed effort before Stewart Kean came on to replace the shattered looking Sean O'Connor.

With ten minutes remaining Dobbie should have made the points absolutely safe when Burns set him up 10 yards from goal but, having wrong-footed Gallacher, he struck his shot wide. Craig Barr picked up yet another booking for dissent before Jim McIntyre made his final change with Calum Woods replacing Scott Wilson. Graham Bayne collected a booking for a somewhat "robust" challenge on Lee Robinson and Martyn Lancaster joined him in Mr Boyle's book right afterward for delaying the taking of a Queens free kick. In the final minutes Stephen Dobbie indicated that he was unable to carry on and was replaced by Michael McGowan, meaning we finished in a 4-5-1 with Kean up front on his own. It mattered little, as Dunfermline were offering nothing by now and the win was seen out very comfortably. After eleven league games without a win, a venue we hadn't had a league win at for 54 years was a surprising source of one. It sets us up nicely for the clash with Airdrie next week.