Queen’s headed to East End Park determined to halt their recent slump in form hoping to take all three points as 7th faced 8th in the league standings for this fixture.
Queen’s made one change to the starting eleven with Adam Devine replacing Zach Mauchin at right back with Adam Montgomery retaining his starting spot at left back.
Early phases of play saw Dunfermline making ground down Queen’s right flank on a number of occasions but the quality of their final pass was poor and the Queen’s defence was rarely breached.
On the few occasions Queen’s managed to gain territory in Dunfermline’s final third they forced a couple of corners. On the 30-minute mark, a well worked set piece move from a corner saw the ball go deep into the box to pick out Ryan Duncan, who was unable to get his shot on target, slicing his effort wide of the Dunfermline goal.
Queen’s rigid but disciplined defensive approach began to nullify Dunfermline’s attacks and gradually the first half became a battle of midfield territory with both forward lines devoid of service and clear-cut opportunities.
Before the interval, Dunfermline continued to probe down their left flank and won a free kick at the angle of Queen’s 18-yard box in a dangerous position. From the resultant free kick, the cross was overhit for the inrushing attackers and the danger came to nothing as the ball went out for a Queen’s goal kick.
Half Time: Dunfermline Athletic 0 Queen’s Park – 0
The second forty-five began with Dunfermline continuing to probe the Queen’s defence down their left flank, forcing a corner in the first six minutes of the half. Queen’s defence cleared the resultant corner with the second ball being recycled by Dunfermline to set up a shooting opportunity to test keeper Ferrie who saved comfortably in the middle of his goal.
Play was punctuated by both teams giving away possession as quickly as they won it back not helped by a pitch that prevented free flowing football from either team.
In the 60-minute Queen’s had an excellent opportunity to take the lead. Good work by Montgomery down Queen’s left saw an inch perfect cross swung in for Rudden to power a header towards goal only to see Dunfermline keeper Oluwayemi push it behind for a Queen’s corner. A big chance for Queen’s but not converted.
It was Dunfermline who were pressing the game linking through midfield and springing counter attacks from turning over Queen’s possession.
The Queen’s defence was tested on several occasions from both flanks, but each time stood firm and cleared the danger albeit aided by some poor finishing from the Dunfermline attackers inside the box.
In the 80th minute Queens Hickey-Fuggacia, on for Kyle Hurst, made ground on the right wing and sent in a low cross to the edge of the Dunfermline box for the onrushing Evans to compete for, but unfortunately was ruled to have fouled his marker and the chance was lost.
The closing stages of the game saw Queen’s falling deeper into their final third half giving up territory to Dunfermline who won a number of free kicks in the Queen’s half but lacked quality in their final delivery and were unable to penetrate the Queen’s defence.
The game finished goalless with a hard-earned share of the spoils for both teams to keep the status quo in the league standings on a playing surface that did not suit either team.
Full time: Dunfermline Athletic 0 Queen’s Park 0
Dunfermline Athletic: Tobi Oluwayemi, Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen, Chris Hamilton, Kyle Benedictus, Kieran Ngwenya, Tashan Oakley-Boothe (Joe Chalmers 84 mins), Archie Stevens (Dapo Mebude 85 mins), Ewan Otoo, Ephraim Yeboah, David Wotherspoon, Connor Young (Lewis McCann 61 mins).
Unused Substitutes: J. Hogarth, T. Fogarty. C. Clay. O. Taylor-Clarke.
Queen’s Park: Calum Ferrie (C), Adam Devine, Nikola Ujdur, Will Tizzard, Adam Montgomery (Zach Mauchin 74mins), Jack Turner, Louis Longridge, Sean Welsh, Ryan Duncan (Seb Drozd 85 mins), Kyle Hurst (Rocco Hickey-Fugaccia 67 mins), Zak Rudden (Reece Evans 74 mins).
Unused Substitutes: J. Wills, M. Thomson, B. Jackson, J. Hinds, J. Raymond,
Referee: Euan Anderson
Starting Eleven
