Queens` Scottish Cup campaign came to an abrupt end after falling to a disappointing 2-1 defeat away to Dumbarton. Gary Fleming`s double either side of Derek Lyle`s equaliser was enough to send the home side through to the next round of the oldest national cup competition.

Queens` Scottish Cup run last season came to an end in the quarter-final stages at the hands of Championship rivals Falkirk on a windy Friday night at Palmerston in front of the BBC television cameras and the Doonhamers would continue that run of getting knocked out of the Scottish Cup by league rivals.

After las week`s 2-0 win at Livingston, James Fowler made one change to the side for the all-Championship cup tie at The Cheaper Insurance Direct Stadium. Top goal scorer Derek Lyle, who came off the bench last week to score the opener, returned to the starting eleven at the expense of on-loan winger Alex Harris after fully recovering from a knock, suggesting Queens would be tweaking their formation.

The hosts came into this fourth round tie licking their wounds after being swept aside by Rangers 6-0 last week at home. The Doonhamers had won their two previous encounters with Stevie Aitken`s side, a comfortable 2-0 victory away at The Rock and a narrow 1-0 win at Palmerston in November.

The opening four minutes of the match was a scrappy affair before the home side had the first chance of the afternoon. A mistake from Lewis Kidd let Sons midfielder Grant Gallagher find space just outside the penalty box and his powerful strike was superbly palmed out for a corner by the full stretch Robbie Thomson.

Thomson gets down to make a great save

After nice play from Kevin Cawley, Dumbarton striker Garry Fleming held off Jordan Marshall and his pas found Jamie Lindsay in a dangerous position yards outside the penalty box, the winger curled his effort past Thomson but just missed the goal by a whisker.

It was a slow start from Queens who were desperately trying to get into the match but it was the home side who continued to threaten after a mix-up between the Queens defence in the box the ball fell to Grant Gallagher but his header didn`t have enough power to trouble Thomson and caught it with ease.

The Sons continued to take the game by the scruff of the neck and forced Queens into conceding a succession of corners, it looked destined that the only team that would take the lead would be the hosts.

The goal was coming and Dumbarton were finally rewarded for their efforts on the 17th minute in controversial circumstances. After receiving the ball winger Iain Russell thought he was fouled on the half way line but referee George Salmond waved play on and Garry Fleming found himself through on goal  and he calmly slotted the ball home past the advancing Thomson into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

Fleming takes advantage of a Queens defence waiting for a free kick

It was no more than what the hosts deserved but with Russell still on the ground and the Queens` bench clearly felt he was fouled in the build up to Fleming`s strike.

It was that man Fleming again causing problems for the Queens defence and could have doubled his tally for the match as he was the first to react to an inviting cross from Cawley but his aerobic strike couldn`t find the target.

Queens were struggling and couldn`t get out of first gear and with half an hour played they finally had a shot at goal. Kyle Hutton, who just agreed a contract extension with the club, set up Mark Millar driving his shot just over Dumbarton goal keeper Mark Brown`s goal.

The Doonhamers couldn`t capitalise on the chance they had and they nearly paid the price as the men in white went up to the other end and double their lead. Jamie Lindsay`s superb cross found Kevin Cawley but he couldn`t adjust his body well enough and his header went wide.

It looked as if Queens were getting closer to an equaliser on the 38th minute when Gary Oliver danced past two Sons defenders and was brought down by ex-St Johnstone man Frazer Wright in a dangerous position. Lyle`s free-kick hit the deflected off the wall and Russell was the first to react but his touch was too heavy and the ball went out of play.

The chance summed up Queens first half performance and they knew they would have to improve in the second half if they wanted a cup run this season.

The second half started in the same fashion as the first half as the hosts came out the blocks looking to grab the second goal of the game, with an early effort blocked well by goalie Robbie Thomson.

The tide looked to be turning as Queens were beginning to settle into the match and put pressure onto the Dumbarton back line. Gary Oliver found himself space inside the penalty area but his shot was deflected out for a corner.

Queens grabbed the equaliser on the 52nd minute when Millar`s deep corner found Derek Lyle at the back post and the striker slid his strike on target and fumbled over the line by Brown, his first real involvement in the match.

Lyle nets

and celebrates

The goal gave the visitors confidence and forced the Dumbarton defence into several mistakes but couldn`t find the all-important final pass to unlock the door to take the lead.

Five minutes later the hosts were in front again against the run of play as Cawley fed the ball to Fleming and the striker pounced and slotted the ball past Thomson for the second time to the delight of half of the 680 in attendance.

Fleming nets the winner

Queens` afternoon went from bad to worse when captain Chris Higgins limped off after suffering an injury to his leg and was replaced by Darren Brownlie.

The visitors threw everything into finding another goal to keep their cup dreams alive. Marshall was fouled in an inviting position for Mark Millar to cross the ball into the box and his cross found the head of Kyle Hutton but was parried out by keeper Brown. The Dumbarton keeper was looking vulnerable as it looked as if he could have caught the ball rather than palm it.

Brown saves a late effort

It was looking as if it wouldn`t be The Doonhamers day as in stoppage time Lyle flicked the ball into the path of Millar who had a decent shot saved by the feet of Brown and seconds later Oliver skied his effort over the bar before referee Salmond blew for full time.

It was an extremely disappointing day for the Doonhamers being knocked out of the Scottish Cup by a team they have had a good record against but James Fowler`s side can make amends next week as we are back at The Rock next week on league duty, where Queens` continue their play-off push.