Stephen Dobbie hit a superb 16-minute treble and helped Queens move third in the Championship after a convincing 5-2 win over Dunfermline.

 

Dobbie

 

Queens visited East End Park for the first time this season and it was a brutally cold afternoon but the manner of the Doonhamers performance certainly warmed up the away support.

 

Gary Naysmith named an unchanged starting line-up to the one that drew with Inverness last weekend. 

 

Former Queens players Nicky Clark and Michael Paton started for the Pars, led by ex-Queens gaffer Allan Johnston.

 

The visitors had the upper hand in the early stages of the match. On two minutes, Dobbie played through Andy Stirling. The winger lined up a shot from the edge of the box but was deflected off a defenders leg and into Pars keeper Sean Murdoch?s hands.

 

Five minutes later Dobbie was at the heart of another move as he whizzed the ball left towards Lyndon Dykes, who recently signed a contract extension, but the Australian couldnt get his attempt on target.

 

However, Queens did the opener in style a minute later. Dobbie sent Nat Wedderburn to the shops with superb movement and played through Stirling. The midfielder back heeled into the path of forward Chris Kane. 

 

The on-loan St Johnstone player finished the moved nicely and hit the ball into the bottom corner.

 

Kane scores his first

 

Pars Joe Cardle was played through one on one in 14 minutes but his shot from the right was beaten away by keeper Alan Martin. Play was stopped two minutes later for Clark to receive treatment on his ankle and he was able to return moments later.

 

Dobbie continued to amaze all at East End Park. He switched a beautiful ball to the right and right-back Scott Mercer was off balance and his attempt dragged wide.

 

Queens continued to dominate their opponents and again it was Dobbie who was a threat to the Dunfermline defence as he cut in from the left. However his shot was blocked and sailed over the bar. 

 

The hosts started to battle back into the match but the stern visiting defence were holding strong.

 

Queens doubled their advantage on 27 minutes when Dobbie twisted and turned more than once leaving Ryan Williamson in no man`s land. Dobbie waited for his opportunity to slide the ball into Kane and he fired in a delightful strike past the keeper into the corner of the net.

 

Kane rises from the turf after hitting his second

 

On the half hour mark Pars defender Jason Talbot slipped as he tried to keep Stirling out but the former Par couldn`t capitalise and his low shot was held by Murdoch.

 

Queens continued to look most likely to score a third and the home support were beginning to get restless. Boo`s were ringing out of East End when Wedderburn was substituted for ex-Rangers forward Dean Shiels.

 

Queens held onto their two goal at the break.

 

HALF TIME PARS 0-2 QOS

 

The Doonhamers were on the front-foot from the restart. Dobbie again twisted and turned past his marker and hit a curled effort just inches over Murdoch`s crossbar.

 

Dunfermline halved the deficit only a minute later when a Williamson cross was stuck away at the near post by Clark. There was little celebrations from the ex-Doonhamer as he picked up the ball and ran towards the centre circle.

 

The visitors were unlucky to not restore their two-goal advantage on 51 minutes. Dobbie beat three players on the right but his fierce delivery into the box couldn`t be met by a Queens player.

 

The hosts were fortunate to not be down to ten men three minutes later when defender Morris brought down Kane. Morris was certainly the last man but referee William Collum brandished a yellow card. 

 

With 18 minutes remaining Dobbie kept up the pressure and he took three defenders to town with his skill but his cross wasn`t met by any of the Queens players in the box. I`m sure Dobbie will be in the Dunfermline`s defenders` nightmares for weeks to come.

 

A mistake from Shiels was disposed by Kyle Jacobs 35 yards out and Kane chased the loose ball. 

 

Murdoch came out and robbed the ball of the Queens player some 25 yards out but the ball broke to Dobbie who booted the ball into the empty net. A well-deserved goal for the hitman.

 

Dobbie slides in to celebrate his first

 

Queens had the chance to get goal number four when Dykes was brought down in the box. Our lord and master Dobbie made no mistake with the penalty kick, despite Murdoch guessing the correct way.

 

Dobbie strikes the penalty home

 

Dunfermline did respond with a goal five minutes later. Shiels powered a low shot on target, Clark chased the ball right and cut back for ex-Morton forward Declan McManus to head home.

 

Jacobs had a chance to get number five for the Doonhamers but his fierce effort went inches over the bar.

 

Queens did manage to get their fifth, and there were no surprises who got it. Dobbie struck from close range to complete his hat-trick.

 

Dobbie slots in his third

Hat trick celebration

Three from me

 

It was one of the best performances of the season from the Queen of the South players, especially Stephen Dobbie who was untouchable for the whole 90 minutes.

 

FULL TIME PARS 2-5 QOS

 

Queens are now third in the league, and have the best away form in the Championship. The Doonhamers host current league leaders Dundee United on Saturday at Palmerston Park.