Two goals in two minutes early in the second half saw Queens ease to a comfortable victory over bottom side Falkirk and move up to fourth place in the Championship table. After an unproductive first half in which Queens missed several chances- including a penalty that Stephen Dobbie had saved - Queens stepped up the tempo in the second period and thoroughly deserved to claim all 3 points as along with the two goals, Queens hit the bar, and forced visiting `keeper Mitchell to make several really good saves.
VIPs today
Queens continued with the team that started against Dunfermline last time out which meant a first home start for David Norman in central midfield as once again a 4-4-2 formation was preferred.
It was the bottom side who made the better start to the game with a few early crosses causing concern for the Queens defence, and after winning the games first corner Brough could only steer his header wide of the target.
The hosts were slowly starting to get into the game and a long ball from Norman eventually found it`s way to Lyndon Dykes via Andy Stirling and Stephen Dobbie, but Dykes was well wide with his effort. Queens next attack began with the pace of Dykes being utilised well as he broke clear in beyond the defence, but in attempting to square the ball to the well placed Josh Todd, his pass was cut out by a recovering defender and the break was ended. A free kick just outside the box for the visitors spelt danger for Queens, and although Paton`s initial effort hit the wall, when the ball broke into the path of Zudden it took an excellent block by Fordyce to prevent the Falkirk striker from getting a shot away. Paton was involved in the game`s next incident as his late challenge on Dobbie really merited a yellow card, but the Falkirk midfielder escaped punishment. Dobbie spent the next few minutes limping around, but fortunately he was able to continue and it was his skill that saw Queens win a penalty midway through the half, when his sublime turn inside the box beat Buaben, and that resulted in the former Hearts man fouling the Queens striker to concede an obvious penalty. The scene was set for Dobbie to continue his amazing scoring run, but Falkirk `keeper Mitchell had other ideas and produced an excellent save to keep out Dobbie`s low drive, turning the shot onto the post, and although in the ensuing melee Queens did manage to force the ball into the net, a foul on the `keeper was given and the goal did not stand.
Penalty saved by ex-Cleyholer Mitchell
Does the keeper have it under control
The missed spot-kick didn`t deflate Queens and an impressive run and shot from Stirling almost crept in at the near post, but again Mitchell did well to get down to his right and push the ball to safety. With David Norman, and Kyle Jacobs controlling midfield, and the impressive Josh Todd pushing Queens forward, the home side were well in control and Dykes very nearly profited from a long clearance from Jordan Marshall but Dallison was just able to guide a header back to his `keeper before Dykes could benefit.
Stirling sends a shot towards goal
Five minutes before the break some excellent work on the right from Petravicius allowed him to send in a cross that picked out Haber at the back post, but there was no power in his header and Alan Martin saved comfortably. The Queens `keeper was called into action again right on half-time, when this time he was well positioned to deal with Paton`s half volley, by clutching the ball at head height. That few minutes before the break was easily the visitor`s best spell of the game, but on the whole, Queens were the better team and should really have been going into the interval with a lead.
HALF-TIME QUEENS 0-0 FALKIRK
The first incident of the second half saw Lithuanian play-maker, Petravicius being shown a yellow card for simulation, which on first glance looked slightly harsh, but he became the first of 4 Falkirk players who found their way into referee Steven`s notebook. Stephen Dobbie went very close to opening the scoring on 50 minutes when a throw-in was flicked into his path by Dykes, but from a very tight angle, the striker`s shot was beaten away by Mitchell. However just two minutes later, Queens found the breakthrough following a corner. A quick set-piece routine seemed to have gone wrong as Queens were forced back, but when Andy Stirling`s deep cross to the back post found the head of Michael Doyle, he was able to guide a header back across goal to score for the first time as a Queens player. The applause amongst the crowd of 1463 had only just died down when Queens doubled their lead as once again, another defender found the net. A break down the left involving Todd and Marshall carved through the Falkirk defence and with Stephen Dobbie finding acres of space and being unmarked in front of goal it seemed as though the ball would be played to him, however Jordan Marshall had other ideas and from 20-yards out he powered the ball past Mitchell to give Queens full control.
Doyle heads in the opener
Doyle celebrates his goal - with passion
Goal celebrations
Queens had more chances to extend their lead when more good work from Todd down the left won a corner that eventually fell to Lyndon Dykes, but he failed to get a true connection with the ball and his shot bounced wide. Todd was involved moments later as his persistence paid off and the ball ran into the path of Dobbie, but further evidence that this was not to be the Championship`s top scorers day came when Dobbie`s shot smashed against the bar with `keeper Mitchell well beaten.
The dual between Dobbie and Mitchell continued on 74 minutes when after getting in behind the last defender, the Queens striker was through one on one against the `keeper, but again the `keeper won the contest and did well to block Dobbie`s powerful strike.
Two quick substitutions from Queens saw Connor Murray replace Andy Stirling, and then Owen Bell replace David Norman, and as the game moved towards it`s conclusion the visitors were denied a late consolation goal when substitute Irving`s powerful strike from the edge of the penalty area bounced back off the bar.
Queens were forced into making a change for the final few minutes as Scott Mercer was replaced after appearing to hurt his back, with Callum Semple coming on for the unfortunate Mercer. Stephen Dobbie had one final chance to add his name to the scoresheet, but he was well off target with a left foot attempt.
Mercer with a game ending injury
Josh Todd was named as sponsors man-of-the-match as back-to-back clean sheets saw Queens move into the top four level on points with Inverness but with a better goal difference.
Queens have the opportunity to consolidate their position on Tuesday night when Morton are the visitors to Palmerston,and with this being the last home game before we face two tricky away games, both against teams above us in the table, let`s hope Queens can continue with their upward trend.