Allan Johnston made two changes upon his return to East End Park, with Lewis Kidd coming back into the team and Callum Semple starting his first match since the opening game of the season. The two sides played out a competitive 1-1 draw in August, as Gary Oliver?s goal cancelled out Kyle Turner?s opener. Ex-Pars Faissal El Bakhtaoui and Scott Mercer lined-up for the visitors, while Dunfermline boasted Greg Kiltie in their starting line-up, who had a brief loan-spell at the Doonhamers in 2014.

 A moment of remembrance

 

Match photo gallery here.

 

It was the same formation as usual for Queens as Osman operated as the holding midfielder in the 4-1-3-2 formation, while Kidd was pushed forward in the middle of the three.

In a half of few chances and limited quality, both sides could have well been ahead in the open 10 minutes. After  just six minutes, a dangerous corner in the box was met at the front post by Lee Ashcroft, who directed a faint volley narrowly over the bar from close range.

At the other end of the pitch, El Bakhtaoui came within inches of scoring on his return to East End Park. A deep cross from Osman found El Bakh, who had heaps of space, but the tricky winger directed his powerful volley the wrong side of the crossbar.

El Bakhtaoui shoots towards goal

Robby McCrorie was called into action a couple of times, having to be quick off his line to beat both Nisbet and Kiltie to the ball on various occasions.

After thirty minutes Andy Ryan tested McCrorie with a weak effort, although the Queens stopper had to be on his toes to reach it. Abdul Osman on his second start for the club was booked after taking down Kyle Turner on the counter-attack. El Bakhtaoui looked to have pulled something in his left-leg not long after and was replaced swiftly by Connor Murray.

Semple intercepts

In the final five minutes Queens enjoyed their best spell of the period, keeping the ball in Dunfermline?s half, but were still unable to test Ryan Scully in the Dunfermline goal.

HT: Dunfermline 0-0 QoS

A poor first half for both sides, with no quality of to split either.

The second half started with Queens attacking through Dobbie. A dangerous ball in from the number 11 was slightly too hard for Jack Hamilton to get on the end of. Dobbie then tried his effort from a long-wide angle, out of frustration more than anything, and went within the post of giving Queens the lead.

After a couple of fouls, Osman was taken off to protect him from an early bath, replaced by Darren Lyon. Just two minutes later, the hosts were ahead. A hopeless punt up the pitch from Lee Ashcroft was brought down by Andy Ryan, who squared it to Ryan Dow in the box. The right-winger then beat Callum Semple before firing low into the net.

Dow beats Kilday and McCrorie to open the scoring

Their really wasn?t too much to separate the sides in the opening hour, with neither really offering much going forward. Despite this, it was the Pars ahead and Queens had work to do.

Lyon and Dan Pybus both tried their luck from range without troubling Scully.

Queens were struggling to really get a clear shot of goal, credit to Dunfermline?s tight defence. After pushing on for an equaliser, Dunfermline took advantage of Queens lacking in numbers at the back and doubled their lead. Kevin Nisbet beat Lee Kilday just outside the area, before wrong-footing McCrorie in goals to give the home side a two-nil lead.

Nisbet finishes through the legs of Semple wrong footing McCrorie

A couple of Dunfermline corners and bookings for Dobbie and Kidd was the only action of note in the final ten minutes as Dunfermline held out for the win.

FT: Dunfermline 2-0 QoS

A poor performance from Queens, however the Doonhamers remain seventh in the table. Next week Mark Kerr?s Ayr visit Palmerston. We?ll see you there.