Queens travelled to ?local? rivals Ayr United in what was the final game of the 2010s for the Doonhamers. There was one enforced change to the Queens line-up, with Darren Brownlie dropping out injured, replaced by Callum Semple at centre-half. Ross Irving came back onto the bench, with Andy McCarthy and Lewis Kidd also dropping out of the squad.
Queens lined-up in the same 4-3-3 formation as last-week, with Semple slotting in at CB.
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It was almost the worst possible start for the away side, as a simple ball over the top of the defence from Houston caught Queens napping found Michael Moffat. The veteran strikers shot was well saved by Robbie McCrorie, however.
From almost the worst possible start, it turned into the best possible start for Queens, who took the lead through Callum Semple after four minutes. A superb corner from Faissal El Bakhtaoui found the big defender, who unleashed an unstoppable header from six-yards out.
Semple powers his header into the back of the net
Osman helps Semple celebrate his goal
Despite Ayr having more of the ball in the opening period, Queens looked dangerous on the counter-attack throughout. The front three of El Bakhtaoui, Connor Murray and Stephen Dobbie looked were testing Ayr?s defence, and were joined on the break the tireless by Dan Pybus and Darren Lyon at every opportunity.
Ross Doohan was to thank for Queens not doubling their lead, with the Scotland U21 shot-stopper making a smart save to deny Murray a goal.
After a nervy first 20 minutes, the hosts grew into the game and began dictating proceedings. Luke McCowan, who was sent off in Queens? 3-1 victory vs Ayr in November, almost scored from 25-yards out with a curling effort, but the diving head of Lee Kilday prevented an equaliser.
Ayr had another chance just a minute later, as Moffat fired over the bar from just three yards out after a Craig Moore cross.
The first-half came to a tasty close, with four bookings dished out by referee David Lowe in the final two minutes. McCowan was booked for kicking the ball at El Bakhtaoui?s head, while the Queens winger was booked for his reaction to the incident; pushing McCowan. Pybus was the next man booked for a dangerous challenge, while Andy Geggan received his yellow-card for fouling El Bakhtaoui after the half-time whistle had went.
HT: Ayr 0-1 QoS
Queens weren?t at their best in the opening 45, nonetheless they went in with a goals lead.
The second-half began quietly, but burst into life after 58 minutes when Queens were handed a penalty thanks to an Aaron Muirhead foul on Stephen Dobbie in the area. And the skipper made no mistake, sending Doohan the wrong way.
Muirhead brings Dobbie down in the box to concede the penalty
Dobbie strikes the penalty and scores
Dobbie celebrates his strike
As Queens fans were serenading the seething home support with the ?we?ve got Dobbie? chant, the hosts almost pulled one back. A brilliant save by McCrorie from McCowan, followed up by Semple putting his body on the line to prevent the rebound from going in managed to preserve Queens? two-goal lead.
Not long after the block, Semple was subbed off after a superb performance following his recent injury. Kevin Holt slotted in at CB, Lyon at LB, while Semple?s replacement, Michael Paton, went into CM.
A pair of headers from Geggan and Moffat done nothing to trouble McCrorie, before Faissal El Bakhtaoui almost scored the goal of the year (apart from THAT Stephen Dobbie one, of course). After cutting inside, the tricky winger unleashed a rocket from near 30-yards out that cannoned off the bar. It would?ve been a goal worthy to win any football match, but it wasn?t to be.
Queens were made to rue their bad luck, as the following attack from Ayr resulted in a goal. A sloppy foul in the area from the otherwise-faultless Abdul Osman allowed Aaron Muirhead to step-up and fire a penalty high into the net.
Muirhead sends McCrorie the wrong way to give the hosts some hope late on
The hosts began committing men forward with five minutes left, although much like the previous 85, they never looked like penetrating the Queens back-line.
However, over three minutes into injury time, Ayr came within a whisker of snatching an unlikely draw. A long cross from Houston was met by Muirhead, who watched his header seemingly trickle over the line. Holt and Kilday, amongst others, were rapidly retreating to prevent a goal. Despite the linesman apparently signalling for a goal, the referee allowed play to continue, not awarding a goal. As Holt cleared the ball, the full-time whistle was blown, and the 378 away fans breathed a sigh of relief.
Holt clears off the line to keep the three points for the visitors
FT: Ayr 1-2 QoS
It certainly wasn?t a game that was pleasing on the eye, but it had all the spicy ingredients of a feisty derby encounter. The final game of 2019 included eight bookings, two penalties, last minute drama and more than one on-field brawl! It meant that Queens closed out the year the way they started it, with consecutive wins. The Doonhamers lie just four points off Dundee in third, with a game-in-hand at Cappielow in next year.
A special mention to the away support today, who really were a twelfth man from before kick-off until after the game had finished. The ?young team?, and plenty of older ones I?m sure, were in fine voice and a credit to all at the club.
Happy new year to all Doonhamers when it comes, let?s see what 2020 brings!
Finlay Jack