Despite a spirited second-half performance it was a Halloween to forget for Queens as a lacklustre first period meant Queens lost out at East End Park 3-2. A Joe McKee strike and a Stephen Dobbie penalty were out-scored by Ewan Murray, Declan McManus (P) and Paul Watson.

 

 

Returning manager Allan Johnston made three changes to last weeks team, James Maxwell, Dan Pybus and Calvin McGrory coming in for Nortei Nortey, Euan East and Rhys McCabe.

 

The Management are back

 

Queens lined-up in a 4-3-3 formation with Stephen Dobbie playing as the central striker, while Aidan Fitzpatrick and Connor Shields occupied the wings.

 

It was the visitors who started the game the brighter of the two sides, seeing most of the ball without troubling Owain Fon Williams in the Dunfermline goal.

 

Obileye chests the ball down on the edge of the box

 

Despite the early pressure, the Pars grew into the game and gradually began to see more of the ball.

 

It was Queens who had the games first real chances though, as Fitzpatrick wriggled his way into the area, only for his shot to be blocked by Paul Watson. Not long after, a Joe McKee set piece was met by Gregor Buchanan 12-yards from goal, his header impressively tipped over the bar by Fon Williams.

 

After 21 minutes though an all too familiar occurrence took place; Queens conceding from a corner. Indeed, it was Dunfermline?s first corner of the game as Ewan Murray was able to find space from his marker, getting on the end of Dom Thomas? cross to fire the hosts ahead.

 

The home side began to see more and more of the ball as Queens struggled to offer much going forward, although the Pars were rarely calling Rohan Ferguson into action.

 

Ex-Doonhamer Iain Wilson came on for the Pars, replacing Aaron Comrie after 38 minutes due to an injury.

 

Just three minutes later the hosts doubled their lead. As Queens cleared a corner, Kyle Turner picked the ball up on the apex of the area before being fouled by Pybus just inside the box. It was about as clear a penalty as you?ll see, and Declan McManus made no mistake in firing into the top corner to double Dunfermline?s lead.

 

 

A disappointing first-half for Queens, with set-pieces undoing what was otherwise a solid performance from the visitors. Nonetheless, for the third league game in a row Queens went into the break two-goals down.

 

Euan East replaced Calvin McGrory at the break as Queens went slightly more direct with a 4-4-2 formation.

 

And the change of system worked exactly as planned for the visitors after 51 minutes. Queens were passing the ball about sharply at the edge of the area, before it dropped nicely to Joe McKee whose long range shot was too hard for Fon Williams, with the ball creeping past the ?keeper into the corner.

 

Just four minutes later Queens were almost level when McKee, who seemed to be central to most the good work done by Queens, delivered a deep cross to Ayo Obileye, but the big defender was unable to direct his shot on target.

 

East is sent flying by Watson

 

After an hour though Dunfermline were able to restore their two-goal advantage. Another Thomas corner was blocked at the front-post, however, Paul Watson was first to react to the knock-down, firing high into the goal.

 

Nevertheless Queens never gave up and continued to push for goals, despite the loss of Buchanan, who was replaced by Nortei Nortey.

 

The Doonhamers? determination eventually paid off as a mazy Fitzpatrick run ended in the winger being brought down by Steven Whittaker in the area. It was another stonewall penalty, and another goal as Stephen Dobbie bagged his third spot-kick in as many games.

 

Wilson brings down Fitzpatrick in the box to give Queens the penalty

 

The final 15 minutes of the game was very much one-way traffic with Queens dominating territory, although the home team were still dangerous on the break.

 

Queens knew they had to be patient, and patient they were, waiting until injury time before their chance to get back into the game came. A McKee corner was knocked-down by Obileye to Dobbie at the back-post, however, despite only being a couple yards from goal, ?Dobs? skied his effort.

 

 

Disappointingly it was a third defeat on the trot for the Doonhamers who yet again left themselves with too much to do in the second-half.

 

Queens travel north to Arbroath next week, who are also without a point this season.