Queen of the South continued their march to the play-offs with yet another victory, this time away at the in-form Arbroath. Two early set-backs meant Queens faced an uphill battle, but goals from Ayo Obileye (2), James Maxwell and Dapo Mebude ensured Queens won their fourth game on the spin.
Allan Johnston made two changes to last weeks side that narrowly defeated Dunfermline with Ciaran Dickson coming in for his debut, while talisman Connor Shields returned to the team for the first time in four weeks. Calvin McGrory and Niyah Joseph were the unlucky men to drop out of the side, although both had places on what looked like an exceptionally strong bench.
The game got underway in chaotic fashion. Rhys McCabe unleashed a long range strike that was well saved by Derek Gaston, before Michael McKenna forced Rohan Ferguson into a tip over the bar with a close range header.
Ferguson tips the ball over the bar
As the game settled down it was the hosts who were looking the more likely ? and they got their deserved lead after 11 minutes.
A free-kick at the edge of the area right of centre was taken by Bobby Linn who curled his shot into the top corner, leaving Ferguson with no chance. Jack Hamilton made sure it went in after Linn?s effort seemed to bounce back out, although footage shows that the original effort was well in.
Linns free kick crossed the line but Hamiton made sure when it came back out
It only took 11 more minutes for things to get bad to worse for the South, as East brought down Jason Thomson in the area.
Referee Gavin Duncan pointed to the spot, and Michael McKenna sent Ferguson the wrong way to make it two-nil to the home team.
McKenna sends Ferguson the wrong way to make it 2-0
A big reaction was needed for the Doonhamers, who looked far below their best in the opening 25 minutes.
Mebude was thrust into the action after 26 minutes, replacing fellow Ger Dickson. In truth, it could have been any of the outfield players sacrificed after such a poor opening quarter to the game, but Dickson was the unlucky one.
The Doonhamers went to a more direct 4-4-2 with Mebude joining Shields up-front as Queens chased the game ? something they haven?t needed to do since facing Ayr at the start of January.
And AJ got the reaction he wanted, with Queens pulling one back after 33 minutes. A free-kick on the right was delivered by McCabe straight on to the head of Ayo Obileye who nodded home for his 7th (seventh) league goal of the season.
Obileye heads home
Queens were continuing to play on the front foot, searching for an equaliser ? and it didn?t take long to come.
Shields was played in on the right hand side by James Maxwell, before Gaston parried the strikers effort away. The dogged Maxwell got on the rebound though, eventually firing home at the third time of asking.
Maxwell digs out the equaliser
It marked a sensational turnaround as Queens went from looking done and dusted after 22 minutes to looking like Manchester City for the rest of the game.
Shields then saw another shot from a wide angle well stopped by Gaston, before the turnaround was complete through super-sub Dapo Mebude.
Mebude scores at the back post
The ever impressive Isaiah Jones waltzed his way past two Lichtie defenders, before sliding the ball to Mebude who had the simple job of tapping home from inches out.
It was a first professional goal for the Rangers youngster who has played sensationally since coming back into the first team picture last week.
HT: Arbroath 2-3 Queens
A first-half for the ages. Scottish Championship football at its blistering best at Gayfield as the two form sides went at it. Queens were ahead through the odd goal in five, but the game was finely poised for the second period.
A one goal lead was always going to be tough to hold on to, albeit this Queens side have shown that they are more than capable of doing it on numerous occasions this year.
Thankfully this time though there was some sort of breathing room, courtesy of that man.
Another dangerous McCabe ball was met by Rhys Breen, who headed down to the brilliant Ayo Obileye to volley viscously beyond Gaston into the top corner of the net.
Obileye slams past Gaston for number four
Obileye celebrates his strike
It was Obileye?s 8th (eighth) goal of the campaign, meaning he is the second top goalscorer in the entire league, despite playing centre-back for most the campaign.
The hard work wasn?t done there though, with Gregor Buchanan marshalling his defence who were standing up to everything thrown their way.
The lowlight of the day came after 55 minutes as Jones went chasing a loose ball in typical fashion, before pulling up with what looked like a nasty hamstring injury.
The injury could keep the Middlesbrough loanee out for a while, although it gave a chance to Aidan Fitzpatrick to return to action.
Fitzpatrick powered a first time volley at goal on 68 minutes from the edge of the area, only to see his shot blocked.
Skipper Stephen Dobbie was introduced into the action on 75 minutes to replace Shields, who ended the game mightily unlucky not to have grabbed a goal.
The last 15 minutes were one way traffic, in all honesty. Arbroath struggled to create anything, whilst the pace of Mebude and Fitzpatrick, along with the quality of Dobbie, was causing all sorts of problems.
The skipper struck the bar from a free-kick after 80 minutes, before Lewis Moore and Hamilton saw efforts blocked at the other end of the pitch.
FT: Arbroath 2-4 Queens
A game that lived up to its big billing.
Bar the opening 25 minutes or so, Queen of the South were simply sensational, with Obileye at the heart of it all.
It?s back to Palmerston next week for the boys in blue as Alloa are the visitors.
Finlay Jack