James Maxwell?s second-half strike wasn?t enough as Dunfermline Athletic ran out 3-1 victors in Fife, with three of the games four goals scored in the final 10 minutes.

 

 

Fresh from signing a new two year deal at the South, Allan Johnston made just one change to his side with Isaiah Jones coming in for Aidan Fitzpatrick on the left of midfield. Stephen Dobbie returned to the bench after a knock in training kept him out of Tuesday?s loss at home to Raith with Joe McKee dropping out of the squad.

 

Dunfermline had former Doonhamer Dom Thomas in their line-up although Euan Murray was missing through injury.

 

Rhys McCabe lined up next to Ayo Obileye in front of the back four, with Jones and Dapo Mebude playing on the wings.

 

It was clear from the outset that Dunfermline?s main threat was Thomas on the right hand side with the hosts looking for the wideman at every opportunity.

 

And it was through the winger?s good work that the home team opened the scoring after 10 minutes.

 

James Maxwell forced Thomas onto his right foot, before Rohan Ferguson saved his effort. But he could only parry it out as far as Kevin O?Hara to tap home into an empty net from yards out.

 

OHara has a simple tap in to open the scoring

 

It was a typical strikers goal with the Pars number seven reacting quickest to Ferguson?s save as Dunfermline took a deserved early lead.

 

The Doonhamers struggled to really get going in the first-half and were lucky not to be two down as Ferguson was forced into saving a wicked Thomas strike from 18 yards.

 

Declan McManus was a constant threat with his runs from deep and almost doubled Dunfermline?s lead through 27 minutes, only for Ferguson to get his right foot down to the ball to prevent a second.

 

Queens gradually grew into the game after this and were unlucky not to be awarded a spot kick on 41 minutes after Vasilias Gaspuitis had his hands all over Obileye in the Dunfermline penalty area, but referee David Lowe waved the claims away.

 

There was also a shout for a handball in the Pars box with Gregor Buchanan absolutely incensed at the decision not to award a penalty, although with so many bodies in the way Lowe would have struggled to get a clear view of the ball.

 

Handball shouts were waived away

 

Connor Shields was very much feeding off scraps for the opening 45 but did see a volley well saved by Owain Fon Williams on the stroke of half-time after getting in behind the defence.

 

From the resulting corner, Obileye was denied his tenth league goal of the season through a sublime save from the Welsh ?keeper.

 

A swivelling left foot volley looked destined for the top corner, but the former international made a spectacular reaction save to keep things level.

 

 

Queens really didn?t get going until the 40 minute mark but could well have been level at various points in the last five minutes. Equally, Dunfermline could well have had more than one goal in the opening half.

 

Things were finely poised for a huge 45 minutes with Queens really needing a victory to keep any hopes of a play-off place available.

 

Despite coming out with more energy about their play, Queens weren?t able to test Fon Williams.

 

It was actually Ferguson who was the first goalie forced into action after Craig Wighton waltzed his way through the South defence only for Ferguson to again prevent a second for the hosts.

 

Johnston made a duo of changes on the hour mark with Stephen Dobbie Fitzpatrick replacing Jones and Dickson as Queens searched for an equaliser.

 

Obileye tried his luck from range before he was subbed off, for the first time this season, after starting every game. Dan Pybus replaced him for his first appearance since February 12^th.

 

Obileye shot just past

 

The sub never had the desired effect though as the home side doubled their lead on 81 minutes.

 

It was Thomas again causing the problems, skipping past Maxwell before squaring it to substitute Fraser Murray. The Hibs loanee took a composed touch before firing powerfully through Maxwell who was helpless on the line.

 

The hosts never looked likely at all up until that point in the second period after stop-start affair.

 

But Queens were handed a lifeline on 86 minutes. A fizzed ball into the area from Fitzpatrick was touched onto James Maxwell, the Rangers loanee fired into the top corner to give the South hope.

 

Maxwell lets fly as Dobbie watches

Maxwell smashes the ball into the back of the et

 

Despite looking uninspiring in the second 45, The Doonhamers were certainly no worse than Dunfermline who scored only moments before.

 

As Queens throw men forward though there was plenty of space in behind, and Dunfermline exploited it.

 

O?Hara took the ball past Ferguson 40 yards from goal, but his touch was far too heavy. He squared to Thomas, who found Ewan Henderson to tap home into an open net.

 

 

For a game that contained four goals and a myriad of good chances, it felt like one of the flattest games of the season from both sides.

 

Nobody could have grudged Queens a draw although it was the hosts who took their chances.