It was 53 years since Dundee United visited Palmerston in the league and after today many Queens fans would be wishing we could wait another 53 years to see them again. In a game that started fairly evenly it was their quality in the final third proved decisive and in the end the visitors ran out comfortable winners.

The mascots enjoyed trying out the new dugouts

It was Queens who started the better, though, and Anderson had a great chance on 10 minutes. He broke forward but with options either side chose to shoot from distance and dragged his shot well wide.

United then came into the game more and forced a couple of corners. The first was dealt with but the second found Mark Durnan at the far post who had no trouble heading home to give his new team the lead. 

Durnan scores at Palmerston again

 

That lead was doubled just 8 minutes later, again a little against the run of play. A fairly innocuous free kick mid way in the Queens half was played short by Flood. With the defence, and keeper, still lining up for a cross to the far post, the ball was whipped in to the near post where Tony Andreu found himself all alone and his glancing header flew into the net as Robinson tried desperately to get back accross his goal.

It was still mainly Queens in terms of possession but it took till just before half time before they threatened the United goal seriously when Lyndon Dykes cut inside and fired a shot inches wide from 30+ yards out. United, on the other hand, looked dangerous going forward, particularly when Murray and Fraser were on the ball.

The first goal in 5 league games did finally come, though. Deep into injury time - being played because Paul Dixon had earlier been stretchered off - Queens won a free kick wide on the right. Stephen Dobbie whipped a great ball into the box where Anderson leapt highest to head home and give the Palmerston support some hope for the second half.

Anderson rises highest to head home

Anderson heads home

A goal for Queens

Bell shows his frustration at losing a goal at Palmerston

 

HALF TIME - 1:2

That hope increased when Cammy Bell didnt come out for the second half and Dundee United were forced into their second change of the match, with 22 year old German Luis Zwick taking over in goals.

It was United who started the brighter though and took just 9 minutes to restore their two goal advantage. Some good play down the right saw, the impressive, Van Der Struijk find space. He squared the ball to Scott Fraser 20 yards out and, with no one coming to close him down, the young forward hit an unstoppable shot into the top corner to make it 1-3.

No stopping this strike

It was all United now and for spells they looked like they could score with every attack. Robinson did well to deny Fraser when he was through on goal just 2 minutes after Simon Murray found space in the box but saw his shot come back off the post.

Derek Lyle lasted an hour on his return to be replaced by Rigg. This change was followed by Brotherston replacing Anderson and Hamill replacing Jacobs with just under 20 mintues to go. Dundee United were then forced to make another change as Durnan appeared to over stretch clearing the ball. The big defender didnt look happy to be taken off, so hopefully his injury isnt a bad one.

Queens were struggling to find any way back into the game and it was all over on the 76th minute. Simon Murray again found room bursting into the box and he cleverly lifted the ball over the advancing Robinson to make it 1-4 and kill any hopes of a comeback. It could have been 5 just a minute later when only a last ditch tackle from Marshall prevented Murray pulling the trigger again.

The final action of the game saw a bit of a stramash right in front of the away fans. Hamill was penalised for a late tackle which some of the United players took exception to. A large gathering of both sets of players and some pushing and shoving followed. Hamill was booked for the initial foul along with Edjenguele and Dowie for their part in the aftermath.

Hamill puts in the tackle that caused the stramash

Queens matched United for large spells of the match, but an inability to defend balls into the box and some superior quality in the final third saw the visitors run out worthy winners.