It was a break from league one this weekend as we travelled to Dunfermline for a Scottish Gas, Scottish Cup tie. After illness hit the camp during the week, Manager Peter Murphy made two changes to the side that faced Inverness CT, both Jack Stott and Jack Hannah dropped to the bench and were replaced by Niall Rogerson and Taylor Charters.

It was Rogerson who was called into action within the opening minutes when he made a great challenge inside the box to stop an early attack by the hosts. But it was Queens who took the lead after just four minutes when Kurtis Guthrie attacked the ball as it came into the box and under pressure John Tod headed past his own keeper.

The Pars quickly responded and Ross Stewart punched clear as Matty Todd crossed and from the corner, Stewart made a brilliant save when he pushed the ball over the bar as Keith Bray got on the end of it. The stopper was beaten a minute later though when a ball in from the right wasn’t dealt with and Chris Kane was inside the six-yard box to beat Stewart from close range.

Queens hit back and Kai Kennedy’s shot was blocked at the edge of the box by Chris Hamilton. It had been a frantic start to the game by both sides and as Andrew Tod’s effort was saved as was Bray’s follow up.

The Championship side were strong and as they continued to push, Rogerson and Zander Mackenzie both cleared for corners. However, the pressure paid off with quarter of an hour played when Andy Tod took the ball way from Rogerson and played it across, Matty Douglas cleared from Bray but the ball fell to Kane who swept home his and Dunfermline’s second of the match.

Although they had come from behind to take the lead, Queens were giving them a game and midway through the half, Guthrie headed wide a Douglas throw in.

Minutes later the home side were back on the attack and Bray hit the outside of the post, but as the ball was played up field, Brennan Dickenson was 12-yards from goal when he tried to make space and take the ball away from Billy Terell but his touch was too heavy.

Guthrie then did well to get the ball into the box but this time Dickenson hit his right foot effort just over the bar. It was a good spell for the visitors and Kennedy and Charters linked up well but the home defense cleared for a throw-in.

Bray had been lively for Neil Lennon’s men and as he hit a low shot, Stewart got down for an easy take. Andy Tod then dragged his shot just wide before a ball in from the left was just ahead of Bray.

In the closing minutes of the first half, Mackenzie cleared ahead of Kane as he looked to get on the end of Todd’s cross. And Queens final chance of the first half came from Kennedy but he hit his free-kick straight into the arms of the keeper.

HALF TIME: Dunfermline 2 Queens 1

Five minutes after the restart, Stewart made a save to deny Kane his hat-trick and then punched clear as the corner was played in. The Pars had a chance to put the game to bed four minutes later but Andy Todd missed from close range as Kane headed the ball back across.

Queens came back into the game and Douglas did get on the end of Dickenson’s cross but he couldn’t direct his header on target. Kennedy then played the ball into the 18-yard area for Liam Smith, the winger turned and laid it back to Dickenson but he couldn’t get a decent shot away.

At the other end, Bray played the ball in for Kane but he hit his shot over the bar. It was end to end and Dickenson was inches away from getting on the end of Kennedy’s free-kick.

Midway through the second half, Douglas did well to block from Kane. And with fifteen minutes left, Kane Ritchie-Hosler was shut down by Stewart. A minute later it was Andy Tod who was at the back-post but he headed his effort onto the roof of the net.

The hosts thought they had wrapped up the game nine minutes from time when Jefferson Caceres forced the ball over the line. The goal was initially given but as Queens protested to the assistant referee the decision was overturned.

Looking to force the game into extra time, Smith made an attempt on goal but Josh Tod did well to get his body behind to block the shot. The final chance fell to the Fife side but Robbie Fraser fired over.

It was a gallant effort from Queens against a very good Dunfermline side but in the end, they just fell short and the Scottish Cup games are over for another year.

FULL TIME: Dunfermline 2 Queens 1