LATEST MATCH SUMMARY

Queens took the field at a wind swept Palmerston today with a side almost identical to that which had performed so well seven days earlier against Inverness, the only change to the fourteen was that the suspended Nesovic was replaced by Tommy Turner on the right side of midfield.

A reasonably settled side in the same formation that was so successful last week found the windy conditions difficult to master, as did an East Fife side who threatened only in patches. Queens forced the play for almost the entire match with the back four combination of Aitken, Thomson, Townsley and McLeod providing a firm foundation that was stretched only occasionally. The best chance of the first half fell to Ken Eadie who was fed through by Leslie but could only watch as his shot flashed across the face of the goal.

Queens midfield failed to capitalise on the possession enjoyed, however McAllister, Leslie, Cleeland and Turner put in workmanlike performances but just lacked the opportunity to make that final incisive pass that could have released either of the two front men of Eadie and Bailey.

A similar pattern of substitutions again perked up the attack with Brian Caldwell coming on for Jamie McAllister and despite the conditions putting in a battling performance to threaten the East Fife keeper on a number of occasions. Stevie Mallan then followed Caldwell on as a substitute and replaced the tiring Lee Bailey, this injected some more urgency up front but despite having the most potent combination of forwards on the pitch in the shape of Caldwell, Eadie and Mallan, there were few clear openings made for them to capitalise upon.

The closest Queens came to securing the points was late on when Mallan burst through down the right hand side, cut in and attempted to square the ball back to the waiting Eadie, only the last gap intervention of an East Fife defender prevented an almost certain match winning goal.

The collective determination of the players to win this week was some what short of last weeks effort but it has to be said that conditions had a big hand in the type of football being played.