Queen's today turned in what can only be described as a lack lustre performance against a team that they had already soundly defeated this season. There are no excuses about missed chances or unlucky incidents today, this was the correct result. Forfar had done their homework, close down the wing backs, control the midfield and don't give the Doonhamers any time on the ball, it worked and worked well, the 'Loons' could have won by more.
To cap it all the only change to either formation or tactics from the magnificent win away at Berwick last weekend was the replacement of the suspended Andy Aitken with on loan Stewart Greacen.
The game itself was poor fare with the Doonhamers starting brightly, both Hodge and Nixon getting early headers just wide of target but really that initial push soon petered out until on fifteen minutes the bench gave instructions to lift the tempo.
Ten minutes later and Warren Hawke had the best chance of the whole game for Queens as he broke through on 'keeper Garden in the Forfar goals only to see the veteran goalie make a tremendous save from Hawkes goalbound effort.
A minute later and Forfar are in front, the ball bounced up nicely for Bowman on the edge of the Glasgow Street goals and the veteran midfielder struck a sweet shot which Mathieson had covered all the way until it struck Andy Martin and deflected into the net.
All the trouble was coming down the left hand side of the Forfar attack with Queen's looking decidedly shaky on that side, from one attack just on half time Forfar should have made it two as their forward headed wide of an open goal.
Changes were necessary and were made at half time, Phil Nixon who had performed admirably but was obviously in some discomfort was replaced by Jon Sunderland in an attempt to inject some flair into midfield and within ten minutes Sunderland had been fed a square ball by Warren Hawke which he struck cleanly but without enough power to trouble the 'keeper. Then back up the other end Andy Martin makes a last gasp blocking tackle to foil the Forfar attack.
Another change was made with Mark Weir replacing Tony Nelson and taking up a left wing berth, Sandy Hodge moving into a more central midfield role. Eight minutes later and Weiry makes the 'keeper save at full stretch to push the ball just round the post for a corner.
In seventy three minutes Paddy Atkinson took a knock as he was clearing a square ball across the defence and was replaced by Peter Weatherson, Sandy Hodge taking up his third position of the day at left back with Warren Hawke making a move back into midfield and Weatherson partnering Preen for the last twenty minutes or so. All to no avail though as the Dumfries forwards who had been prolific last week failed to threaten the visitors goal.
The small band of Forfar fans were well pleased with the result as it lifts them off the bottom of the table and dumps the Doonhamers into that all too familiar position.
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