Queen's Park2–1Dumbarton

DUMBARTON pushed Queen's Park all the way in this February midweek fixture. Sons continued their recent good form and certainly deserved to take more from the game.

After the early exchanges, the home side went ahead on 7 minutes. Queen's won a free-kick on the half way line and after a nice touch from Robert McHugh to skip past his marker inside the box he fired a low left footed drive which was diverted onto the post by Kieran Wright. However the rebound fell to Luis Longstaff who was in the right position at the right time to tap in the rebound.

Sons looked to respond and put pressure on the home goal. Carlo Pignatiello had a couple of cross in quick succession: the first cleared by the defence, the second skewed behind. It was then the turn of Josh Oyinsan try try to level the scores. After great work from Eoghan Stokes and Conner Duthie the ball fell to Josh but his long range shot flew over the bar. Stokes then saw a lob bounce wide before Wright was back in action blocking a cross from Thomas Robson.

On 26 minutes, great hold up play from Oyinsan saw him bring down a long ball, before laying it off to Stokes, who then fired in a curling shot low from which Calum Ferrie produces a great save. From the resulting corner the ball bounced in the centre of the box and it strucks Jack Thomson's outstretched arm and the referee awarded a penalty. Stuart Carswell stepped up and fired it high into the top corner giving Ferrie no chance with his 6th goal of the season.

With almost the last kick of the first half the Spiders took the lea, again courtesy of Longstaff. Thomson chased down a lost cause on the halfway line after a poor ball from McHugh but he won the ball back before playing it back inside to McHugh. He drove forward before passing to Longstaff who cut inside onto his favoured left foot and fired a low shot into the bottom corner.

11 minutes into the second half and Queen's had a goal chalked off after McHugh slipped the ball into the net. After what seemed an age and long debate between the ref and his assistant, the latter eventually raised his flag.

Just before the hour mark, Oyinsan sent in another shot that flashed wide before Queen's missed a glorious chance to seal the victory. Connor Smith floated a ball to the back post where Longstaff knocked it down to McHugh who turned and sent a shot high over the bar.

On 78 minutes, McHugh picked up a booking and from the resulting free kick Duthie nearly pulled off a terrific piece of skill as his back heeled effort just narrowly squirmed past the post.

Anyone who is a fan of pinball machines would had loved the action on 83 minutes. Sons box saw Quitongo, Robson and McHugh all had efforts at goal. Robson sent in a shot that was saved by Wright at the near post. The rebound fell to Quitongo on the penalty spot and his effort was blocked by desperate last gasp blocking by Sons defenders Dumbarton getting bodies in the way. The ball then looped up into the air and McHugh rose highest but got underneath the ball and it floated onto the roof of the net.