DUNFERMLINE 0 QOS 2

QUEEN OF the South moved through to the third round of the Alba Challenge Cup thanks to two well taken goals and some doughty defending which kept Dunfermline at bay.

The Doonhamers took just three minutes to open their account through striker Stewart Kean from wide on the right as the home side started slowly.

Callum Reidford in the Pars goal could do nothing about it as the ball looped over his head.

The Pars wasted a couple of efforts early in the first half, most notably when Andy Kirk headed just wide from close range.

Cammy Bell then had to look sharp to tip over a bullet of a header from midfielder Nick Phinn from a Paul Willis cross in the 17th minute.

Gordon Chisholm’s men could have stretched their lead in the 25th minute when a neat chip over the Fifers’ defence by Stevie Tosh put Stephen Dobbie in on goal.

However, his shot was too weak to trouble Reidford.

Just five minutes from half time Willis nearly grabbed the equaliser when he popped up to deflect a shot from Ryan Thompson goalwards, but Bell gathered comfortably.

Queen of the South nearly repeated their rapid fire start in the second half when Dobbie had a shot blocked.

The ball rebounded to Jamie McQuilken, but the substitute was on it too quickly to get any power behind his shot.

Dobbie then smacked a free kick just inches wide of substitute keeper Paul Gallacher’s left hand post after Sol Bamba felled Kean on the edge of the box.

Substitute Sean O’Connor sealed the win for the visitors in the 75th minute when he rose brilliantly to head a Paul Burns cross up and over Gallacher and into the net.

Pars boss Jim McIntyre confirmed after the game that Sol Bamba’s proposed move to Watford is off.

“I’m very disappointed,” said McIntyre.

“The transfer was agreed but they have decided to pull the plug on it for whatever reason.”

Attendance—1373.

Dunfermline—Reidford (Gallacher, 43), Shields (Dearden, 45), Muirhead, Phinn (McCann, 61), Thomson, Bamba, Willis, Thompson, Williamson, Kirk, McBride. Subs not used—Whyte, McGregor.

Queen of the South—Bell, Reid, Harris, Adams, Barr, Thomson, Arbuckle (McQuilken, 43), Tosh (MacFarlane, 83), Kean, Dobbie (O’Conner, 60), Burns. Subs not used—Robertson, Halliwell.

Referee—Mike McCurry.