MATCH STATS No doubtingthomas is
STAR MAN: DOM THOMAS – The left-winger was in scintillating form at the heart of everything good the Pars did.
DUNFERMLINE ATH. 3
O’hara (10), Murray (82), Henderson (91)
QUEEN OF THE SOUTH 1
Maxwell (87)
Dunfermline boss Stevie Crawford was a delighted man as his side kept their play-off hopes alive with victory over Queen of the South.
Speaking just after the game, Crawford said: “Obviously, it has been tough over a number of weeks here. I did say that in some performances we could have taken three points, but it didn’t materialise that way.
“So I’m delighted that we started on the front foot today and created a number of chances. We scored three good goals and won the game and we have to make sure we carry that into next week.
“I’ve looked at the stats there and I think we created 15 chances and have hit the target with 10 of them.
“From a striker’s point of view, you want to cut in and hammer one into the corner, but for Kevin O’hara’s goal he has anticipated, and he is there for a bread and butter tap-in, so that was really pleasing.
“I’m not one for singling players out but Dom Thomas was magnificent.
“For a boy that plays in a wide role, some of the stuff he did today was outstanding.
“But I have said to the boys, all credit to them as they gave Dom the platform as a team and gave him that opportunity to do that today.
“It is three points we badly needed and we can enjoy the rest of the weekend now.”
The Pars came flying out of the blocks, with Thomas at the heart of most of their play.
First up, he brilliantly cut in from the right and forced a fingertip save from Rohan Ferguson in the Queen’s goal.
Ten minutes in and Thomas would turn provider, as this time Ferguson could only parry the wingers’ effort back in to the six-yard box where Kevin O’hara was on hand, waiting gratefully to tap home.
However, Queens began to grow into the game and they thought they should have a chance to equalise from the spot with just five minutes left of the first half.
Ayo Obileye seemed to be wrestled to the ground from a corner. The visitors’ shouts for a penalty award fell on deaf ears, as referee David Lowe waved for play to continue. But it looked to be a stonewaller.
Pars keeper Fon Williams would then deny Obileye with an outstanding save just before the half.
The second half was rather tame and looked to be fizzing out like a damp squib – until it burst to life in the last 10 minutes.
The Pars must have though they had put the game to bed when, in the 82nd minute, Thomas went on another great run down the right. His cross found substitute Fraser Murray who made no mistake to fire his right-footed shot home and make it 2-0.
This seemed to wake Queens up, and a nice move saw James Maxwell pop up in the box to fire into the net to set up a grandstand finish.
Any Queens’ hopes of levelling the encounter were dashed as the game moved into injury time and Euan Henderson slotted home on the break to make it 3-1.
The result moved Dunfermline into a play-off place, two points above ICT, who have a game in hand