QUEEN Of THE SOUTH 1 Dobbie (82) PARTICK THISTLE 0
An unhappy Gary Caldwell, still looking for his first win since taking over at Partick Thistle, was left fuming as a last-minute penalty claim was turned down to deny him at least a point.
“It was a penalty, everyone in the stadium thinks it was a penalty. The only guy that needs to give it, doesn’t.”
The drama came with Thistle swarming in on Queen’s goal, desperately trying to get level after losing a late goal, and Blair Spittal was upended in the box.
“I thought we did well and controlled the game but we gave them one chance and they scored.”
Thistle were in command in the early stages, making all the running but unable to pierce the Dumfries defence.
At one stage it was only keeper Alan Martin that prevented Chris Erskine making the breakthrough by throwing himself across goal to turn the shot round the post.
As Queens began to come more into the game, Thistle were caught out by a cross from Jordan Marshall but Lyndon Dykes was unable to control it with the goal at his mercy.
Stephen Dobbie threatened when he picked up a pass on the edge of the box but trailed his shot wide.
Thistle again made the running after the break and there were some anxious moments from the Dumfries defenders in weathering the pressure.
But they did manage a break upfield and Dykes again missed a chance when he was set up in front of goal but stumbled and the ball was cleared.
Seconds later, he did come close to scoring with a diving header which went just outside the post.
Queens found the net seven minutes from time when Dykes slipped a ball through to Dobbie and he drove it home from 12 yards.
Thistle retaliated by storming Queens’ goal and, with the seconds ticking away, came the incident which had their players surrounding the ref calling for the penalty. Following a consultation with the linesman, play was waved on.
Queens manager Gary Naysmith admitted: “We got a wee bit of luck there with the penalty and it was a bit of good fortune for us, but it balances out over the season.”