Match Report - By Steven Mew

Following a heavy defeat at home to Queen of the South yesterday afternoon, City picked up the unenviable tag of going through an entire league season without a victory.

It was a thoroughly disappointing conclusion to what has been a long and challenging season for everyone involved at the club.

Manager Darren Dods rung the changes from the side that lost to Livingston last weekend with Paddy O’Neil coming in for the injured Graeme Smith in goal. There was also starts for on-loan striker Dylan Mackin and Gary Fusco, with the latter captaining the side on his last City appearance before hanging up his boots.

Following a quiet opening 15 minutes, the game sparked to life when Fusco went into the referees book after he went into a crunching 50/50 challenge with Scott Mercer. The Queens man came off worst and had to receive lengthy treatment on the pitch before being stretchered off approximately ten minutes later with John Rankin taking his place.

On the half hour mark the visitors conjured up the first real opportunity of the game when Josh Todd had an effort which trickled past the post and a few minutes later Paddy O’Neil was called into action when he comfortably gathered a header from Stephen Dobbie.

With the game approaching the lengthy ten minutes of first half stoppage time, Queens went up a gear and put City under some intense pressure. During a scramble in the box, Queens were denied three times by the City defence putting bodies on the line to block.

The visitors took the lead shortly after when Jordan Marshall got to the byline before cutting the ball back for STEPHEN DOBBIE, his placed shot took a fortuitous deflection off Sean Crighton and into the corner of the net.

A couple of minutes from the break the Doonhamers doubled their advantage. A long ball forward was flicked on by Dobbie into the path of LYNDON DYKES who took a took before lashing the ball past O’Neil from close range.

Into the second period, Queens continued where they left off and the lively Dobbie had a shot saved by O’Neil at his near post. At the other end, Isaac Layne had a shot deflected wide and just a minute later, Paul McLean lashed a volley wide after a corner had only been half cleared.

City continued to press in order to reduce the deficit – Kalvin Orsi did well down the left hand side to get a cross in for substitute Finn Graham but he could only head tamely at Leighfield. The Queens keeper immediately started an attack which ended up with Dom Thomas trying his luck from range but his effort was tipped round the post by O’Neil.

City’s slender hopes of fighting their way back into the game were dashed on the hour mark when the visitors added a third goal. The home defence switched off at a throw in which allowed STEPHEN DOBBIE time and space to lash a powerful volley into the far corner.

Things got worse for City five minutes later as the Doonhamers made it 4-0. A chipped ball in behind the City rearguard fell kindly for LYNDON DYKES who showed great composure to lob the ball over the advancing O’Neil.

With 72 minutes on the clock, City came close to pulling a goal back when a Willie Dyer corner was headed against the bar by Dylan Mackin. However just a few minutes later STEPHEN DOBBIE completed his second hat-trick against City this season. O’Neil did well to deny Lyndon Dykes who had burst through the heart of the City defence however the ball fell for Dobbie who stroked the ball home.

The home support did have something to cheer about 12 minutes from when City pulled a goal back – Mackin did well to slide the ball through for ISAAC LAYNE who made no mistake, flicking the ball past the advancing Leighfield. This ended a long run of 850 consecutive minutes in which City hadn’t scored in the Championship.

With time rapidly running out, City had the last real chance of the game when Orsi’s cross was met by Mackin but he could only head straight at the keeper.

The final whistle confirmed what everyone of a City persuasion had feared – the club had gone an entire league season without a win, breaking some unwanted records along the way. On the park it’s been a campaign to forget, however off the park the club have undoubtedly benefited and will turn their attention to League One next season on a sounder financial footing and a few local derbies to boot.

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