TEN-MAN Dunfermline set up a potential title decider against Raith Rovers at East End Park on Saturday with an emphatic victory achieved in spite of being numerically disadvantaged for most of the second half.Eight members of Dunfermline's 1961 Scottish Cup-winning side were introduced to the crowd before the kick-off and some of their lustre appeared to rub off on the current crop, who really ought to have been three ahead inside the opening 20 minutes.
While Dunfermline initially lacked composure in the final third, the traffic was all one-way and David Lilley could have had no complaints about being shown a yellow card following a rash lunge at Martin Hardie.
Lilley's bad day at the office was to get worse. When David Graham's outswinging cross took Roddy McKenzie out of the equation the defender was slow to react and Hardie darted in front of him to head home from point-blank range.
However, Queens' prospects improved in a rare break-away on the stroke of half-time when Kevin Rutkiewicz brought Ryan McGuffie down as he raced on to Colin McMenamin's chip on the edge of the penalty area. Referee Alan Muir immediately produced a red card, which appeared to be a harsh decision.
Central defender Chris Higgins replaced Liam Buchanan at the break, allowing the Pars to keep their shape and maintain control of proceedings. Indeed, they doubled their lead just five minutes after the restart when Joe Cardle chased a lost cause to the by-line, kept it in and delivered a cross which McKenzie should have collected with ease.
The goalkeeper may have been guilty of thinking too far ahead and wondering which team-mate he should throw the ball to: in any case, he dropped the ball and it fell kindly for Graham, who lashed it behind him from six yards.
Queens responded when Bob Harris beat Chris Smith at his right-hand post with a free-kick awarded after Neil McGregor had been booked for a foul on Willie McLaren.
However, Chris Higgins increased the home side's lad with a glancing header from a Cardle delivery, Graham was left with a tap-in from the winger's driven cross and he gained yet another assist when he cut the ball back for Andy Kirk to prod home the fifth.
Two minutes before Kirk's goal Stephen McKenna had been foolishly ordered off for a needless foul on Cardle. Substitute Pat Clarke notched the sixth with his first touch.
"We were immense today," said Dunfermline manager Jim McIntyre
While Dunfermline initially lacked composure in the final third, the traffic was all one-way and David Lilley could have had no complaints about being shown a yellow card following a rash lunge at Martin Hardie.
Lilley's bad day at the office was to get worse. When David Graham's outswinging cross took Roddy McKenzie out of the equation the defender was slow to react and Hardie darted in front of him to head home from point-blank range.
However, Queens' prospects improved in a rare break-away on the stroke of half-time when Kevin Rutkiewicz brought Ryan McGuffie down as he raced on to Colin McMenamin's chip on the edge of the penalty area. Referee Alan Muir immediately produced a red card, which appeared to be a harsh decision.
Central defender Chris Higgins replaced Liam Buchanan at the break, allowing the Pars to keep their shape and maintain control of proceedings. Indeed, they doubled their lead just five minutes after the restart when Joe Cardle chased a lost cause to the by-line, kept it in and delivered a cross which McKenzie should have collected with ease.
The goalkeeper may have been guilty of thinking too far ahead and wondering which team-mate he should throw the ball to: in any case, he dropped the ball and it fell kindly for Graham, who lashed it behind him from six yards.
Queens responded when Bob Harris beat Chris Smith at his right-hand post with a free-kick awarded after Neil McGregor had been booked for a foul on Willie McLaren.
However, Chris Higgins increased the home side's lad with a glancing header from a Cardle delivery, Graham was left with a tap-in from the winger's driven cross and he gained yet another assist when he cut the ball back for Andy Kirk to prod home the fifth.
Two minutes before Kirk's goal Stephen McKenna had been foolishly ordered off for a needless foul on Cardle. Substitute Pat Clarke notched the sixth with his first touch.
"We were immense today," said Dunfermline manager Jim McIntyre
Queens Mad Man of the Match - Colin McMenamin - He was the only one that showed any fight.