Chris Higgins looks mortified. His early own goal is the result of a bizarre individual mistake. A pass aimed towards the Queens’ keeper but wildly overhit. Despite this, there seems a certain inevitability about it. After last weekend’s 1-0 defeat at Stark’s Park where the Dumfries club dominated but could not score – succumbing to their fourth successive defeat – it feels like nothing will go right for them. But, whilst the Raith game drifted to a dour defeat, today a renewed resilience from Queen of the South and a decent display from on-form Morton produced an exciting game where both sides deserved their hard-earned point.
Just like the football club who have represented Dumfries for the past 96 years, the history of this scenic Borders town is awash with triumph, tragedy and peopled with famous figures. Local legends like Robert the Bruce and Robbie Burns – men whose great influence made them famed and revered. Now they have Paul Heffernan.
Modern Dumfries exists as a strange amalgamation of things. Its towering churches and historic bridges lead towards unpretentious working-class estates and handsome streets of terraced homes. Like many towns with a rich tapestry of history and a hardworking present, Dumfries feels at once like a relic and a bustling, lively town. It’s not all picture postcard, but this is a proud, charming and characterful place.
My first stop is the Doonhamer Bistro or No.17. This cosy café of many (okay, two) names serves up tasty, hearty fare for very good value. It isn’t fine dining, but if you’re looking for a delicious and filling pre-match lunch for less than a tenner, then this place is excellent. For a mid-sized town, Dumfries seems to have some pretty varied options for foodies, but I’d definitely recommend this for good Scottish fare.
From there, I nip into the CAMRA award winning Cavens Arms. This cavernous (sorry) pub has football on TV, Queen of the South shirts on the wall and good local beer on tap. I sit down with a pint of Argyll-brewed Jarl ale. There’s quite a few Queens fans discussing the club’s recent form over a drink or five, but for a more family-friendly option, the modern, airy Palmerston Café attached to the ground is popular and handily houses the club shop and ticket office.
I flick through the Queens programme (photos excellent, articles strangely averse to grammar) and chairman Billy Hewitson bemoans how Queens are playing well “without having that wee bit of luck”. After today’s last-gasp Morton miss, he may need a new excuse ahead of the next home game against Hibs.
Palmerston Park, the home of The Doonhamers is striking and evocative without being especially grand in size. Huge floodlights tower over its stands, whilst colourful murals celebrating the club and, erm, local farming run along the old brick walls behind the Terregles End terrace. The old Main Stand, where I sit, is largely made up of old wooden, seated benches. The traditional charm and sense of history in this part of the ground is dampened only slightly by the sheer amount of bird shit on and around the seats. Opposite is the modern East Stand, with the covered Portland Drive terrace – bedecked with an old clock – behind one goal, and the Terregles End behind the other.
On the pitch, one Queens player knocks a ball about with two mascots whilst Dougie the Doonhamer – a giant dog with football boots who looks like a hallucination from Fear and Loathing – lays a toy dog on the centre-circle. Nobody else seems to find this completely surreal, and the teams kick-off.
QoS start the game looking the livelier of the two sides. The Doonhamers put together a few good moves in the opening five minutes and create the first half-chance of the game. Young defender Darren Brownlie looks especially lively, producing one marauding run down the wing which troubles the Morton defence. In the 7th minute though, disaster strikes for the home side when Higgins’ slots past his own keeper, low and into the corner of the net. The Morton players celebrate quickly and sheepishly, and for the second home game in a row, Queens are behind within 8 minutes.
Gary Oliver – a summer arrival from Tynecastle – has Queens’ closest chance of the opening 25 minutes, unleashing a rasping effort which Derek Gaston flaps at, with the ball somehow edging over the crossbar. It’s a positive sign after a nervy period following the opening goal. As the half goes on, QoS pile on more sustained pressure and an equalizer begins to look inevitable. At the other end, though, the Morton side – in particular Barr and Tidser – are getting in behind the Doonhamers defence with alarming regularity.
Then, with Archie Dallas preparing to blow for half-time, a lucky bounce puts Derek Lyle in on goal and the veteran striker calmly strokes home to level the scores. I head off for a piping-hot cup of tea amidst a slew of suddenly optimistic Queens fans. Perhaps the slump is finally over.
The second half begins with the recurring theme of Gary Oliver missing a couple of good chances in quick succession. Jim Duffy is still bellowing loudly enough to be heard in Carlisle. And, as in the first half, Morton cause QoS sadness as a super clearance from the under-pressure Gaston sets The Ton away on a counter-attack, with the talented McCluskey crossing superbly for Dumfries-born Denny Johnstone, who makes it 2-1. Yet again, the home side have an uphill battle on their hands. Here, in front of an unusually small crowd of 1,565 there are signs that belief is beginning to wane.
The game drifts as Morton begin to sit back and QoS struggle to break them down. The clock upon the Portland Drive Terrace ticks along with alarming speed and then, finally, the Doonhamers get the bit of luck they’ve yearned for. Morton’s imposing centre-back Luca Gasparotto (on loan from Rangers) heads agonisingly into his own net from a corner and, late in the game, the Dumfries club appear to have snatched a point.
One heart-in-mouth moment comes and goes when the fleet-footed Stefan McCluskey curls a shot past the Queens ‘keeper, but sees it crash against the post. Dallas blows for full time and the points are – in my view, fairly – shared. It’s been a game full of drama in this storied old ground. The sun may be setting over Dumfries but for its football club, this comeback is the first bright spot in a while.
Dave Burin (@GoldenVision90)