QoS 0-0 Airdrie

Aug 3 2008 Anthony Brown Reports

BATTLING Airdrie dug their heels in to ensure high-flying Queens suffered opening-day frustration. The home side enjoyed plenty of pressure throughout but couldn't find a way to break down United's stubborn defence.

Queens boss Gordon Chisholm named an unchanged side from the emphatic 5-1 win at Berwick in the Challenge Cup and again asked Stewart Kean, Stephen Dobbie and Sean O'Connor to front a brave 4-3-3 formation.

But Airdrie made the brighter start with Joe Cardle causing problems from the left.

Last season's Scottish Cup finalists soon found their stride and after a flowing counter-attack in eight minutes, Stephen Dobbie's cross into the box was cut out with O'Connor and Kean both waiting to pounce.

Moments later the lively Dobbie almost had the home support in raptures but his sensational half volley from 25 yards dipped agonisingly wide of Stephen Robertson's post.

With Queens comfortably on top the home side should have gone ahead in 17 minutes.

Dobbie dispossessed Matt Hazley and sent over another low cross but O'Connor's effort from just eight yards went well wide of the post when it looked much easier to score.

It wasn't the most exciting of matches at this stage but Neil MacFarlane almost made the breakthrough just after the half hourwhen his powerful strike from the edge of the box zipped inches over the crossbar.

Kenny Black (below) - whose 4-5-1 formation had frustrated the home team in the first half - started the second period in far more adventurous mood and within seconds of the restart ex-Kilmarnock hitman Paul Di Giacomo drove a low angled effort into the sidenetting.

At the other end O'Connor looked certain to give Queens the lead when he beat the offside trap and rounded Robertson but Hazley got back to make a block.

Things had suddenly become a lot livelier with both sides creating chances.

The match then took a twist with just four minutes left when Jim Thomson was sent packing for a last-man foul on Airdrie sub Simon Lynch but neither side were able to win it.

MoM: Dobbie (QoS)