Match Report

Match Report by Scott Gallacher

 

Stenhousemuir were forced to settle for a point in Dumfries as the Warriors drew 1–1 with Queen of the South at Palmerston Park.

Nicky Jamieson’s towering first-half header had Gary Naysmith’s side ahead at the break, but Kurtis Guthrie’s second-half strike ensured the points were shared in a competitive William Hill League 1 encounter.

Gary Naysmith made two changes to the side that defeated Hamilton Academical in midweek, with Euan O’Reilly and Scott McGill coming into the starting XI in place of Leyton Grant and Kane Ritchie-Hosler.

Stenhousemuir threatened in the early stages of the game when Ross Taylor met a delivery inside the box and guided a header towards goal, but celebrations were cut short as the assistant referee raised his flag for offside.

Ross Taylor remained a lively outlet down the flank and produced a gut-bursting run down the wing which opened the game up, although the move ultimately ended with the winger being dispossessed before he could create a clear opportunity.

Moments later the Warriors produced another promising attack when Ross Meechan delivered a cross into the penalty area that picked out Olly Whyte, but goalkeeper Ross Stewart was able to gather the ball.

Stenhousemuir’s growing pressure paid off in the 24th minute as a delivery into the Queen of the South penalty area found Nicky Jamieson unmarked at the back post and the defender rose highest to power a header into the net, giving the Warriors a deserved lead.

The Warriors continued to push for a second goal and almost doubled their advantage shortly afterwards when Gregor Buchanan met another dangerous delivery at the back post, but his header drifted just over the crossbar.

A period of impressive attacking football from Stenhousemuir nearly produced another goal as sustained pressure inside the Queen of the South box saw the ball almost creep into the net via a deflection from a home defender.

Queen of the South looked to respond on the counter attack through Zander McKenzie, but the move came to nothing as he ran the ball out of play under pressure.

Ross Taylor was again involved in a dangerous attacking move when he burst down the byline before sliding a pass across the face of goal towards Euan O’Reilly, whose effort unfortunately sailed over the crossbar.

Kai Kennedy attempted to test the goalkeeper from distance shortly before the interval with a free-kick, but his effort flew well over the target.

Those chances ensured the Warriors went into the break ahead, with Nicky Jamieson’s powerful header separating the sides at half-time.

Half-Time: Queen of the South 0-1 Stenhousemuir

The second half began with Queen of the South looking to respond quickly as Kai Kennedy forced a save from Darren Jamieson early after the restart.

The hosts continued to apply pressure and managed to get another effort away during a scramble inside the Stenhousemuir penalty area, but Darren Jamieson gathered the ball comfortably.

Queen of the South managed to draw level in the 59th minute when Kurtis Guthrie found the net, heading into the net from a corner, to bring the hosts back into the match.

Darren Jamieson then produced an outstanding save to keep the Warriors level, making a superb one-handed block to deny Benji Luissint from a tight angle.

Ross Meechan then tried his luck from outside the penalty area with a powerful effort, but the strike ricocheted off a Queen of the South defender.

Stenhousemuir continued to push forward in search of a winning goal and came close when Nicky Jamieson met a delivery inside the box, but his header drifted narrowly wide of the post.

Nicky Jamieson came agonisingly close to grabbing his second of the afternoon moments later when a free-kick found him unmarked at the back post, but the defender was unable to guide his effort on target.

Despite late pressure from Stenhousemuir, neither side could find a decisive breakthrough and the contest finished level, with the points shared between the sides in Dumfries.

Full-Time: Queen of the South 1-1 Stenhousemuir

 

 

Match Preview

Match Preview by Scott Gallacher

 

Stenhousemuir travel to Palmerston Park this weekend to take on Queen of the South in William Hill League One action, with kick-off scheduled for 3pm.

The Warriors head into the match full of confidence following a 1-0 victory away to Hamilton Academical at Broadwood Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Olly Whyte once again proved the difference for Gary Naysmith’s side, finding the back of the net to secure another vital three points on the road.

The result keeps Stenhousemuir firmly in the title race, with the Warriors currently level on points with league leaders Inverness Caledonian Thistle, who sit top of the table only on goal difference.

Olly Whyte’s strike also continued the midfielder’s impressive recent form, with him now scoring in each of the club’s last three matches.

The victory also marked a milestone moment for manager Gary Naysmith, who oversaw his 150th league game in charge of the Warriors.

Queen of the South come into the weekend looking to bounce back after a 2-0 defeat at home to Peterhead in their own midweek fixture at Palmerston Park.

Kieran Shanks opened the scoring for the visitors from the penalty spot just before half-time, before Jason Brown added a second in the 54th minute, bundling the ball home at the back post to seal the win for the Blue Toon.

The result means the Doonhamers are now without a victory in their last five matches, drawing two and losing three during that spell.

Despite their recent run of results, Queen of the South remain firmly in the play-off picture.

The Dumfries side currently sit fifth in the William Hill League One table, four points behind fourth-placed Alloa Athletic and four points ahead of Peterhead. However, both sides around them have games in hand.

The last meeting between the two sides came in the first fixture of 2026, when Stenhousemuir recorded a convincing 2-0 victory at Ochilview on 3 January.

A Matty Aitken strike into the side netting and a headed effort from Nicky Jamieson secured all three points for the Warriors on that occasion.

Gary Naysmith’s side will now look to carry their momentum into another important fixture as the league season continues to build towards its conclusion.