It was back to league one business for Queens and Manager, Peter Murphy made six changes to the side the faced Airdrie in the SPFL Trust trophy as they hosted Arbroath. Jay Hogarth, Ben Johnstone, Pharrell Willis, Oscar MacIntyre and Josh Walker all dropped to the bench, while Harry Cochrane missed out through suspension.
Ross Stewart returned in goal, while Mikey Hewitt was back in defence and there were also starts for Kieran McKechnie, Benji Luissint, Kai Kennedy and Lewis ODonnell.
After a run of three defeats Queens wanted to make a quick start and within the opening minutes, Leighton McIntosh raced through the middle before playing it wide to McKechnie, he fired the ball across goal but was inches off target.
However, it didnt take them long to take the lead, some great build up play saw the ball switch from left to right and Kennedy played the ball inside for McKechnie who drilled it into the bottom corner from 25 yards with six minutes played.
The advantage was short lived though as the visitors levelled within three minutes with a simple but well taken goal. Scott Stewart played a great ball across from the right wing for Ryan Dow who was in the centre of goal and found the net with a neat left foot finish.
With quarter of an hour on the clock, a long ball forward was taken down by Jack White but Hewitt made a great tackle to clear for a corner.
Midway through the half a mix up between Matty Douglas and Stewart almost created an opening for Arbroath but as the ball bounced around Queens were given a let off when a free kick was awarded.
On the half hour mark, Brennan Dickenson played a good ball into the box from the left but Aidan McAdams got there ahead of McKechnie to collect.
Former Queens frontman, Gavin Reilly made his way in on goal and as that was cleared it broke to Stewart and he dragged his shot low and wide.
At the other end McIntosh hit a powerful right foot shot from inside the box but it was well saved by McAdams. Douglas throw in was challenged by Dickenson but the keeper took control.
Five minutes before the break, the ball was slipped into the path of Reilly but he blasted a left foot shot well over.
HALF TIME: Queens 1 Arbroath 1
Queens made a half time substitution with MacIntyre replacing Luissint and within two minutes of the restart they were back ahead in the game. Jack Hannah made a great run forward from the back before the ball was played on to Dickenson, he stung the palms of McAdams with a terrific effort and from the resulting corner, Reece Lyon swept the ball into the net.
Arbroath looked to get back into the game and Dow appeared to be offside but he was allowed to close in on goal and Hannah made a great block to allow Stewart to collect.
Queens were piling on the pressure and as Dickenson won the ball in the air. McIntosh moved the ball wide, he took too long with the pass and opted for McKechnie rather than Kennedy on the other side and the winger who had already found the net blasted over.
Dickenson was unsighted at the edge of the box but still managed to get the shot away, his effort was just wide.
With fifteen minutes to go Stewart was called into action as he tipped the ball out for a corner to keep his side ahead.
Dickenson looked to have sealed the points with three minutes of normal time left, Kennedy picked him out with a side pass and as he sprinted through, the keeper came out to meet him, he tried to curl it round McAdams with his left but couldnt get enough on it and it flew wide.
In added on time, Queens gave away a couple of free kicks in dangerous areas, as the first was played in the home side were caught up in a scramble and Stewart collected at the second attempt. The keeper then smothered the other to make sure the three points stayed at Palmerston.
FULL TIME: Queens 2 Arbroath 1