Arbroath were the visitors as we were back home for our only game at Palmerston in February. With Mikey Hewitt picking up a knee knock and failing a fitness test and Jack Hannah still struggling with shingles, Jack Brydon returned from suspension to take a place in defense. That was one of three changes to the side that started against Stenhousemuir, the others being Jordan Allan and Taylor Charters dropping to the bench with Benjiman Luissint and Kyle Doherty taking their places.
Queens form at home had been decent and although it was a defeat at Ochilview it was a positive performance, but they did not make the same start to the game and it was the visitors who were on the front foot. Scott Stewart threatened early with a right foot shot that was just wide of Ross Stewarts right-hand post.
Ten minutes in, Reece Lyon made a good drive forward before playing it wide to Doherty on the right, as he delivered the ball into the box, Brennan Dickenson side footed towards goal but he too was just the wrong side of the upright.
The home side were all over the shop defensively and as Stewart got the better of Matty Douglas he rifled a shot into the net from a tight angle to give Arbroath the lead. All at sea, Queens were toiling and when Ryan Dow was given far too much time and space, keeper Stewart did well to block.
However, the defense was breached again when the lively Fraser Taylor was in space inside the six-yard box and finished from close range to double the advantage. And just five minutes later, as Dow headed the ball across, Matty Douglas turned the ball into his own net as he tried to clear, leaving the visitors three up after just twenty-six minutes.
It was a poor first half from the Doonhamers and they could have fallen further behind when Andy Winter fired a shot wide with Dow on his own at the back-post.
Liam Smith tried to spark Queens to life and did well to get the ball across the face of goal but it eluded three of his team-mates who couldnt connect. Dickenson was then caught offside and Queens fell foul of a few wrong decisions from the officials but ultimately had given themselves a mountain to climb at the interval.
HALF TME: Queens 0 Arbroath 3
Manager, Peter Murphy made changes at the break with Allan and Charters coming on for Luissint and Oscar MacIntyre but it was Arbroath who had the first chance after the restart when Dow got on the end of a cross but his attempt was tame and straight at the keeper.
Queens then hit back and as Adam Brooks found Smith, he hit a good effort just wide. Two minutes later, the hosts were almost caught when Charters made a slack pass but they recovered and as the ball was played forward, Dickenson shot but Aidan McAdams got down to save.
It was a decent wee spell for Queens and as Brooks got the ball into the box, this time Dickensons header lacked power. And as Arbroath hit on the counter, Taylor got the better of Harry Cochrane but Stewart showed bravery to come out to win the ball. Queens number one was called into action again as they hit on the break through Sam Stanton.
Midway through the second half, Brooks played the ball in from the left and Allan was at the back-post but his header crashed off the crossbar. It was a terrible afternoon for Queens and it went from bad to worse, fifteen minutes from time when captain, Douglas picked up a knee injury and left the field on a stretcher.
Queens were better in the second half but they still huffed and puffed, Brooks did win a corner when he tired a right foot shot from 30-yards and as the set piece was played in, Dickensons header landed on the roof of the net.
With ninety-minutes played, Brooks tried to curl the ball into the top corner but just cleared the bar.
One positive of the afternoon was the introduction of 16-year-old Joe Thomson to the first team, the young defender made his debut and almost made it special with a right foot shot deep into stoppage time that just cleared the bar.
FULL TIME: Queens 0 Arbroath 3