Queens welcomed Stenhousemuir to Palmerston for their final scheduled home game of the campaign knowing victory would secure a top four place. Manager, Peter Murphy stuck with the same starting eleven as the one that faced Kelty Hearts.
With both sides looking to take part in the end of season promotion play-offs, there was a lot a stake so it was no surprise that it was a tight start to the game with neither keeper having much to do as the game was played in between the two 18-yard lines.
The first attempt did fall to the home side when with just under fifteen minutes played, Liam Smith played in Adam Brooks but he was blocked.
Minutes later Mikey Anderson tried to make space as he worked his way towards goal but Ross Stewart collected. And midway through the half, Harry Cochrane slipped a great ball through looking for Jordan Allan but again the ball was cleared.
At the other end the visitors won a corner and as it was played in Gregor Buchanan met it at the back post with a header but Stewart made a terrific block from close range. Matty Aitken pounced on the loose ball but that was turned wide for another corner. Buchanan again got his head on the delivery but this time he headed over.
Gary Naysmiths side were on top and with seven minutes of the first half remaining, Stewart was again called upon to make a block before Cochrane cleared from Ross Meechan. Stenny kept up the pressure and three minutes later, Stewart pulled off a fantastic save to deny Matty Yates to keep his side level.
Queens fought back and looked for an opener and Mikey Hewitts got his head on the end of a cross but he was under pressure and couldnt get enough power on it, before they made a sweeping move up field with Kai Kennedy and Smith linking up well but it was blocked and it was all square at the interval.
HALF TIME: Queens 0 Stenhousemuir 0
For the opening fifteen minutes of the second half the visitors continued where theyd left off and were harassing Queens all over the park forcing them into making slack passes and mistakes and not allowing them to press the same as theyd been doing in recent weeks. But Queens then stepped it up and started to take control and as they attacked, Hewitt went down inside the box, it wouldve been a soft award but referee Peter Stuart wasnt interested.
A minute later, Aitken took advantage of a slip by Jack Hannah but his shot was straight at Stewart.
Just before the hour mark, Queens made their first subs with Oscar MacIntyre and Fraser Bryden coming on to replace Benji Luissint and Allan. The change had an instant impact as with his first touch of the game Bryden fired Queens ahead. Sixty seconds after coming off the bench the striker was in the middle to slot the ball home after some great build up play.
Straight away they looked to extend the lead but Bryden couldnt connect to a Brooks ball. However, it didnt take long for the second as they did double the advantage two minutes after the opener. It came when Kennedy jinxed his way into the box, holding off the challenge of three or four defenders before he was upended by Buchanan and this time there was no doubt as Stuart pointed to the spot. Cochrane took the ball from Brooks and stepped up to take the penalty and calmly knocked it into the bottom corner.
Midway through the half, Queens couldve had a second penalty when Brooks skipped away from Kyle Banner before being brought down by Kelsey Ewen at the edge of the six-yard box but the ref awarded a corner rather than a spot-kick.
Darren Jamieson then pulled off an unbelievable save when he tipped Brooks 30-yard effort out as it headed for the top corner. It was all the home side now and Reece Lyon hit a volley from 20 yards but it flew wide.
The Warriors were handed a life line when handball was given against MacIntyre and Corey ODonnell had a chance to pull one back from 12-yards but Stewart who had been outstanding throughout the game dived to his left to save.
As play moved back up the park, Bryden had the ball in the net again but the offside flag was up and the game petered out.
The win was Queens fifth in a row and cemented their place in the top four. In contrast the defeat and results elsewhere saw Stenny drop out of the play-off places for the first time in months.
FULL TIME: Queens 2 Stenhousemuir 0