Queen's boss Stark started the match with a 3-5-2 formation, Mark Cairns kept his place in goals while Mick Dunlop, Damiano Agostini and Stephen Reilly made up a three man backline. Paul Paton and Alan Trouten were wing backs while Mark Ferry, Stuart Kettlewell and Steven Canning lined up in the middle of the park. Up front, started David Weatherston and former Berwick star, Paul Ronald.
Queen's were slow out the blocks and Berwick midfielder Davie Greenhill passed up a decent opportunity when given a sight of Cairns' goal early on. For QP, David Weatherston was looking a threat and his low cross from the right was just too fast for veteran striker Paul Ronald, as he looked to apply the slightest of touches that would have given Queen's the lead.
Mark Ferry shot straight at O'Connor from thirty yards after Berwick succesfully cleared Paul Paton's tame corner kick and once again Ronald could not quite get the killer touch on a Weatherston cross when the goal beckoned.
Despite all this pressure, it was Berwick who ended a dismal first half on a high, taking the lead after 37 minutes. A crossfield pass from the left found Thomson in acres of space on the far right and he fired the ball off Mick Dunlop's arse and past Cairns in at his near post. Ferry came close after more good work from the impressive Weatherston but Queen's couldn't quite eke out an equaliser as The Borderers went into half time one up.
HALF TIME: Berwick Rangers 1 - 0 Queen's Park
Queen's started the first half the way they finished the first, on top, and Alan Trouten's delightful 25 yard chip just stayed out and nestled on the top of the net.
But, once again we were caught short at the back when Berwick made a rare forward venture, Thomson rattling the bar from twenty five yards as Queen's were caught looking far from comfortable at the back. We continued to create chances, Weatherston was twice sent one-on-one with goalkeeper O'Connor but he couldn't quite beat the giant frame of the Berwick goalie.
Mark Ferry had a 30 yarder which looked destined for goal blocked by the outstretched leg of Berwick defender Jordan Smith and despite Steven Canning doing a delightful bit of keepie uppie twenty yards out, his dipping lob/volley cracked the top of the bar and rebounded behind the goal.
And, then came the clearcut opportunity Queen's were crying out for 2 minutes into injury time. By now Spiders had six men playing up front with subs Dunn and Bowers joining Weatherston, Canning and defender Stephen Reilly in the Berwick penalty area. A corner kick dropped to the defender, naturually, and Reilly tamely shot the ball off the chest of O'Connor who was lying prone when it looked easier to score.
Next up is Stenhousemuir at Ochilview on Saturday, and here's hoping the lack of a midweek fixture will help the Spiders to victory there.
QUEEN'S PARK: Mark Cairns, Paul Paton, Mick Dunlop, Stephen Reilly, Damiano Agostini (Richard Bowers), Steven Canning, Stuart Kettlewell, Alan Trouten, Paul Ronald (Robert Dunn), David Weatherston, Mark Ferry
SUBS NOT USED: David Crawford, Frankie Carroll, Jonny Whelan
BOOKING(S): Alan Trouten
REFEREE: Stephen Nicholls
ATTENDANCE: 448
MAN OF THE MATCH: David Weatherston, The pacy winger was a constant threat on the right and gave the Berwick's defence no moments peace. The lone star on a poor day for Queen's.