We were poor all over the park from the word go and never showed any real graft or want throughout the 90 minutes, despite seeing defeats at Cowdenbeath (6v0) and Spartans (3v2) in the past couple of years this would have to be the worst performance by Queen's under Billy Stark.
We started sluggishly and Shire were no doubt the better team and they took the lead on 23 minutes. After Sinclair's slack pass out of defence Steven Reilly pulled Paul Stewart to the ground as he raced at goal inside the box. Reilly was booked, and Stewart slammed the ball into the net past Cairns with ease form the spot.
Moments later it got even worse for Queen's when defender Paul Paton was dismissed for a dangerous lunging tackle on Mark Molloy on the half way line as Paton charged forward towards the Shire half.
Derek Ure and Joe Boyle both missed great chances to double the advantage of Gordon Wylde's side and of that, Spiders could be very, very thankful. We began the second half with purpose however and after passing up some decent chances finally grabbed the leveller our play had deserved on the hour.
Paul Ronald crossed from the right hand side of the 18 yard box and David Weatherston rose to nod home the veteran's lofted ball from close range. Weatherston was then denied what looked to be a stonewaller of a penalty kick when he was hauled down by Tiropoulos as he raced through on goal, but somehow Nicholls decided to book the Queen's forward instead of pointing to the spot!
We then did what every Queen's team does and undone all the hard work with sheer stupidity. Trouten's error handed Joe Boyle the ball on the 18 yard line and Richard Sinclair cynically clipped him from behind as he raced on goal. Sinky was last man at this point and was predictabily sent off by referee Nicholls.
From the resulting free kick 20 yards out, Nicholls curled a fabulous free kick past the static Mark Cairns. Trouten then came close to levelling again when he beat 5 defenders before Tiropolous palmed his shot away. Derek Ure added Shire's third soon after an almighty goalmouth scramble before Trouten became the 3rd man to be sent off for an elbow on Learmonth.
QUEEN'S PARK: Mark Cairns, Paul Paton (r), Mick Dunlop, Stephen Reilly (y), Richard Sinclair (r), Alan Trouten (r), Stuart Kettlewell, Tony Quinn (Paul Ronald 45), Robert Dunn (Steven Canning 75), David Weatherston (g), Mark Ferry (y)
SUBS NOT USED: David Crawford, Damiano Agostini, Tommy Murray
GOALSCORER: David Weatherston (60)
BOOKED: Mark Ferry, Stephen Reilly
SENT OFF: Paul Paton, Richard Sinclair, Alan Trouten
REFEREE: Stevie Nicholls
ATTENDANCE: 458
MAN OF THE MATCH: David Weatherston