A double from David Weatherston and a terrific arching header from Paul Ronald sunk Dave Baikie's Fifers, as Queen's reinstated themselves as title challengers.
Injuries to key defenders Richard Sinclair and Damiano Agostini along with striker Frankie Carroll the boost of Stephen Reilly passing a late fitness test must have been great. It allowed him to mix it up some more and we lined up with some players taking up unusual positions.
Billy Stark started with Cairns in goals, Paton at right back, Canning on the left and Reilly and Dunlop in the middle. In midfield there was Paul Ronald, Stuart Kettlewell, Robert Dunn, Tony Quinn and Mark Ferry with young Weatherston up front on his tod.
East Fife's extremely high line took Weatherston time to get used to. The wee man was caught offside five times in the opening 10 minutes due to his blistering pace and from then on it was obvious which tactic Stark was going to employ.
We held on slightly in the next few minutes with both Hampshire and Blackadder coming close from just outside the box and it took a scrambled second catch from Cairns to keep out Tam Courts long range effort.
Queen's took the ascendancy again and took the lead with a well worked header (what's that?) from Big Paul Ronald. A fine through pass from Canning from the left back position after a good Queen's move found Kettlewell up the left and his deep cross found "Ronaldo" at the back post. The big man arched his neck back and powered the ball over Dodds for a fine opener from 10 yards.
Queen's were 2-0 ahead minutes later after what was a hilarious goalkeeping gaffe. John Dodds made a real hash of a simple catch on the edge of the box and fell on his arse allowing Weatherston nip in, rob him of the ball and slide it into the empty net for his 3rd goal of the season.
EF's only real tactic was the big long throw to the big men but Paul Ronald, Stephen Reilly, Tony Quinn and Mick Dunlop were all up to the task to power them away as the Fifers became increasingly desperate near the end of the half.
HALF TIME: Queen's Park 2 - 0 East Fife
QP started just as well as they had in the first period and after only seven minutes of second half play, Queen's were 3 to the good. Ferry lumped the ball over the EF backline for Weatherston to chase and he did so. He took control of the ball and toepoked it through Dodds from the edge of the box to cue manic Spiders celebrations in the stands and on the pitch.
The sending off of East Fife defender Sammy Lintonfor a two footed lunge on Paton further increased Queen's chances of victory and the inspired Spiders went on to create a number of chances which weren't taken.
Quinn headed close twice while both Weatherston and sub Trouten squandered opportunities one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Ferry came close a couple of times from the edge of the box and a well worked corner saw him shoot just over the top.
But, who cares, a brilliant QP performance and it sets up well for the trip to Shire next week!
Mon the Queen's!
QUEEN'S PARK: Mark Cairns, Paul Paton, Mick Dunlop, Stephen Reilly, Paul Ronald, Steven Canning, Stuart Kettlewell (Alan Trouten), Tony Quinn, Robert Dunn (Richard Bowers), David Weatherston, Mark Ferry
SUBS NOT USED: David Crawford, Jonny Whelan, Shaun Molloy
GOALSCORER(S): Paul Ronald (23), David Weatherston (26, 53)
BOOKING(S): Stephen Reilly, Stuart Kettlewell
REFEREE: Crawford Allan
ATTENDANCE: 413
MAN OF THE MATCH: David Weatherston, Ripped the EF backline to shreds, scored a fine double and could have scored more. Brilliant!