Queen's started the game very strongly on the Ochilview plastic with Robert Dunn scooping over the top from eight yards after an inviting cross by the impressive David Weatherston.
Weatherston was continuing to lead the Stenny defence on a merry dance and when racing one on one with experienced Warriors keeper he was pulled back by defender Mark Cowan just inside the box. The obese referee Colin Hardie decided it was just outside, wrong, and he refused to even book Cowan for what was surely a sending off offence. Dunn came close again when his glancing header from Mick Dunlop's pinpoint cross just evaded the keepers left hand post.
Good play by Weatherston gave Canning the opportunity to shoot from range but his effort flew wide and Robert Dunn again passed up a great chance when Mick Dunlop's through ball sent him one-on-one with McCulloch eighteen yards out, but Dunn dragged the ball wide.
Stenny had been thoroughly outplayed and outthought so far but it was Warriors who had the best chance of the half moments before the interval. Tricky 17 year old winger David Templeton swung in a delightful cross and striker John Baird, on loan from St Mirren header over from two yards. That was a let off, but Queen's would still have been disappointed that they were not leading after the dominating the first half.
HALF TIME: Stenhousemuir 0 - 0 Queen's Park
The second period began just as the first had ended, with Queen's on top and
David Weatherston troubling the home defence. That paid off for Queen's after 56 minutes when he got on to the end of Alan Trouten's through ball and slid the ball past McCulloch and into the back of the Stenny net. Jubilation for young Weatherston as he finally scored but after that it was all downhill.
Midgeted mercenary bastard Brian MacLaughlin nearly scored when his cross from the left evaded the Stenny forwards and Queen's defenders and John Baird then somehow scooped the ball over the bar from two yards after a great cross from Templeton.
Frankie Carroll replaced Robert Dunn and came on to a raptourous reception, it was good to see wee Frankie back after his injury and illness nightmares of the past few years and even a section of the Stenny support were on their feet to clap the wee man on.
Queen's retook the ascendancy after the introduction of Carroll and his pinpoint cross found Mick Dunlop's head at the back post and the big defender's header whizzed just by the far post. Weatherston was then stopped from scoring by a brilliant Cowan tackle as he looked certain to net one-on-one with McCulloch. Reilly was forced off with a hamstring injury and on came Jonny Whelan. This was when Queen's started their implosion.
Stenny sub JP McBride picked the ball up 20 yards out and with no Queen's player putting pressure on the former Celtic midfielder he slammed the ball past Cairns, who had been a spectator the whole match, and into the bottom corner. Alan Trouten's midfield error where he lost the ball to McBride, at fault.
If this wasn't bad enough a minute later came Stenny's winner. A Templeton cross from the right was sliced into the top corner of Cairns' goal by the unfortunate Paul Paton after another error by the unlucky Trouten.
The chants came ringing from the Stenny fans, loud, clear and true. 1-0 and you fucked it up! they chanted, they were right.
QUEEN'S PARK: Mark Cairns, Paul Paton, Mick Dunlop, Stephen Reilly (Jonny Whelan), Damiano Agostini, Steven Canning, Stuart Kettlewell, Alan Trouten, Robert Dunn (Frankie Carroll), David Weatherston, Mark Ferry
SUBS NOT USED: David Crawford, Tony Quinn, Paul Ronald
GOALSCORER(S): David Weatherston (56)
REFEREE: Colin Hardie
ATTENDANCE: 487
MAN OF THE MATCH: David Weatherston, Once again the young winger was absolutely brilliant and he ripped the Warriors defence to shreds with his pace and skill. Also scored a fantastic goal.