Despite Storm Dennis?s best efforts to postpone the game, the surface passed a 1.30PM pitch inspection and the game went ahead.
Alan Johnson made just one change to last weeks side that picked up a draw at Cappielow as Connor Murray came back into the side after injury. Abdul Osman was named among the subs, as Oliver dropped to the bench at the expense of the returning number seven.
It was a 4-3-1-2 formation for the hosts, with Darren Lyon sitting deep and Murray playing in-behind Stephen Dobbie and Deimantas Petravicius.
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Queens opted to kick into the wind in the opening period ? a decision that turned out to work against them quickly.
It took the in-form Arbroath side a mere six minutes to open the scoring through David Gold. A loopy cross from the right-hand side allowed Gold the run and jump on his marker and he calmly headed into the bottom corner. Not the start Queens were after following a promising performance last week, but there was still time to rectify the poor opening minutes.
Gold nods the ball past Stewart to open the scoring early on
Stephen Dobbie continued his long-term battle with Derek Gaston, who added to his collection of impressive stops against the Queens ?skipper? as Dobs? long-range free-kick was tipped just wide of the goal.
Gaston denies Dobbie
An equaliser almost came again just a minute later, this time from an unlikely source, as Lee Kilday?s glancing header from a Dobbie corner ricocheted off the outside of the post.
That was about as good as it got for Queens in the opening quarter of the game.
As the wind picked up it was getting gradually harder to play any football of sort, but it was the hosts who dealt with the adverse weather conditions the better.
The game was still in the balance at 1-0, but ex-Queens man Dale Hilson swung the pendulum heavily in the home sides favour by doubling their lead after 35 minutes. The January signing got on the end of a cut-back from Gavin Swankie, before showing good composure by slotting past Stewart.
Hilson celebrates his goal in front of the home fans
HT: Arbroath 2-0 QoS
A first-half lacking in much quality, although the hosts were deservedly ahead after dealing with the tricky conditions far better than the visitors.
?Gaffer? Alan Johnson brought on Mondays hat-trick-hero, Jack Hamilton, in search of some much-needed inspiration. The Livingston-loanee replaced Michael Ledger, with AJ switching to a 4-4-2 formation meaning Darren Lyon dropped into RB.
The tactical change didn?t have the desired effect, with Queens still struggling to create anything of note.
Hilson and Wilson
Dan Pybus was the first man to be cautioned, with referee Steven Reid brandishing a yellow card following a high-tackle.
After another couple of fouls, Pybus was brought off for Lewis Kidd on 62 minutes. Kidd was soon followed on by Michael Paton who replaced Connor Murray as a result of injury. The two subs seemed to ignite something in the visitors, as Queens began to show more attacking intent going into the last quarter of the game.
Jack Hamilton tested Gaston from range; the ?keeper making a smart save to keep it out. Just moments later the ex-Morton man made another brilliant close-range stop, this time denying Kevin Holt from pulling one back. A Dobbie free-kick sailed over the bar not long after, as Queens? hope of snatching something from Arbroath began to fade.
Holt sends a diving header wide
Two probably should have been three after 85 minutes, with the impressive Craig Wighton missing an open goal after Stewart had saved a powerful James Craigen shot.
With just minutes remaining, Queens weren?t able to cause any more trouble to Gaston and the game petered out.
FT: Arbroath 2-0 QoS
Not a classic by any stretch of the imagination but a deserved three points for the home team.
Football is back at Palmerston next week as the Doonhamers host Dundee. Both fixtures against the Dee?s this season have been enthralling encounters, with Queens picking up a draw and a win so far.