It was destination Arbroath for our final regular game of the season and with the play-offs in mind, manager Peter Murphy made six changes to the line-up that faced Stenhousemuir. Harry Cochrane, Liam Smith, Kai Kennedy, Adam Brooks, Jordan Allan and Jack Hannah dropped to the bench which meant starts for Lewis ODonnell, Fraser Bryden, Oscar MacIntyre, Josh Walker, Kyle Doherty and Jack Brydon.
With the hosts having already secured the league title, Queens gave them the customary guard of honor as they emerged from the tunnel. As the game got underway there was an early debatable booking for Bryden before Benji Luissint played a great cross field pass from the right to Walker on the left, as he slipped the ball forward for MacIntyre, Aidan McAdams collected the ball as it was played in.
After the early flurry from Queens the Champions made their mark and the impressive Fraser Taylor weaved his way into the box, winning his side a corner, from which Jack Wilkie headed over. Two minutes later Andy Dow found himself at the by-line but he was under pressure from Matty Douglas and Ross Stewart cleared. Queens were playing the ball across the box, when Brydon was almost caught out by Dow but got away with it.
Queens had been pinned back for much of the game so far but Bryden wasnt far away with a left foot effort from 25-yards that flew just wide.
Twenty minutes in the home side won a free-kick and as it was played in from the right Andy Winter headed the wrong side of the post. Minutes later Scott Stewart got the better of Douglas and drilled the ball across the face of goal.
Midway through the half, Walker made a break, finding Mikey Hewitt to his right, the defender had the right idea with his cross but the delivery was just to far ahead of any takers.
At the other end as Stewart punched clear, Sam Stanton headed over and as the same player got away from Luissint, Reece Lyon made a stop inside the box and Hewitt made the clearance.
Taylor and Dow were on great form and caused a problem for the Queens back line, Stewart made the block but the far side official flagged for a foul anyway.
The first half had been predominately the home side who looked like scoring but it was Queens who made the breakthrough, two minutes before the interval when Walker whipped the ball across and Lyon was at the back-post to head home from close range.
HALF TIME: Arbroath 0 Queens 1
Young defender Joe Thomson who has had a few cameo appearances in recent weeks was given a longer period to shine as he replaced Hewitt for the second half and he didnt disappoint. He was one of a few changes from both sides as the game played out.
Chances were more limited after the break, but Winter was off target with a header for the home side and as Luissint gave away a free-kick 20-yards out, Stewart dived to his right to knock Taylors effort out for a corner.
With twenty minutes of the game remaining, Stewart made a block with his feet to deny the same player.
Five minutes later, as they counted down the minutes to lifting the trophy they did pull level when Dow beat Stewart with a diving header from inside the six-yard box.
In the closing stages, Brooks laid the ball off to Bryden who tried to curl a right foot ball round the keeper, that chance didnt pay off but the striker quickly won a penalty as he was brought down in the box by Tam OBrien, the challenge earned the captain a second yellow and an early finish.
It was Bryden who stepped up to take the spot kick but yet again this season Queens failed to convert from 12-yards as McAdams guessed correctly, diving to his right to make the save.
In added on time, Kennedy crossed for Bryden in the middle of the box but Aaron Muirhead cleared.
FULL TIME: Arbroath 1 Queens 1