A lacklustre display by the Doonhamers saw a hungrier Stenhousemuir side take the points in what had been billed as a relegation decider at Ochiliview.
A mere 560 souls witnessed a dour struggle that neither team looked particularly keen on. It looked as if at least half the crowd were from Dumfries with the travelling support looking for some inspirational "Great Escape" type football from Rowe and Eadie's team, sadly though it was not to be and after this result the possibility of third division football next season is getting stronger.
The Queens side took to the field in the same formation as that which had performed so well last week for the final twenty minutes, that was basically Mallan and Hawke up front being fed by Caldwell wide left. Defensively the on-loan Allan Preston was trusted with the left back role, Sandy Hodge having to be satisfied with a seat on the bench again, and at right back Paul Stewart continued from where he had left off last week.
The game was relatively even throughout with only a spectacular Hamilton strike from twenty five yards out in the fiftieth minute and a last minute Fisher goal coming against the play as Queens were pressing for the equaliser between the sides.
Queens had chances, notably Warren Hawke's turn and strike against the woodwork early in the first half and a Denis Boyle free kick that was well saved in the second.
With thirty points still to be won or lost nothing is decided yet, the performance of the team will though, have to make a dramatic improvement, starting on Tuesday evening at Palmerston when promotion certainties Clyde visit.
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