Billy Stark made a couple of changes from the side that were dumped 4-1 by Stirling Albion in midweek. Richard Bowers and Stuart Kettlewell replacing Steven Canning and Frankie Carroll. Steven Canning dropped to the bench and Carroll was not involved due to a family engagement.
So, the lineup had David "DC Dogg" Crawford in goals and a defence of Trouten, Dunlop, Sinclair and Agostini in front of him. The midfield consisted of Kettlewell, Ferry, Canning and Paton and Weatherston and Bowers made up the strikeforce.
It took two minutes for The Spiders to open the scoring, Stuart Kettlewell played a long ball to David Weatherston, he took a few touches to control the ball and then lifted it over Johnson and into the net for 1-0.
A good start against higher opposition, but the lead only lasted for six minutes. A cross from the left hit the hand of Richard Sinclair, though not deliberately, but Stevie O'Reilly pointed to the spot, and Ryan Caddis made no mistake for The Honest Men, sliding the ball up the middle as DC dived to his right.
It only took a few more minutes and Queen's Park were back in front. A passback which was chased in by Bowers was a bit short and goalkeeper Johnson panicked it and smacked the ball first time out to Mark Ferry. Fez took one look up and lifted the ball delicately over Johnson and into the net. DC was soon forced to tip a David Dunn piledriver from 30 yards over the bar and he had to save from Ryan Caddis' feet.
Though after 27 minutes, Queen's were rather shockingly 3-1 ahead. A through ball made it's way to Johnson who panicked under pressure from Bowers, he tried to control it and take the ball past Bowers but the young striker took the ball off the keeper and slid the ball into an empty net.
Queen's should have made it four when Bowers was sent one on one with Johnson, but he made it too easy for the Ayr keeper to save and turn it round the post.
But, from the corner it was 4-1. The low corner was dummied at the near post by Big Mick Dunlop, and Mark Ferry drilled home the pre-planned corner from the edge of the box.
The half wasn't quite over though and United pulled one back before the interval. Varielle tucking a simple chance past Crawford after good work by Ryan Caddis.
HALF TIME: Queen's Park 4 - 2 Ayr United
Queen's came out for the second half with two new players, new boy Michael Keenan and Steven Reilly replacing Ricky Sinclair and Paul Paton. Ayr started the half the better side as Queen's couldn't really get out of the starting grid and Billy Stark made another change, a Trialist centre forward replacing Richard Bowers. United though managed to cut the lead to a single goals moments later, a scramble in the goalmouth saw the Queen's defence and DC fail to get the ball clear and Jerome Varielle smashed the ball home from yards.
Ferry and Weatherston then made way for Shaun Molloy and Steven Canning.
Queen's then had their best chance of the half when Alan Trouten, after being played up the wing by Molloy crossed towards the near post and the Trialist guided the cross over the bar.
Queen's brought on Jonny Whelan with ten minutes left to help defend the lead and Queen's did, for a good 4-3 win which sets up nicely for the game vs. Arbroath on Saturday at Hampden.
QUEEN'S PARK: Crawford, Trouten, Dunlop, Agostini, Sinclair (Reilly), Paton (Keenan), Kettlewell, Quinn (Whelan), Bowers (Trialist), Weatherston (Canning), Ferry (Molloy)
GOALSCORERS: Weatherston (3), Ferry (11,38), Bowers (27)
BOOKED: Richard Sinclair, Michael Keenan, Tony Quinn
REFEREE: Stevie O'Reilly
MAN OF THE MATCH: David Weatherston , Scored the important opener and continued his fine pre-season form with a lively performance, always threatening the Ayr defence.