But injuries had hit Queen's hard even after the three week lay-off. With Tony Quinn, Paul Harvey, Richard Sinclair & Andy McGinty all ruled out. This meant that Damiano Agostini made his first appearance since a 2-1 win over East Fife in April. Paul Paton also stepped in to replace Quinn.
Queen's started brighter in what was a stale first half of football. Alan Trouten forcing a comfortable save out of East Fife keeper John Dodds. Stuart Kettlewell also came close with an acrobatic volley before a flurry of action which began five minutes before half time.
First, Mark Ferry, Alan Trouten linked up and got the ball to Tommy Murray out wide who then swung in a cross which Paul Paton hit the post with Alan Trouten also hitting the post from close range. Then Kettlewell somehow obliged to miss a great headed chance when he headed the ball off the ground and then over the bar from three yards.
EF also had a few chances but David Crawford held Hampshire's tame effort from six yards.
Queen's were slow out the block for the second half as Smart came close to opening the scoring moments after the restart. He dragged the ball wide of DC's far post from the left.
Queen's nearly took the lead but John Dodds pulled off a marvellous save from a Ferry header after a pinpoint cross from David Weatherston.
But, Queen's were ahead after 55 minutes. Ferry dummied a shot and beat the defender before sliding the ball through to Tommy Murray who belted the ball low into Dodds' near post.
EF should have equalised seconds later when Smart volleyed the ball right at the chest of Crawford after he had got in behind Agostini six yards out.
Queen's doubled their lead on 66 minutes, Alan Trouten unleashed a tame shot from 20 yards which deflected off the knee of Dodds who completely misjudged the path of the ball, this deflection sent the ball high into the net. A howler from the EF keeper, but no one in the Spiders camp was complaining!!
Both sides had chances nearing the end of the game but the best of them fell to young David Weatherston. Tommy Murray squared the ball into the six yard box but a stretching Weatherston only managed to clip the bobbling ball over the bar.
So, a good performance as Queen's sit in a play off place, let's keep it up against Montrose next week.
QUEEN'S PARK: Crawford, Clark, Dunlop, Reilly, Agostini, Trouten, Kettlewell, Paton, Weatherston (Whelan), Murray (Bowers), Ferry (Molloy)
GOALSCORERS: Tommy Murray, Alan Trouten
ATTENDANCE: 399
REFEREE: John McKendrick