For more than an hour this local derby ground out in an unexciting way, and it was only after Stranraer got the only goal of the day that it looked something vaguely like a contest.
The first half was a drab affair, lightened only by a couple of flurries in the Queens' goal mouth. But even there, the Stranraer players seemed intent on merely getting a kick which hopefully would result in a ricochet into the net.
But that was not to be, and it was only with five minutes left before the break when Stranraer's Leigh Hinds presented some action. Picking up a backward header from Michael Moore, Hinds twisted and turned his way into the visitors' penalty area and his final low shot was helped on its way goalwards by a nod from Moore.
But Richard Barnard, the Queens keeper, pulled off a tremendous save, twisting low to his right to scoop the ball away for a corner.
Queens had a few chances early in the second half to make their mark but their finishing was poor, and even when Gary Wood got on the outside of a long cross from Stuart Lovell his finishing shot was woefully weak and straight at the Stranraer keeper.
After 66 minutes it was Stranraer who grabbed the only goal and what little glory was going and this came from a poor clearance by Lovell who, trying to clear from the by-line, only managed to hook the ball into his own side's six-yard box. Barnard punched clear but straight to Lee Sharp, who hammered home a glorious left-foot shot just inside the post.
It proved to be the winner and gave Stranraer a more comfortable 12-point cushion between themselves and Queens, but even in the last minute home keeper Barry-John Corr had to pull off a smart save to prevent a Derek Lyle shot splitting the points.