Head Coach Robin Veldman made three changes to his starting line-up with Calum Ferrie starting between the sticks in place of Callan McKenna with Cameron Bruce and Patrick Jarrett coming in for Tommy Robson and Jack Spong.

Motherwell who are managed by former QP favourite Stuart Kettlewell included well-known faces in Blair Spittal and Paul McGinn in their line-up.

The hosts kicked off and Charlie Fox showed his prowess in the air with an early clearing header before Bruce showed what he could do with a 30-yard run from his own half before being crowded out.

Bruce was on hand defensively on five minutes to cut out a dangerous home attack with a sliding tackle to deny Jon Obika.

Four minutes later Queen’s won the first corner of the game after Dom Thomas and Jarrett combined and they quickly won the second and third before the Motherwell defence cleared.

Bruce and Barry Hepburn did well down the left flank on 17 minutes to open up the Fir Park defence and pick out Jarrett who had made a clever run with Liam Kelly keeping out the midfielder’s low parting shot.

Bruce’s busy afternoon continued as on 22 minutes as he raced back towards his own goal and put in a superbly timed tackle to halt a Stephen O’Donnell run.

Motherwell carved out a great chance four minutes later when Spittal and Connor Wilkinson worked the ball out wide to O’Donnell on the right and his swinging cross was met by an unmarked Obika with the striker sending his header wide.

The Spiders almost took full advantage of that reprieve as Thomas worked some magic on the wing and fired over the ball for Ruari Paton who was just unable to nod an effort on target.

Callum Slattery fired a chance over the visitors goal however the hosts’ next effort found the net on 29 minutes with the aid of a deflection. A pass found Obika 14 yards out and his side-footed shot struck Will Tizzard and looped high into the air and over Ferrie.

Two minutes later Queen’s could have been level as Thomas dashed off the right wing and into the home box where Kelly tipped his shot into the air with Hepburn sending the loose ball over.

Louis Longridge was injured in an aerial challenge seven minutes from half-time with referee Mclean surprising many at the Lanarkshire ground by not awarding a free-kick to the visitors and restarting the game with a dropped ball to Motherwell.

Just before the break Pape Souare nodded over Ferrie’s goal with the crossbar coming to Queen’s rescue in injury time when Slattery cracked in a shot from the edge of the box.

The second half started with no substitutions for either team with Spittal sending a shot high over as the action got going.

Ferrie was called into action shortly afterwards as Dan Casey tried his luck from 40 yards with the shot-stopper well positioned to save however he was almost beaten on 52 minutes when Obika reached a Fox pass-back with the striker thankfully sending a shot over the bar.

It looked like an equaliser had arrived on 56 minutes when Jarrett sent Thomas scampering away on the right. The winger’s low cross looked perfect for Hepburn to tap in however O’Donnell popped up at the last moment to nick the ball at the expense of a corner.

Midway through the second half loud appeals for a Queen’s penalty were ignored when a Thomas cross looked to have come off an arm. A corner was awarded and a goal almost came from the set-piece as Jack Thomson’s delicate flick beat Kelly but struck the bar.

Another penalty call went unanswered when Turner dribbled past two players before crashing to the ground.

With ten minutes left Motherwell created an opportunity when the ball was cut back to Spittal however Ferrie was again well-placed to save. There was confusion in the aftermath as the ball looked to be knocked from Ferrie’s hands and Spittal chipped goalward with the ball clipping the bar and allowing everyone to move on.

Defender Tizzard was withdrawn with four minutes left and attacker Liam McLeish came on as Queen’s searched for a leveller.

A foul on replacement Aaron Healy gave Thomas the chance to swing in an injury time free-kick however Kelly had read the situation well and raced from his goal to clutch the ball.

Queen’s Park – Calum Ferrie (G/k), Louis Longridge, Will Tizzard (Liam McLeish 86), Charlie Fox, Cameron Bruce (Tommy Robson 63), Barry Hepburn (Aaron Healy 77), Jack Thomson, Jack Turner, Dom Thomas, Patrick Jarrett (Jack Spong 63), Ruari Paton.

Unused substitutes – Callan McKenna, Alex Bannon, Rocco Hickey-Fugaccia, Lennon Connolly, Lewis Reid.

Motherwell – Liam Kelly, Stephen O’Donnell, Blair Spittal, Callum Slattery, Jon Obika (Mark Ferry 54), Dan Casey, Paul McGinn, Shane Blaney, Lennon Miller (Harry Paton 69), Pape Souare (Nathan McGinley 85), Conor Wilkinson (Barry Maguire 85).

Unused substitutes – Aston Oxborough, Bevis Mugabi, Ewan Wilson, Ross Tierney, Luca Ross.

Referee: Steven McLean.