Head Coach Robin Veldman listed the same starting XI that won last weekend at Inverness Caledonian Thistle with new loan recruit from Celtic, Ben McPherson, on the substitutes’ bench in place of Scott Williamson who has moved to Cove Rangers on a temporary basis.

Arbroath listed three former Spiders in Ricky Little, Craig Slater and David Gold with the Gayfield men out to make up for a defeat from Dundee United in their opening fixture.

The Red Lichties kicked off however it was Queen’s that created the first chance in 90 seconds when skipper Dom Thomas got free on the left and when his cut back was cleared to Paton the striker let fly with a curling effort that was deflected past for a corner.

Thomas forced a corner with a challenge on the half-way line on six minutes with Charlie Fox just unable to force the dead ball goalward.

A minute later Paton released Thomas who tried to find the far corner however his shot was blocked with referee Hardie not interested in appeals for handball and Hepburn just unable to squeeze the loose ball over the line.

A goal for the hosts arrived on 13 minutes, and it was a first for the club for HEPBURN who was handily placed at the back post to turn in a low driven ball from Paton with the goal also being the 19-year-old’s first ever senior strike.

Five minutes later Queen’s forced two corners in quick succession with Thomas inches away from turning in another ball from Paton after the second kick had been recycled.

Arbroath threatened for the first time midway through the opening half when Michael McKenna let fly directly from a 35-yard free-kick with Callan McKenna watching the ball carefully as it cleared his bar.

A fantastic passing move looked to have set-up a second goal on 27 minutes when Jack Thomson slipped in Paton who finished well however an assistant’s referee’s flag was raised to cut short the celebrations.

The visitors forced a corner four minutes later that Fox cleared to set-up a lighting raid to the other end which only ended when a Hepburn pass was cut out.

Six minutes from the break only a diving header from Aaron Steele prevented Thomas getting on the end of a Hepburn cross after the goalscorer had played a one-two with Paton and as Veldman’s side kept on pressing a Tommy Robson shot was charged down by Little.

It was Arbroath’s turn to race up the park following a corner in first half injury time with home supporters pleased that Louis Longridge had raced back to cut out the danger following a McKenna cross.

Within a minute of the restart Arbroath were handed an opportunity to equalise as Will Tizzard was judged to have passed the ball back to McKenna who had scooped the ball up 10 yards out.

Jay Bird rolled the free-kick to McKenna who blasted it against the out-rushing Longridge with Thomas O’Brien firing the loose ball over.

Queen’s replied with a darting run from Thomas that earned a corner that reached Paton at the back post with the striker crowded out before he could shoot.

Ten minutes into the second half Bird fired wide of the Queen’s goal with Hepburn doing likewise at the other end.

McPherson was handed his debut as a substitute with just over an hour gone with Patrick Jarrett also introduced with Longridge and Thomson making way.

On 64 minutes Fox reached a Thomas corner however his header bounced wide with the Spiders coming close again two minutes later as a fine pass from Paton released Thomas who fired just wide.

Robson was next to try and grab the second goal with a 25-yard drive on 69 minutes with his low effort fizzing just wide.

On 71 minutes Arbroath grabbed an equaliser when Leighton McIntosh turned the loose ball into the net after a last-gasp Fox tackle had denied McKenna a shooting chance.

Four minutes later it was all smiles again for the hosts when PATON restored their lead. The goal came when Jarrett cut in from the left and sent a shot against the near post with the ball running along to the recently introduced Aaron Healy who saw his attempt blocked on the line with Paton snapping up the chance by firing home from four yards.

Arbroath forced a corner with two minutes to go with Queen’s happy to see the ball from the left drift out of play on the other side of McKenna’s goal.

Queen’s Park – Callan McKenna, Louis Longridge (Ben McPherson 61), Will Tizzard (Alex Bannon 72), Charlie Fox, Tommy Robson (Cameron Bruce 86), Jack Thomson (Patrick Jarrett 61), Jack Turner, Jack Spong, Barry Hepburn (Aaron Healy 72), Dom Thomas, Ruari Paton.

Unused substitutes – Calum Ferrie (G/k), Rocco Hickey-Fugaccia, Lewis Reid, Liam McLeish.

Arbroath – Derek Gaston, Aaron Steele (Keaghan Jacobs 72), Ricky Little, Thomas O’Brien, Craig Slater (Joao Baldé 72), David Gold, Michael McKenna, Ryan Dow (Leighton McIntosh 63), Scott Stewart Jermaine Hylton (Mark Stowe 63), Jay Bird (Kenan Dünnwald-Turan 63).

Unused substitutes – Ali Adams (G/k), Scott Allan.

Referee: Ross Hardie