Queen’s Park moved to just outside the play-off spots in the Championship with a comfortable win over toothless Airdrie at Hampden.
Goals from Dom Thomas and Louis Longridge had the Spiders home and dry by the interval and it looked very much then like it was game over.
While Airdrie tried to get back into the game, they didn’t really create enough to trouble Spiders keeper Calum Ferrie.
Queen’s Park raced into a two-goal lead midway through the first half and that seemed to deflate Airdrie
Dom Thomas put Queen’s Park on their way in 14 minutes, mopping up the rebound to a Jack Turner shot and Louis Longridge doubled that lead seven minutes later with a spectacular lob.
Airdrie came back into the game in the second half, but without really creating much, while Queen’s Park were content to hit on the counter-attack.
It took the Diamonds until the 82nd minute to seriously threaten and even then it was a routine save for Ferrie.
Queen’s Park boss Callum Davidson made five changes to the side that beat Rangers ‘B’ in their SPFL Trust Trophy quarter-final clash on Tuesday.
Goalkeeper Calum Ferrie replaced Jack Wills, while Cammy Kerr, Ryan Duncan, Jack Thomson and Louis Longridge came in for Zach Mauchin, Josh Scott, Rocco Hickey-Fugaccia and Roddy MacGregor.
His Airdrie counterpart Rhys McCabe made one change from the side that beat Dundee North End in the Scottish Cup third round last weekend, as Luke Badley-Morgan came in for Mason Hancock.
Queen’s Park started well and in nine minutes Jack Turner mugged Flynn Duffy, but his shot was blocked.
Moments later Zak Rudden took advantage of more dithering defending, but Craig Watson recovered well to block.
It was no surprise then when the Spiders took the lead in 14 minutes when Turner’s shot was blocked by keeper Kieran Wright, but Thomas followed up to slot the rebound into the bottom left corner.
Queen’s Park doubled their lead in 21 minutes when Longridge lobbed Wright from distance.
Turner tried his luck again in 34 minutes, but Duffy blocked well.
Airdrie tried to get back in the game and in 39 minutes Ben Wilson had a shot blocked from Lewis McGregor’s cross from the left.
But Queen’s Park went close to doubling their lead in 42 minutes when Turner’s cross from the right was volleyed past the near post.
The Spiders went close again in 54 minutes when Rudden’s cross found Thomas and he in turn picked out Longridge, but his shot was well blocked at the left post corner.
From Thomas’ corner, Sean Welsh headed narrowly wide of the right post.
Ryan Duncan sent Rudden through on goal in 63 minutes, but he slipped his low, angled shot inches wide of the right post.
Airdrie went close in 82 minutes when Wilson picked out sub Chris Mochrie, but his header was well saved at the left corner.
QUEEN’S PARK: Ferrie, Kerr, Tizzard (Fieldson, 45), Murray, Duncan, Thomson, Welsh, Turner (Hickey-Fugaccia, 79), Longridge (MacGregor, 79), Thomas (Hinds, 90+2), Rudden (McLeish, 79)
Subs (not used): Wills (GK), Mauchin, Thompson
AIRDRIE: Wright, Wilson, Graham, Badley-Morgan, Watson, Gallagher, McGrattan (Mochrie, 70), Frizzell, Armstrong, McGregor (Cooper, 78), Duffy
Subs (not used): Johnson (GK), Agyemang, D. Williams, C. Williams, White
Booked: McGrattan (30)
Referee: Nick Walsh
Follow Lanarkshire Live Sport onX via@LanLiveSport, like us onFacebookor find us onInstagramfor the latest sports news, pictures and video.