Willie McLaren returned to haunt his old Airdrie mates with the goal that put a severe dent into the Diamonds' survival hopes.
Airdrie, with more at stake, had looked the likelier to break the deadlock of a turgid affair but McLaren struck just two minutes from time to leave Airdrie still six points adrift at the foot of the table.
A dull opening was intermittently lit up by the skill of McLaren who caused his old Airdrie team-mates a couple of anxious moments. The mercurial winger's inswinging corner drew a hurried clearance from Bobby Donnelly before McLaren left Paul Lovering for dead with a deft turn on the halfway line.
However, the final ball into the box was invariably mopped-up by the Diamonds defence.
Queens raised the tempo on the restart, Quinn seeing a shot blocked by Marc Smyth before firing the rebound over.
The visitors went closest yet to breaking the deadlock when Joe Hamill's shot took a wicked deflection off Marc Smyth and wrong-footed Stephen Robertson.
However, the home keeper showed tremendous reflexes to touch the ball to safety.
With time running out, McLaren delivered the killer blow when he took a Derek Holmes pass and calmly beat Robertson
Queens MAD Man of the Match - Willie McLaren of course - most skilful player on the park.