Queens Park ran out deserved winners, despite playing for an hour with only 10 men. The game sprang to life after 34 minutes when referee Neil Doyle controversially red-carded Queens Park defender Andrew McGinty for a professional foul on William Martin.
Martin and McGinty went into a tustle as they both chased a long clearance from the Elgin defence. The referee immediately brandished a red card as the Elgin player fell to the ground, but there were huge howls of derision from the crowd as both players had been guilty of pulling each other shirts.
In the lead up to the incident, Queens Park's David Crawford easily held a free-kick before Queens went straight upfield and almost netted the opening goal as Frank Carroll fired inches wide from Ross Clark's cross.
The Hampden outfit went even closer on the stroke of half time. Mark Ferry fired in an excellent first-time strike from the edge of the area, but Elgin goalkeeper Kieron Renton did well to tip the shot on to the cross bar.
The home side had a string of chances at the start of the second half as they began to dominate, despite being reduced to 10 men. They eventually broke the deadlock after 68 minutes. David Weatherston did well on the right flank before picking out Carroll, who netted the winner from eight yards.
The visitors pushed forward in the closing stages but failed to created any chances of note.