Queen’s Park slipped up in their bid for the cinch Championship title with a shock 1-0 defeat at home to second-bottom Arbroath.

Substitute Dale Hilson scored 15 minutes from time to lift the visitors, who began the game off the foot of the table only on goal difference, up to eighth and dent the league leaders’ hopes of securing promotion to the top flight.

Hilson hit the winner following a fine turn to beat his man before lashing the ball home past Queen’s Park goalkeeper Callum Ferrie.

In the first half Dom Thomas thought he had given the home side the lead, only for his curling shot to come back off the crossbar.

The defeat means second-placed Dundee have a game in hand to cut down Queen’s Park lead to a single point when they return to action after the international break against Hamilton.

It ended a run of five winless matches for Arbroath and breathed life into their hopes of avoiding the drop to League One.