Cowdenbeath ended a run of three successive defeats, and appeared to be heading for their first away victory of the season, until Andy Dowie popped up five minutes from time to deny the Fifers.
The Blue Brazil, who got their first point on their travels this season after five straight defeats in all competitions, almost took the lead after seven minutes when Greg Stewart clipped the ball through to Kane Hemmings, but Queen’s goalkeeper Calum Antell brilliantly turned the ball over after the ball looked to be lobbing into the net.
Four minutes later Antell turned sinner when Stewart cut in from the right and fired a low 16-yard shot on target, which the keeper should have saved easily, but somehow let slip through his grasp and trickle over the line.
Queen’s levelled five minutes from time when defender Dowie leapt high above the Cowden defence to connect with an Ian McShane corner from the right and power a header past goalkeeper Thomas Flynn.
Greg Stewart said: “The lads are disappointed as it is a hard place to come and get three points, and we feel we should have walked away with a win after the chances we created.
“We didn’t take our chances and were punished by a corner. We came out flying at the start and should have been home and dry in the first half.
“If we keep playing like this then our first away win won’t be far away, so hopefully the guys can take it onto the Morton game next week and take three points.”
Even after the Queen’s leveller, Cowden had chances to win the game, with midfielder Jon Robertson through on goal in the dying seconds, but Antell made a brave save at his feet to partly redeem himself after his earlier horror mistake.
Central Park boss Colin Cameron said: “The guys were in the dressing room feeling like it was a defeat, so that’s got to be good for us. On chances no one would have begrudged us the three points.
“There were far more positives than negatives to take away from the match.”