Reds head coach Bryan Craig was without a number of key men once more, as captain Garry Cockburn and elder brother Calum were both unavailable, while Euan Herkes, Donald McKenzie and Harry Hamilton were also missing.
That meant a recall for veteran stand-off Scott Brownlee, son of president Peter, while James Ferguson reverted to his preferred full-back role and took on the captaincy.
But the Reds got off to the worst possible start, and were behind after just four minutes when an interception saw Greg Gilmour burst clear to score for the visitors.
The conversion was off-target, and a penalty from captain Ferguson reduced the deficit shortly after, but the county club were guilty of gifting possession to their visitors, and Cartha duly took full advantage.
They worked the ball well through several pairs of hands, before Chris Wickes finished off a superb team move with their second try of the opening quarter.
Graham Docherty converted, and he was on kicking duty again shortly after as some poor missed tackles from the hosts allowed Graham Williamson to score their third try on 14 minutes.
Docherty’s third attempt at the uprights followed his first, wide of the mark, and it was 3-17, but the Reds were up against it to get anything from the match, despite there being over an hour left on the clock.
And the travelling Cartha Queens Park supporters were celebrating a fourth try, and a bonus point, as the ball was kicked through by Andy Scott, allowing Johnny Campion to dive over for the try. No conversion once more, but it was 3-22 with less than half an hour played at Neilson Park.
The Reds, despite the concession of four tries, were beginning to grow into the match, with Brownlee and returning back-row Armandt Pryor singled out for their efforts by the Haddington head coach after the match.
Despite enjoying more of the ball in the second quarter, the hosts were not able to get on the scoreboard again, meaning the half time score had them trailing by 19 points, 3-22.
Haddington were the better side in the opening exchanges of the second half, and a well-worked move by skipper Ferguson saw back-row Pryor exploit a two-on-one to crash over from short-range. On a bad day for goalkickers, despite the near-perfect conditions, the conversion was wide.
But that was as good as it got for Craig’s charges, who have recorded just one win all season.
It was to be the visitors who had the last laugh, as replacement Peter Hollier grabbed their fifth try, while Andi Black added the extras, before victory was secured by Campion, who grabbed his second of the match to take the score to 8-36 and secure a big win for the visitors.
And Craig must now pick his troops up once more as they prepare to take on Ardrossan at Neilson Park tomorrow (Saturday), the Ayrshire club having inflicted a thumping defeat on the county side in the reverse fixture.
Bryan Craig told Courier Sport: “The first five or 10 minutes were going well with Scott [Brownlee] running the show at stand-off, but we gave up possession and with almost their first attack they went in under the posts, through some weak tackling.
“Three tries down we had a mountain to climb in a game were were very competitive in, and were looking to take something from.
“We struggled to get a foothold in the game and were rarely in their 22 so it was difficult to apply any real pressure.
“We had a chance in this game and it feels like another one that got away - we’ve had two or three of those this season.
“Armandt [Pryor] was outsanding - I would be surprised If there has ever been a more abrasive and physical display by a forward in a Haddington Jersey.
“Scott [Brownlee] gave us direction behind the pack with his experience and decision making”.
Haddington: J Ferguson, K Adams, I Watt, A Clark, R McLuckie, S Brownlee, D Crichton; G Glass, C Harrison, P Smith, B Laing, G Stewart, C Stuart, M Fairgrieve, A Pryor