Battling Alloa Athletic come from two goals down to earn hard-fought draw with Greenock Morton

The visitors raced into a two-goal lead through ex-Wasp Declan McManus and Stefan McCluskey and they could have been out of sight, but for some terrific save from Scott Gallacher in the Alloa goal.

Alloa reduced the deficit through Colin Hamilton's deflected strike before skipper Dougie Hill headed home a late equaliser to earn a share of the spoils.

Jack Ross made two enforced changes from the side that lost to St Mirren last time out. Ryan Finnie and Jason Marr replaced the departed duo of Michael Doyle and Scott McKenna.

The Wasps carved out the first opportunity when Isaac Layne did well to spin Lee Kilday, but the shot was straight at the young goalkeeper Jamie McGowan, who was making his league debut for the visitors.

The hosts continued to threaten and an early burst from Mitch Megginson into the box earned a corner from his shot on goal. From the resultant kick, Layne saw his audacious scorpion kick attempt flash just past the post.

The visitors sprang to life on 10 minutes when McManus latched onto a long diagonal into the Alloa box and fired on goal from six yards, but Scott Gallacher was there to tip wide.

The home side did not heed the warning and Morton opened the scoring on 14 minutes. Denny Johnstone latched onto a brilliant through pass by Ross Forbes to spin his marker and fire on goal.

Gallacher could only parry the stinging drive up into the air and McManus was there to nod home the rebound.

Morton wasted no time in doubling their advantage three minutes later. Johnstone was again the provider as he wriggled free on the left to find Stefan McCluskey who cut inside onto his left foot before unleashing an unstoppable shot into the far corner to make it 2-0.

To their credit, Alloa's response was immediate as they quickly reduced the deficit within two minutes.

Burton O'Brien and Michael Duffy combined well to work the ball to Hamilton on the left side of the box and his shot was deflected up into the net off a Morton defender giving their young keeper no chance.

The Cappielow men did not let the setback derail them and they were soon back threatening the hosts' goal.

The impressive Johnstone was causing all sorts of problems for the home defence and Gallacher had to be alert to deny him at point blank range when Forbes sent him racing into the box.

The Wasps keeper then had to be alert to deny Thomas O'Ware and McManus soon after before Johnstone had a shot saved from 18 yards from a corner as the Wasps scrambled clear.

It was end to end at this stage, but the visitors were carving out the better opportunites.

McManus threatened to burst clear in on goal on 40 minutes, but Finnie did well to snuff out the threat as the half ended at 2-1 to Jim Duffy's side.

The Alloa boss got a great reaction from his players after the restart as on-loan Celtic forward Michael Duffy sprang to life.

He burst past two players on the edge of the box to create space for the shot, but the curling effort was just past the post.

Duffy then looked to turn provider as he skipped away from two players on the left before cutting the ball back towards Megginson, but a saving tackle from Ricki Lamie denied him a certain goal.

The Wasps did not have long to wait for the breakthrough after as the equaliser arrived on 71 minutes.

O'Brien's corner to the back post was met by captain Hill who bulleted the ball home to level the match.

The game swung from end to end in the closing stages, but it was the visitors who looked the most likely to snatch a winner.

Lee Kilday was inches away from connect with a Bobby Barr corner with three minutes remaining, but the match ended in a share of the spoils.

Alloa will now need to recover quickly as they prepare for the visit of Rangers on Saturday. 

Advertiser sport man of the match: Scott Gallacher