Livingston..................0

Alloa Athletic.............0

Alloa’s Championship survival fight came to a disappointing end with a dismal draw with Livingston on Saturday, writes Jamie Hall.

In what was a poor game, chances were at a premium and neither side really deserved to take all three points.

Steven Hetherington was sent off minutes from the end after taking down Jordyn Sheerin as the Livingston substitute raced in on goal.

Jack Ross named an unchanged lineup from the side which was so unfortunate to lose out to St Mirren last week.

The Wasps had the better of the opening exchanges and Michael Duffy went close to an opener when he got between two defenders to meet Kyle McAusland’s cross, but his header flew just wide of Marc McCallum’s post.

Livingston did not threaten the Alloa goal until more than a quarter of an hour in. Jordan White showed some nice skill wide on the left to work his way into the box. The former Stirling Albion striker fizzed a shot towards Scott Gallacher’s goal but the keeper got down well to make a decent save at his near post.

Having not enjoyed a chance for the entire game, the home side then had a second in the space of a minute. Charlie Telfer swung in a corner and Morgyn Neill rose above everybody and headed only an inch or so over the crossbar.

The Lions were enjoying a good spell and Hibs loanee Sam Stanton could have given them the lead midway through the half. The midfielder was almost brought down by Colin Hamilton, but he chose to stay on his feet only to see his shot well blocked by Gallacher.

At the other end, Duffy forced McCallum into a smart save with a half-volley on the turn from the edge of the box, before Iain Flannigan went agonisingly close to diverting a cross past the Livi keeper.

The visitors were looking the sharper of the two sides and Flannigan’s free kick caused a problem for McCallum, who fumbled before gathering at the second attempt as the impressive Duffy chased in.

White was the hosts’ most dangerous player and he looked like creating an opportunity for himself when he skipped past a couple of challenges, but Hetherington showed great desire to track back and clear the danger.

The best chance of the half came three minutes before the interval and it went the way of the home side. A long throw caused mayhem in the Alloa box and the ball fell perfectly for Telfer, whose powerful drive was deflected behind for a corner.

The second half was a dire affair for the opening ten minutes until a mistake by Hamilton let in Buchanan down the right, but the striker’s cross was cut out by Wasps skipper Dougie Hill.

White set up Telfer with a great cushioned header but the youngster’s half-volley bounced harmlessly wide of Gallacher’s goal.

The Wasps went agonisingly close when Duffy’s shot broke to Flannigan, who sent an effort agonisingly wide of Livingston’s post.

The midfielder almost caught McCallum out at his near post with a great low cross which the keeper had to be alert to deal with.

However, the best chance of the game fell to substitute Isaac Layne. Mitch Megginson did brilliantly to get to the bye line and cut the ball back, but somehow the replacement managed to miss the ball from all of two yards out.

The main talking point of the game came with just a few minutes remaining. Sheerin raced clear and looked certain to score, only for his heels to be clipped by Hetherington. The Wasps man was given his marching orders, as was Livi manager David Hopkin who felt that his side should have had a penalty rather than the free kick they got.

That would prove to be the last meaningful action and the ten-man Wasps held on, but it wasn’t enough to save their Championship status.

Alloa: Gallacher, McAusland, Hill, Hamilton (Caddis), Marr, Holmes (Ferns), Hetherington, Flannigan, R. Crawford (Layne), Duffy, Megginson.