Alloa and Hillfoots Advertiser:

GUTTED Alloa Athletic were the victims of a last minute equaliser as Stenhousemuir battled back from two goals down to earn a dramatic 2-2 draw. 

The visitors led through a Fraser Kerr own goal and a Jim Goodwin strike, but the ex-St Mirren star was then sent off as the hosts rallied against the ten men to earn a share of the spoils with second half goals from Willis Alves Furtado and Oliver Shaw. 

The Wasps wasted little time in this one and raced into an early lead, but it was an opposition player who put the ball into his own net. 

Kevin Cawley was sent in down the right by Jon Robertson, he beat his marker and then whipped a dangerous cross into the box towards Greig Spence, it the unfortunate Stenny defender Fraser Kerr who got to the ball first, but he could only slice the attempted clearance up and over his own keeper into the net to hand the visitors the advantage. 

Jack Ross’ side were well on top at this stage and some quick passing soon worked the ball out to the marauding Calum Waters, and his dangerous cross picked out Cawley at the back post, but the volley came back out off the post and Stenny were saved by the offside flag off the rebound. 

Just as the Wasps threatened to dominate proceedings, Colin McMenamin provided a stark reminder there was still a game on as he almost lobbed Neil Parry, but the effort landed on the roof of the net. 

It was a very scrappy affair at times, but the Wasps were soon back on the front foot on 24 minutes. 

A lovely inter-change of passes between Cawley and Goodwin, saw the latter slip Jordan Kirkpatrick into a shooting position, but the attempted shot was well blocked and safely win this time by Kerr.

A largely uneventful half ended with the impressive Waters getting down the left to cross towards Spence, but again Kerr got across to intercept the danger. 

After the interval, the second half started with a scurry of action. The hosts came out brightly and took the game to Alloa, but the twice attempted through pass for McMenamin was halted each time by the offside flag. 

Despite their bright start, the hosts soon found themselves once again defending for their lives. Goodwin picked out the run of Waters down the left, his cross picked out Spence in the six-yard box, but the Wasps’ hitman couldn’t keep his header down as the ball flew over the top. 

The Wasps did not have long to wait for the second goal as they struck on 51 minutes, but once again they were assisted by their hosts. 

Trialist David Marsh sent Spence racing in on the goalkeeper with a short back pass, the striker rounded Colin McCabe then squared for the on-rushing Goodwin to stroke the ball into the empty net from 12 yards for 2-0. 

The game changed soon after, however, when Goodwin went from hero to zero as he was given his marching orders on 55 minutes. The referee handed out a straight red card for the Irishman after a collision with Warriors defender Jamie McCormack at a corner. 

Despite their numerical disadvantage, the Wasps continued to create chances. Cawley had a superb raid forward that saw him glide past three defenders to work his way into a shooting position inside the box, but as the shot beat the keeper, McCormack got back to block on the line. 

Brown Ferguson’s side to their credit kept on battling away as they searched for a way back into the match. McCormack picked out the run of winger Alan Cook into the box with the cross, but his header was straight at Parry. 

Alloa should have put the game beyond doubt on 73 minutes when Waters terrific delivery from a free kick was met by Ben Gordon on the volley only yards from goal, but the effort was straight at the keeper. 

The Wasps were made to rue that missed chance soon after as Stenhousemuir set up a nervous finish with a goal back on 78 minutes. 

Substitute Mark Gilhaney picked out the run of Willis Alves Furtado at the back post and the impressive young winger drilled low beyond a helpless Parry to make it 2-1. 

The home side now had momentum with them as the Wasps looked just to see the game out. The lively Furtado did well down the left on 87 minutes to pick out substitute Ally Roy, but the volley was brilliantly blocked by Parry. 

Alloa should have put the game to bed when a quick counter attack caught the home side cold. Skipper Graeme Holmes did well to steal possession on halfway and then beat his marker before sending fellow substitute Jamie Longworth racing in on goal. He danced his way past four defenders as he weaved his way into the box, but he was foiled by a brilliant save from Colin McCabe at point blank range. 

Just when the Wasps thought they had done enough to seal the points, the home side grabbed a share of the spoils with a dramatic late equaliser. 

A brilliant long diagonal by Cook to the back post fell right into the path of Hibernian loanee Oli Shaw, who lashed a volley beyond Parry to make it 2-2 with virtually the last kick of the game. 

Jack Ross and his players were visibly frustrated at the full time whistle not to see the game out from 2-0 ahead, but the point was enough to maintain their status at the top of League 1. 

Advertiser man of the match: Jon Robertson

Alloa Athletic: Parry, Taggart, Waters, Gordon, Graham, Goodwin, Flannigan, Robertson, Spence (Marr 85), Cawley (Longworth 67), Kirkpatrick (Holmes 57). Subs not used: McDowall, Wilson, Hoggan, Donnelly.