Alloa Athletic…0

Peterhead…1

ALLOA missed the chance to close the gap on leaders Livingston as they slipped to defeat at home to 10-man Peterhead at the Indodrill Stadium on Saturday.

The Wasps dominated the game but were profligate in attack, while Leighton McIntosh took advantage of a defensive error with the visitors’ one clear opening.

And despite the goalscorer later being shown a controversial red card, the Wasps failed to find a way through a resolute Peterhead backline, falling to a second successive home defeat and allowing Airdrie to move level on points in second place.

The home side were on top right from the start, and Scott Taggart in particular was a threat in the opening stages. On several occasions he bombed forward down the right, only to see his crosses repelled by the visiting defence.

Jordan Kirkpatrick went close with an effort from distance which flashed wide of Graeme Smith’s post, before Kevin Cawley’s knock-down from Jon Robertson’s free kick fell just behind Andy Graham as the centre-back tried to hook it towards goal.

Taggart was involved again when Greig Spence made a mess of a chance. He recovered to lay the ball off to the right-back, but Smith made the first of several excellent saves, getting down well to keep out the shot.

Steven Hetherington was next to have a go, his powerful drive fizzing over the crossbar as the Wasps really began to turn the screw in search of the opening goal of the afternoon.

With just over half an hour gone, Peterhead’s top scorer Rory McAllister was forced off with an injury in what appeared to be another boost to Alloa’s hopes of claiming a victory.

The visitors’ first half-chance fell to his replacement, McIntosh, on the stroke of half time. Nicky Riley did well to work his way into a crossing position out on the left and picked out the substitute, but he was always stretching and could only find the side-netting.

However, McIntosh would make Alloa pay for their wastefulness just four minutes into the second half. The ball was sent long towards the striker, who was in an offside position. However, Jason Marr attempted to head it clear but could only get the slightest of touches, and McIntosh raced onto the loose ball and slotted it beyond Neil Parry to give his side the lead against the run of play.

Alloa have made a habit of coming from behind in recent weeks and would have fancied their chances of doing so again, but despite some nice play every move was falling apart in the final third.

They forced a number of set-pieces but the vast majority were cleared with ease by the visitors, who had effectively erected a blue wall in front of their goal as soon as they took the lead.

Kirkpatrick had another good chance to get his name on the scoresheet when he beat his man and drove into the box but he couldn’t keep his shot down.

Taggart and Calum Waters were both pushing high up the pitch and delivering cross after cross, but despite their best efforts every ball was dealt with by the Peterhead defence.

With 15 minutes remaining the game’s main talking point arrived. Marr picked the ball up in the centre circle, and McIntosh thundered into a challenge on the defender. Although it was a robust tackle, the goalscorer appeared to win the ball, and the red card brandished by the referee sparked furious protests from the visitors.

Despite having almost all the possession and a man advantage, the Wasps still failed to break through the impressively resilient Peterhead ranks.

With ten minutes to go there were appeals from a penalty from the home side when Scott Ross appeared to grab a handful of Jamie Longworth’s shirt, but the referee felt otherwise and waved play on.

The feeling that it might not be Alloa’s day was added to when Cawley’s goal-bound shot was superbly blocked, before Longworth had an effort magnificently saved by Smith.

And just a minute later, the keeper excelled himself once again. The diminutive Cawley rose highest and directed a header towards goal. He looked to have finally given his side the equaliser they deserved, but Smith showed terrific reactions to claw the ball out of the top corner and over the bar.

The Wasps continued to press, and in the final minute, Longworth passed up the game’s golden chance when he headed wide from just a few yards out with the goal at his mercy.

There was still time for Smith to come to his side’s rescue one more time, this time diving to tip Iain Flannigan’s powerful shot onto the post.

It was fitting that the big keeper should have the final say in a game where Alloa dominated from start to finish but just could not find a way through, missing out on the chance to narrow the gap at the top of the table to six points.

Alloa Athletic: Parry, Taggart, Waters, Marr (McKeown), Graham, Hetherington (Longworth), Cawley, Robertson, Spence, Kirkpatrick, Flannigan. Not used: Holmes, Hoggan, Hynd, Martin, McDowall.