Alloa Athletic…2 

Airdrieonians…1 

Alloa Athletic continued their winning form with an important victory over promotion rivals Airdrie at the Indodrill Stadium today. 

An unlikely early double from central defender Andy Graham sent the Wasps on their way, with Iain Russell’s strike for Airdrie midway through the first half proving to be in vain as Alloa held on to record their second successive win. 

There were two changes to the side which beat Queen’s Park last week, with Kevin Cawley and Stefan McCluskey replacing Jon Robertson and Steven Hetherington. 

The Wasps got off to the perfect start for the second week running when they took the lead after just four minutes. Jordan Kirkpatrick slipped the ball to Frank McKeown, whose shot was saved by Rohan Ferguson, but Graham was first to react and prodded the rebound past the stranded keeper to score Alloa’s 5,000th goal since joining the senior league setup in 1921. 

It was almost two moments later. Calum Waters swung in a raking cross which found the onrushing Greig Spence. The striker had the freedom of the penalty area and looked certain to score but somehow steered his header wide of the post. 

Spence was looking sharp early on and was denied by a good save from Ferguson after he had latched onto Graham’s cushioned header through, but he will feel he should have made the most of the opportunity. 

The visitors almost found a route back into the game when Iain Russell picked out Andy Ryan, but his cross was just too high and the former Hamilton striker couldn’t get a clean contact with his header. 

Spence had another chance to get his name on the scoresheet when he linked up well with strike partner Dylan Mackin, but his shot curled a foot or so over the crossbar. 

But the Wasps did get their second after a quarter of an hour, and once again it was Graham who scored it. Waters once again produced a teasing cross and Graham rose above everyone to power a header home and double his side’s lead. 

The frenetic start to the game continued and Airdrie halved the deficit midway through the first half. Scott Stewart’s shot was saved by Craig McDowall, but Iain Russell was close at hand to slam home the loose ball and drag his side back into the game. 

That sparked a good spell for the visitors and Ryan went close twice in quick succession, driving a shot narrowly wide before forcing McDowall into a smart save. 

Alloa almost restored their two-goal advantage seconds later, but Kieran MacDonald made a terrific block to deny Mackin a goal against his former club. 

Ryan was causing the Alloa defence a few problems and went close again on the half-hour mark, flicking a header just over the bar from close range. 

Jack Leitch was next to pass up an opportunity, curling an effort wide of the post as the visitors turned up the heat in search of a leveller. 

Mackin was agonisingly close to scoring his second goal for the club since his arrival from Motherwell on loan, heading wide by a matter of millimetres after he had risen to meet Kirkpatrick’s corner. 

Iain Flannigan replaced Stefan McCluskey and was immediately in the thick of the action, almost picking out Cawley with a teasing cross which Ferguson did well to deal with. 

Kirkpatrick was having a lot of joy against the Airdrie defence and the midfielder’s powerful shot meant Ferguson had to be on his toes to keep it out. 

There was a scary moment for the Wasps when a free kick caused chaos in the penalty box and sparked a goalmouth scramble. After a bit of pinball, McDowall got a hand to the ball before it was hacked clear and the Wasps survived with their lead intact. 

The remainder of the game was devoid of any clear-cut openings, with Alloa’s defence standing firm in the face of Airdrie’s pressure, and the result moves them to within nine points of leaders Livingston. 

The Wasps now face a crucial week in their quest for promotion, with East Fife making the trip to the Wee County on Tuesday evening before a trip to Brechin next Saturday. 

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