ALLOA ATHLETIC’S ended their SPFL Championship stint with a five game unbeaten run following the 1-1 draw at home Dumbarton. 

The Wasps boss brought Isaac Layne in for the suspended Jason Marr as they looked to build on the positive result at Ibrox the previous week. 

The hosts got off to a flyer on seven minutes when Michael Duffy’s clever pass picked out Isaac Layne inside the box. The young hitman did well to roll his defender and slot beyond Jamie Ewings to give his side the lead. 

The Wasps almost made it 2-0 on 10 minutes when Duffy’s spectacular free kick came crashing back out off the crossbar with Ewings well beaten. 

Alloa looked right in the mood to end the season on a high after relegation and Mitch Megginson should have doubled their lead on 15 minutes. He produced a brilliant mazy run to glide past two defenders into the box, but Ewings was alert to get out and smother the shot. 

Dumbarton sprang to life thereafter and could have been level with their first chance of the match. A great cross by Kevin Cawley picked out Tom Walsh at the back post, but the Rangers loanee could only shoot past. 

Duffy then won his side another dangerous free kick and took the shot on himself from 20 yards, but this time Ewings gathered easily. 

Alloa began to turn the screw in the build up to half time as they looked to double their advantage. Megginson then picked out the run of Layne to send him racing through on the keeper, he did well to get his shot beyond Ewings from a tight angle, but the ball came back out off the post. 

Dumbarton had the final chance of the half when Steven Saunders shot produced a brilliant save from Gallacher. 

Alloa had the first chance after the restart when Megginson picked out Dougie Hill with a cross but the diving header was saved by Ewings. 

Dumbarton responded well and levelled the match on 51 minutes. Half time substitute Donald McCallum seized on a loose ball from a corner to smash into the roof of the net with his first kick. 

Steve Aitken’s men almost then went in front and it was a familiar face who almost came back to haunt the Wasps as the ball fell kindly for Kevin Cawley inside the box, but Gallacher was equal to the shot. 

Alloa responded well and a brilliant flick on by Graeme Holmes saw Layne once again racing in on the keeper, but his shot was well smothered by Ewings who raced out to the striker’s feet. 

The game went into end of season mode for a ten minute spell, but it was Dumbarton who sparked it back to life when Ex-Alloa hero Mark Docherty picked out the run of Paul Heffernan to put him in on goal. The striker looked certain to score, but Colin Hamilton got across to make a last ditch tackle to deny him. 

Jack Ross sent on young Wasps hitman Scott Hynd for the final ten minutes and he was to carve out the best two chances of the closing stages. 

Kyle McAusland did brilliantly on the right to cross and pick out Hynd at the back post, but the young hitman saw his header go inches past the far post. 

Flannigan then got down the right in the final minute to once again find Hynd, who rose well above his defender to head the ball toward the far corner, but once again the ball was inches wide and the match ended in stalemate. 

There are many positives for Jack Ross to build on in the summer with the Wasps finishing on a five game unbeaten run, but he will be looking to rebuild his side as they prepare for League One football next season. 

Advertiser man of the match: Michael Duffy

Alloa Athletic: Gallacher, McAusland, Hill, Hamilton, Duffy, Holmes, Caddis (R.Crawford 73), Flannigan, Layne (McManus 66), Hetherington, Megginson (Hynd 79). 

Subs not used: D.Crawford (GK), Ferns, Finnie, Wilson.