Peterhead...1

Alloa Athletic...1

ALLOA Athletic fought back to claim a point from their League One encounter with Peterhead on Saturday afternoon.

The Wasps had fallen behind to a Fiacre Kelleher strike, but substitute Jordan Kirkpatrick saved the day with an equaliser to ensure they stayed in touch with the leaders at the top of the league table.

It was a battling performance from an Alloa side who were visiting Balmoor for the second time in three weeks, having been victorious in a Scottish Cup tie a fortnight previously thanks to a goal from Jamie Longworth.

The visitors went close in the opening minutes when Longworth got to the byline and squared for Greig Spence, only for the Wasps’ top scorer to inexplicably miss the ball.

It was a hectic start to the game and barely five minutes later Rory McAllister had the ball in the net at the other end, but the goal was rightly ruled out for a handball in the build-up, with the striker booked.

Another great chance came Alloa’s way shortly after. Neil Parry made a terrific save and the ball was cleared, with Spence racing onto it. His shot forced Graeme Smith into a great stop, and from the rebound, Longworth’s effort was blocked by Kelleher.

Jason Marr probably should have done better when he rose to meet a Calum Waters free kick, heading over the bar from close range.

Neither side had been able to take control of the game by that point and after a fast start, the first half was in real danger of fizzling out.

Marr made a great challenge to deny Nicky Riley as he made inroads towards the Alloa box, before Steven Noble lashed an effort high and wide after being played in by McAllister.

Simon Ferry and McAllister both went close for the home side before Smith made another good save to deny Iain Flannigan five minutes before half time.

The game became scrappy close to the interval, and Graeme Holmes, Ryan Hoggan and Scott Taggart all found themselves in the referee’s notebook in the last few minutes of the half.

The second half took an age to get going, the first chance falling to Leighton McIntosh on the hour mark as he flashed a low shot across the face of the Alloa goal and wide of the far post.

McAllister, normally such a prolific scorer, was looking decidedly off-colour, as demonstrated when he latched onto a loose ball inside the Alloa half and attempted to chip Parry, only to see his effort fall woefully short and into the arms of the grateful goalkeeper.

However, the Blue Toon were really beginning to turn the screw and Riley went close with an effort which curled over the crossbar.

Barely a minute later, they would eventually make their pressure tell. Flannigan was controversially penalised for a foul on the edge of the penalty area. The ball was drilled in low and when McAllister’s shot cannoned back off Andy Graham, Kelleher was on hand to lash the loose ball beyond the helpless Parry to give his side the upper hand.

The goal sparked the visitors back into life and almost immediately there were claims for a penalty when Spence appeared to be hauled down in the area, but the referee waved away the protests.

Calum Waters curled a free kick over the bar as they went in search of the elusive equalising goal but as it turned out, they would not have to wait too long.

Scott Taggart set off on a marauding run down the right and swung in a cross which looked easy for Kelleher to deal with. However, Smith shouted for it, the defender left it and substitute Kitkpatrick swept home to level the scores.

McIntosh had two good chances to restore his side’s lead, first running the ball out of play before he was denied by Marr after he had prodded the ball beyond Parry’s despairing dive.

At the other end, a Kirkpatrick shot deflected off Scott Ross and looked to be heading in, but Smith made amends for his part in the earlier goal with an outstanding save, somehow clawing the ball up and over the bar when it seemed a certain goal.

There was a final chance for Peterhead as Jordon Brown was first to a loose ball in the Alloa box but he could only steer his effort into the side netting, and the Wasps survived to claim a point from a difficult encounter in the North East.

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