JIM GOODWIN was left to rue Raith Rovers’ late equaliser as they snatched two points away from his Alloa side last Saturday.

The Wasps had been in the driving seat thanks to Kevin Cawley’s opener, but Lewis Vaughan’s injury-time leveller meant that both sides had to settle for a point.

And although the manager would have settled for that outcome before kick-off, he admitted the manner in which his side were pegged back left him feeling as if they had been beaten.

Goodwin told Advertiser Sport: “Raith are a good side and the expectation is for them to be up there. But we will give a good account of ourselves over the course of the season, and hopefully we’ll be up there in the mix for the title with them.

"We put in a good showing in the game and it’s really just the manner and the timing of the goal we are disappointed with. Before the game we would have probably been happy with a point, but it feels more like a defeat.

“We had chances to make it 2-0. On another day Garry Fleming would have scored his chance, and Craig Malcolm has put a header just past the post.

"Kris Renton went close as well, so we did have opportunities. But Raith threw everything at us in the end, and unfortunately we were unable to see it out.”

Goodwin pointed out that his side should have been awarded a free kick after Liam Buchanan interfered with play from an offside position in the build-up to Raith’s goal, but acknowledged that the draw was a fair result.

He said: “When you lose a goal as late as that after defending as well as we did for 90 minutes it is obviously disappointing.

"We did think Liam Buchanan was offside in the build-up and gave Callum Crane a wee nudge which meant he got caught under the ball.

"But sometimes decisions like that go against you. Being honest, over the piece a draw was probably fair because Raith were the better team in the second half. It’s just frustrating when you lose a goal that late.”

The Wasps boss bolstered his ranks last week with the signing of young left-back Crane on loan from Hibernian, and Goodwin was thrilled with his new recruit’s performance on his debut.

He added: “I felt we were light at left-back and we’ve been working hard to try and get that deal done throughout pre-season.

"I thought he was outstanding, and was definitely a contender for man of the match. It’s very difficult for a young boy in his position.

"I brought him over on Friday to have a look around and get used to things, but he didn’t meet any of the players until half past one on Saturday.

" I didn’t have any problems with throwing him straight in. I think everyone could see his quality on the ball as well as defensively. He’s one we’re very pleased to have in.”