Alloa 2-2 Airdrieonians: Honours even at the Indodrill

Airdrieonians.....................2

Scottish League One

ALLOA and Airdrieonians played out an entertaining draw at the Indodrill Stadium in the first part of their double-header.

Iain Flannigan gave Alloa the lead midway inside the first half, but Dale Carrick equalised just before the half-hour mark.

Neil Parry conceded and then saved a penalty before the Wasps regained the advantage through a fine strike from Kevin Cawley.

But Darryl Duffy pulled the visitors level for a second time on the hour mark

Jim Goodwin named an unchanged starting lineup despite his side’s midweek defeat at the hands of East Fife.

The club appealed the red card shown to Garry Fleming in that game, meaning the former Dumbarton man was available to play.

Alloa forced the issue straight from kick off and Jordan Kirkpatrick had two bites at the cherry, but his initial effort was blocked by David Brownlie before Willie Muir saved his second attempt.

Kieran MacDonald fired a free kick over the bar for the visitors in a cagey opening period where neither team really got to grips with the strong wind.

Kirkpatrick was proving a real thorn in Airdrie’s side early on and he wasn’t far away with a shot which flashed just wide of Muir’s far post.

Parry lined up in goal for Alloa against his former club and he was forced into action with just over ten minutes played, getting down well to hold Jake Hastie’s shot.

There was nothing the keeper could do when Carrick tried his luck from the edge of the box, but fortunately for Alloa the former Hearts striker’s dipping shot grazed the top of the crossbar on its way over.

Midway through the first half, the deadlock was broken and the goal went the way of the hosts.

Ross Stewart’s low cross found Kirkpatrick, who touched the ball into the path of Flannigan. The midfielder shifted the ball out of his feet and rolled it past the helpless Muir to give the Wasps the upper hand.

However, six minutes later they were pegged back when Airdrie levelled the scores.

Hastie’s cross found Carrick twelve yards out, and despite the attentions of the Alloa defence his looping header sailed into the top corner.

It nearly got so much worse for Alloa five minutes afterwards when Airdrie were awarded a penalty.

Parry clattered through the back of Duffy as he attempted to block Scott Stewart’s effort, and the referee pointed to the spot.

However, the big keeper made amends with a terrific save down to his left, and Carrick fired the rebound wide of the far post.

And Alloa capitalised five minutes before the interval as they re-took the lead. Cawley drove at the heart of the defence, who stood off, and drilled a low shot across goal and into the far corner.

It could have been more comfortable for the home side at the break, but Muir denied Kirkpatrick with a stunning save after the St Mirren loanee had capitalised on a defensive error.

The visitors started the second half well and Carrick nearly added his second as he sent a diving header just wide.

And they were back on terms on the hour mark. A neat passage of play sent Duffy clear and he made no mistake with a crisp finish beyond the reach of Parry.

The Diamonds were almost in again Carrick found a way through the defence, but Parry showed great bravery as he rushed off his line and smothered the chance.

Up the other end, Stewart latched onto a slip at the back but was thwarted by a fine last-ditch challenge from MacDonald.

Callum Crane would have undoubtedly scooped the goal of the season award had his effort from upwards of forty yards crept in, but it just didn’t dip enough and crashed off the woodwork, to the relief of Muir.

In the end, the game fizzled out, and both sides had to be content with a draw which does neither team any favours.

ALLOA: Parry, Taggart, Crane, Graham, McCart, Fleming (Robertson), Cawley, Hetherington, Stewart, Kirkpatrick (Smith), Flannigan (Crossan). UNUSED SUBS: Renton, Goodwin, Wilson.