The League Cup hangover was plain for all to see as Alloa and Queen of the South fought out a tense draw at Palmerston Park last weekend.

Alloa made two changes to the side that had taken Aberdeen all the way at Pittodrie last Tuesday as Declan McManus returned to the starting line-up in place of Jason Marr who dropped to the bench while new signing Alex Salmon also took his place among the substitutes.

While The Wasps bravely went out on Penalties to Aberdeen, Queen of the South were busy knocking out the League Cup holders after extra time last midweek but both sides efforts proved to be the death of this one as a spectacle for the neutral.

Queen of the South started the brighter and were almost immediately gifted the opener when an error from Stephen Simmons saw Derek Lyle go clear through on Bain but Daryll Meggatt got back in time to block his first effort before Bain saved with his legs from the second to clear the danger.

Alloa hit back with a great chance of their own when Simmons searching pass found Graeme Holmes free down the right he beat his man superbly to cross but Kirk’s downward header was straight at Antell in the Queens goal.

Alloa then enjoyed a fifteen minute spell of dominance that saw them carve out two more chances. First, a diagonal free kick to the edge of the 18 yard box from McCord found Meggatt who looped a header back into the danger zone.

This caused a scramble in the home side’s penalty area before the ball was eventually cleared. Queens then tried to respond but were again caught on the break by the Wasps as Cawley led his side forward at pace before releasing Andy Kirk who nutmegged his marker before teeing up Ryan McCord but his shot was just over the bar.

The Doonhamers forward Michael Paton then carved out a brilliant opening for his side as he skipped past James Creaney down the right before whipping a wicked cross into the area but Michael Doyle intercepted brilliantly to deny an on rushing Lyle a certain goalscoring chance.

At the other end, Andy Kirk had a speculative shot from range tipped round the post by Antell before the corner kick broke to Simmons on the edge of the box. But the veteran midfielder’s shot went wide on his weaker left foot.

Alloa then had a further double chance as half time loomed. McCord’s free kick found Ben Gordon but the big defender’s header was off target.

Full back James Creaney then surged forward down the left and his cross found Declan McManus free in the Queens area but he couldn’t keep his shot down.

After the break, the home side started much the brighter and only a Kevin Cawley interception prevented Lyle from scoring from the cross.

Lyle continued to be a nuisance for the hosts as he first headed over from a Kevin Holt cross before testing Bain in the Alloa goal from long range but the keeper gathered easily.

Wasps boss Paul Hartley then made a few changes in quick succession to try to get back the momentum in the match; McManus made way for Eddie Ferns and new signing Alex Salmon replaced Andy Kirk.

Ferns almost made an instant impact when he and Cawley combined to cut open Queen of the South but the cut back was blocked before Ferns’ shot was deflected clear for a corner. From the kick, Meggatt’s header whizzed just past the post.

The game then had to be stopped after a nasty collision between substitute Eddie Ferns and Antell in the QOS goal. The 22-year-old raced in behind the defence and in on goal Antell got to the ball first to clear but connected with Ferns’ jaw on the follow through.

The Alloa youngster had to be stretchered off and it was later revealed that he had suffered a broken jaw in the collision.

Right on the ninety minute mark Queens almost found a way through when Gavin Reilly weaved his way into the box but his through pass to Iain Russell was over hit and allowed Bain to save.

Paul Hartley’s men ended the match on the front foot in injury time. McCord’s corner, in the final seconds of the match, found Meggatt who’s header created a melee in the box as the Doonhamers scrambled to block efforts from Gordon, Cawley and Meggatt before hooking the ball to safety and a share of the spoils..

Alloa will be delighted with the point but it could so easily have been all three.

Alloa: Bain, Doyle, Creaney, Gordon, Meggatt, Simmons, Cawley, McCord, Kirk(Salmon 57), Holmes, McManus(Ferns 67; Young 80).

Subs Not Used: Marr, Tiffoney, McDowall.

QOS: Antell, Mitchell, Higgins, McGuffie(Reilly 63), Durnan, Dowie(Holt 45), McKenna, Young, Lyle, Paton(Russell 53), Carmichael. Subs Not Used: Slattery, Atkinson, McShane, Orsi.

Advertiser Man of the Match: GRAEME HOLMES