THE fireworks were lacking their spark at the weekend as Alloa were held to a draw by Kelty Hearts.

Brian Rice's side made the trip to New Central Park on Saturday looking to make it three wins in a row for the second time this season.

Jay Hogarth suffered an injury in the warm-up and was replaced by Willie Muir in goal. Andy Graham returned to the starting line-up in a back three alongside George Stanger and Scott Taggart. Wingbacks for the day were Daniel Church and Kevin Cawley.

The midfield for the day was Murray Miller and Jon Robertson who had a trio of Luke Donnelly, Ross MacIver and Conor Sammon ahead of them.

Kelty's first sniff at goal came from a decent through ball for the run of Alfredo Agyeman but Muir was off his line quickly to clear any danger.

Alloa would then have their first chance and the build up deserved a goal. Stanger clipped a lovely pass into Sammon and he cushioned a header to Donnelly but the striker – who scored the winning double last weekend – could only poke a tame effort at Darren Jamieson.

The next opportunity fell Cawley's way and was a much better effort. Church's cut back found Cawley on the edge of the box and he took a touch before powering a half volley just past the post.

Jamie Barjonas and Joseph Cardle looked the most threatening Kelty players and a strong run by the former saw him skip past Miller before cutting the ball back but Graham was there to clear for a corner. The delivery fell Agyeman's way but his header went wide.

Eventually Alloa's positive play paid off and they took a deserving lead through an unlikely source. Cawley showed his experience and cleverness to take out two Kelty men with a lovely backheel into Miller's path. He lifted his head and saw Church on the far side and found him.

The defender took one touch to settle the ball before smashing it across goal, leaving Jamieson with no chance. Considering it was his first professional goal the celebration should be forgiven although during his post-match interview his teammates made it clear it wouldn't be forgotten quickly.

"It's my first professional goal, I've never scored so I think you could see on my teammates' faces how shocked they all were and how shocked I was," he said after the match but his strike was perfect and will surely do wonders for his confidence.

Cardle continued to be a threat and won a freekick after being closed out by Cawley and Stanger. His clever cut back for Michael Tidser enabled him to get a strike at goal but a slight deflection took the sting from the ball and gave Muir an easy save.

Alloa should have doubled their lead around 10 minutes before the break and would have done so if not for some excellent Kelty defending. Taggart's midfield splitting pass gave Sammon space to turn and spot Donnelly's run. He was able to round Jamieson and then played the pass back across goal for what should have been an easy tap-in for Sammon but for the brilliant defending of Jordan Forster.

After the interval Kelty started well and within minutes were causing problems. Agyeman's cross forced Muir into a smart save before a great strike by Barjonas saw the keeper get two strong fists to it.

Alloa would ride their luck minutes later when Agyeman beat the offside to run onto a great through ball. He had the composure to lift his head and spot Kallum Higginbotham who sidefooted an effort off the post. Muir had no chance but the woodwork came to the rescue.

For all Kelty's pressure Alloa showed they're always a threat. A great driving run by Miller and a lovely give and go with Donnelly eventually saw Church receive the ball and his delivery found MacIver who got a good connection on the ball but it went wide of the post.

The miss would prove costly as Kelty would equalise shortly after. From an Alloa corner Kelty broke up the park and the ball fell to Barjonas. He hit a stinging shot towards goal and, in truth, Muir should have done better. He could only parry the ball in front of him and Agyeman reacted quicker than Graham to head the ball into the net.

Alloa would put the ball in the net again but it was chalked off for a foul. Rice remained diplomatic after the match but he would surely be annoyed. Church's delivery was caught by Jamieson but he fumbled the ball under pressure and Stanger smashed it into the net. Unfortunately for the Wasps referee Duncan Williams gave the foul.

Graham would show his experience with a cynical foul on Agyeman who had got past him on the halfway line. The captain knew he had no chance of catching him and simply pulled him back.

As the game entered its closing stage Alloa looked likeliest to score a winner. Donnelly, Stanger, Taggart and Kieran Offord all had efforts at goal but in the end the points were shared.

The result leaves Alloa fifth in the table but just two points from second. Queen of the South will be the visitors this weekend as Alloa look to make it three wins in four.

ALLOA: Muir, Cawley (O'Donnell), Stanger, Graham, Taggart, Church, Miller, Robertson (Scougall), Sammon (Offord), MacIver, Donnelly. UNUSED: Hogarth, King, Rodden, McLaren, Rankin