ALLOA ATHLETIC'S winning streak came to an end over the weekend, with a tight game being decided by one goal in favour of Airdrieonians.

The Wasps hosted Airdrie on Saturday, with the two sitting close together in the table at third and fourth place.

Brian Rice named an unchanged XI from the team that beat Peterhead the week before, with a back three of George Stanger, Mark Durnan and Scott Taggart lining up in front of Jay Hogarth in goals.

Kevin Cawley, Jon Robertson and Murray Miller made up the midfield, flanked by Michael Doyle and Quinn Coulson on the wings.

Luke Donnelly and Ross MacIver started up front, with the former playing the full 90 minutes as he aims to return to full fitness.

Rice said: "It was a very tight game. Airdrie had the better chances of the first half, they were the better team in the first half. I have no doubt about that.

"In the second half, I thought we dominated the play, we had plenty possession. The only thing was we didn't ask enough questions of the goalkeeper."

Rice opted for four changes just after the hour mark, with Luke Strachan, Conor Sammon, Adam King and Stefan Scougall replacing Doyle, MacIver, Miller and Coulson.

"We threw everything at it," Rice added. "I made four changes at the one time and to try and change the game and we changed the formation.

"We did everything we could but it was just one of those days where we couldn't get the ball in the back of the net.

"It was disappointing to lose at home but everything is still in our own hands."

The loss to Airdrie pushes Alloa into fourth place ahead of a visit from Queen of the South this weekend.

QoS are currently hovering in sixth place, only six points outside of the playoff spots, with Rice insisting they deserve to be pushing for a place.

"I think Queen of the South should be up there challenging," Rice added. "The three teams above us [Dunfermline, Falkirk, Airdrie] are all full-time teams and then Queen of the South is the next team down that's full time.

"We've got a good squad, we've got a good record against them this season and our home record is also quite good this season.

"We've got five games to go and it's all to play for."

Alloa's home record this season has been a strong point, with Rice's side unbeaten in 12 out of 15 home league matches.

As the Wasps prepare for their final five matches of the season, it comes as a positive sign that three of the five games will be played at home.

Rice praised his side for earning the position they hold just now and has spurred them on for one final push.

He said: "If you have a look at the fixtures and look at the teams fighting for a playoff space – we've all to play one another.

"We're all playing each other. Nothing is taken for granted, you have to go and earn the right to be in there and so far, we've earned the right to be where we are.

"Hopefully, we can stay in there and hopefully we can move up a place or two. Every game will very difficult for every game."

Alloa's final five fixtures come against Queen of the South next week before an away trip to Kelty Hearts.

The trip to Kelty will be an interesting one as, mathematically, they cannot achieve a playoff spot nor are they in contention to be relegated.

Following this, Alloa will welcome Falkirk to the Recs, who currently sit in second place but have struggled of late, only managing to win once in their last five.

In the second last game of the season, The Wasps will travel to Montrose before hosting league leaders Dunfermline on the last day of the season.