Annan 1-1 Alloa: Wasps share the points in the borders

Aidan Smith cancelled out Conor Sammon’s first-half tap-in after a barrage of Annan attacks proved too much for Alloa’s defence.

Tochukwu Ogayi came in to replace the injured PJ Morrison, lining up behind an unchanged back three of David Devine, Morgyn Neill and Josh Debayo.

Cammy O’Donnell and Scott Taggart started in the wing-back positions, with Steven Hetherington joined by Miko Virtanen in central midfield.

Kurtis Roberts started a bit higher up behind the attack, comprised of Conor Sammon and Taylor Steven.

Alloa broke the deadlock first as Steven charged forward and crossed the ball to Sammon who, after a slight touch, tapped the ball in to score his fourth goal of the season.

In the second half, however, Annan came out by far the stronger team, maintaining pressure on the Wasps’ defence.

The back line largely coped with the pressure, with Ogayi called to make a series of fantastic saves to deny the Galabankies.

Eventually, Annan found their way through – Ogayi produced a quick reaction to make a quick stop, palming the ball out towards Smith who tapped it past the keeper.

Gaffer Brian Rice was left to lament the score, remarking that too many of his players were off the mark in the second half.

“The first half we were pretty comfortable,” Rice told Advertiser Sport. “We got ourselves in front. The second half, we didn’t turn up.

“We were giving the ball away, we were pretty sloppy in possession. The goal was coming, so credit to Annan.

“Annan will feel aggrieved that they didn’t win it with their second-half performance.

“I’ve said to the players just now – their performances will reflect me as a manager and how my teams want to play.

“That doesn’t reflect me in the second half. There are boys in there who are comfortable on the ball [but are] giving it away.

“First half, I thought we were controlled, had control of the game, and then in the second half, we just fell right out it.

“One goal is never enough, two goals is never enough. It’s a mentality thing, some of them are maybe not strong enough.

“Too many of them didn’t play well in the second half.”

Annan went into the break a goal behind, coming out into the second half revigorated and were much stronger for the last 45.

A huge chance came for Annan as Willie Gibson was granted a free kick after Hetherington fouled an Annan player.

Gibson sent a superb free kick that looked like it was destined for the top corner before Ogayi got powerful hands to it to save it.

Ogayi then followed it up with four more saves in the next 15 minutes as Annan grew into their attack.

Ogayi has come into the team in the absence of PJ Morrison, who left the field injured during last week’s visit to Hamilton.

Rice added: “I think Ogayi did what he has to do, he kept the ball out of the net.

“I think he should do better for the goal, he’s palmed it right across his goals.

“He’s done well, he’s made a couple of good saves; he’s made one really good save, the rest I expect a goalkeeper to save.

“I think he could do better at the goal and he knows that himself but we should deal with the cross, we should deal with the header but we didn’t and we got punished for it.

“PJ is still injured and he’s going to be out for a couple of weeks.

“It isn’t as bad as we first feared but it is bad enough.”

The draw today keeps Alloa in eighth place on seven points, just one point above Cove Rangers.

Next up for the Wasps is the delayed third round of the SPFL Trust Trophy where they face Rangers B, to be played at Cappielow in Greenock.

Rice continued: “Mid-week games are normal for us as a part-time team.

“This is a cup game, we need to try and go there and win to get into the next round and that’s what we’ll try to do.”

After Rangers B, Alloa will host Edinburgh City in the league. Edinburgh have struggled since the league resumed, winless in their first seven fixtures.

Their only point of the campaign came in a draw against Cove today, after Jack Wilkie’s own goal denied them their first win of the season.