Wasps boss frustrated as Alloa held to draw by Peterhead

ALLOA were held to a frustrating draw by Peterhead after a scrappy contest.

Grant Marchant’s deflected long-range effort put the hosts ahead, but Seb Ross equalised after the break to earn Peterhead a point.

There were no changes to the Alloa side that started against Queen of the South the previous weekend, although Stefan Scougall returned to the bench.

The opening half produced little goalmouth action, with both teams struggling to establish control in a game repeatedly interrupted by the referee’s whistle.

Luke Donnelly provided the home side’s best opportunity before the interval when he curled an effort towards goal, only for Jack Newman to make an impressive save.

Peterhead threatened at the other end when Ross tested Ross Stewart, while another attempt was blocked by Scott Taggart.

Taggart thought he had given Alloa the lead with a header, but the effort was ruled out after a foul in the box.

The first half appeared destined to end goalless before Marchant struck from distance and the ball took a deflection on its way past the goalkeeper to put the Wasps in front.

Manager Andy Graham admitted his team had not performed at the level shown during their recent run of form in the first half.

“I thought it was as poor as we’ve been in recent weeks,” Graham said.

“I thought I was disappointed in our first half performance in particular. I know we went in it one-nil up, but I didn't think we deserved it, to be honest.”

The manager also felt Peterhead’s pressing approach had made it difficult for Alloa to play with any fluency.

The Blue Toon continued to make the game awkward after the interval, and Alloa briefly thought they had doubled their lead when Kyle Glasgow found the net.

That effort was also disallowed, however, as the linesman raised his flag, leaving the hosts vulnerable to an equaliser.

Ross supplied it minutes later when he fired past Stewart after a long ball forward from Jason Brown. The Wasps keeper got hands to the shot but could not keep it out.

Graham was particularly unhappy with the manner of the goal, describing it as a defensive lapse after an otherwise strong campaign so far at the back.

He said: “For all the good work we've done defensively, and we have, listen, we've been outstanding defensively the full season, to lose a goal the way we did was really, really poor. I don't think we'll lose a poorer one all season, to be honest.”

Alloa responded with greater urgency and introduced Scougall and Brandon Forbes for Josh Walker and Donnelly.

Forbes made an immediate impression, adding energy and directness as the Wasps began to push for a winner.

Josh Farquhar later replaced Glasgow, and his arrival provided another lift as Alloa increased the pressure in the closing stages.

A chance fell to David Devine, but his effort drifted narrowly wide of the post.

Another opportunity broke to the home side after a dangerous ball flashed across the face of goal without finding a finishing touch.

Despite their late pressure, the hosts could not find a second goal and had to settle for a point.

Graham continued: “But I thought the reaction to that was actually really good. I think the lads came on and sparked the game a little bit, and at that point I thought 'You know what? We could go win this 2-1' because I just felt as if we were the team that was in the ascendancy and going to score and get that winner, created a couple of chances.”

He stressed that Peterhead were a strong side who would take points from many opponents in what he expects to be a competitive division.

The manager added: "It's frustrating. It is really frustrating because I feel like we've been on a really good run of form and we've been playing really well.

“But at the same time, you need to put it in perspective. Peterhead are a good side and they'll take points off loads of teams and it will be a really competitive league.

"So we were definitely trying to get the win, we just didn't get there in the end. So yeah, it's frustrating, but I was pleased with the impact that the subs made off the bench."

Alloa will next travel to Cove Rangers, with Graham keen for his side to continue the momentum created during their recent good form.