Two sides in poor form faced off at the Indodrill today. Managerless Queen’s Park were lead out by the suave trainers and long coated, Director of Football Marijn Beuker, for the first time.

Both sides were tentative in their approach until just before 40 minutes the on-loan Hearts midfielder Connor Smith produced a top class finish to curl the ball effortlessly into the top corner past a planted David Hutton. You won’t see many better placements from outside the corner of the 18 yard box.

Connor Smith opens the scoring for @queensparkfc against @AlloaAthleticFC today in @cinchuk League 1 match. pic.twitter.com/aMXlBmzkkF

— David Glencross (@dgxwasp) January 15, 2022

The second half started more positively for Alloa and they progressively pushed Queen’s Park into a deep block by constant recycling of the ball. The pressure Alloa were producing paid off when Church sent a enticing cross onto the head of Henderson and Ferrie could only flap the ball at Kevin Cawley’s feet. The Alloa legend made no mistake and equalised.

@kevin_cawley scores @AlloaAthleticFC equaliser against @queensparkfc in today`s @cinchuk League 1 match. pic.twitter.com/Kr9MJpHUS8

— David Glencross (@dgxwasp) January 15, 2022

Queen’s Park could have restored their lead if Connor Smith converted a much simpler finish. He met a low cross in the box but could only direct his first time shot a yard wide.

Alloa too could have taken all three points on the 84th minute, when King spurned two what, looked like easy, close range finishes by placing them directly at Ferrie and Gillespie respectively.

A point was not massively favourable for either side in the end as their poor runs continue.

Pictures from yesterday`s @AlloaAthleticFC @queensparkfc @cinchuk League 1 match now up on flickr.https://t.co/AZTL3WMl0F pic.twitter.com/H7qYeAaFte

— David Glencross (@dgxwasp) January 16, 2022

Barry Ferguson, Alloa Manager:

“I was really happy in terms of the level of effort. I thought there was real quality in some of our play, sometimes we were a bit wasteful when we got into the final third but up until they scored I thought it was an even game. That hurt us a little bit but I thought we came out in the second half and once we got a goal I thought we could have went on and got the three points so disappointed in that. I thought, in terms of their effort in the second half, we deserved the three points. We created a number of opportunities where just that final ball wasn’t good but in terms of desire and application from the boys I cant ask for any more. Disappointed not to come away with the three points in the end because I thought we deserved it.”

“I’m trying to bring players in, we’ve lost out on three players [last week] which has been disappointing but they’ve went to Championship clubs. I’ll be speaking to players over the next few days to try and get bodies in. There’s also a couple who will be leaving to go and get game time. Gilmour’s a massive loss, huge loss but that’s the gamble you take when you take players on loan and they come and do well for. Charlie, for me, has been outstanding in the 11 games he’s played. He’s going to go back and he’s going to play with St Johnstone, that’s why they’re taking him back so we’re devastated but it’s good for us that he’s going to go back and play. If he doesn’t play we’ve got an agreement with St Johnstone that we can get him back. Henderson’s going to go back, that was his last game. They’re just trying to get a couple of players in but he’ll be coming back to us, hopefully he’ll be coming back this week but that depends on Hearts signing players so that’s why I’m going to be busy trying to get players in but I’m not going to bring players in for the sake of it, it needs to be the right players.”

Alloa have definitely had better afternoons.

Two former Wasps struck early with Callum Smith making a tidy run in behind, which was well picked out by McInroy, slotting underneath David Hutton to give the Diamonds the lead in just the second minute.

Calum Gallagher would prove tenacious enough to overcome Mark Durnan as both raced to the right channel from a hopeful long ball – but the Alloa goalkeeper, ill advisedly, charged out to leave himself in no mans land and Gallagher netted from a wide angle into the open goal.

Alloa’s best chance of the half would fall to Henderson. Gilmour picked out the advancing full-back Taggart, and he pinpointedly crossed to the on-loan Hearts striker. However, leaning back, he could only blaze over from inside the 18 yard box.

At half time, changes were necessary and they were delivered. Cameron O’Donnell was sacrificed for Conor Sammon while Fernandy Mendy replaced Andy Graham.

Hutton was called into action early by Gallagher with a low save but the loudest shout came from the Airdrie fans calling for an indirect free-kick after Hutton collected the awkward touch of Mendy.

But ignoring that early blip the changes were creating uncertainty for the Diamonds. With Sammon and Henderson, playing up front together. Sammon  was free to exploit the channel, and with a stepover drive towards the Airdrieonian’s goal. But even with the brilliant  build-up he could only screw his finish past the 6 yard box past the relieved Curry.

On 50 minutes, Durnan headed what looked to be a lifeline goal, but he strayed a yard offside in the build-up and accurately had his effort chalked off. Just 10 minutes later Alloa would kick themselves for not scoring when on top.

On the boundary of the 18 yard box, Kerr McInroy unleashed a piledriver through a crowd of Alloa players. The precision finish smashed the top corner of the net and added to the increasing mountain that Alloa found themselves under.

4 minutes later, Euan Henderson returned to goals via Church’s deep free-kick and Durnan’s aerial ability. He tapped home at the back post to give Alloa a possible foothold to bring themselves back in the game.

However, things looked grim minutes later, as Easton tripped over Cawley’s leg and was duly awarded a penalty. McCabe stepped up to spot kick duty. Although Hutton guessed correctly, he was beaten but the CB could not beat the bar and it ricocheted back and out of danger.

Easton was again a menace as he collected from a corner on the edge of the box. His first effort was blocked but the second attempt on his left foot was wickedly dipping towards Hutton’s goal. It rattled to post and bounced to safety as Airdrie threatened from a series of dangerous corners.

Easton would again strike the woodwork after a quick Airdrie counterattack culminated in two quick feints opening the space for a daisy cutter but the number 10 failed to convert again.

Alloa did land a golden opportunity after Adam King’s cross was fumbled by Currie after colliding with one of his own defenders. Senna was first to the ball although a myriad of Airdrieonian’s defenders blocked his route to goal he dinked it up and over for Sammon to finish. The Irishman couldn’t direct the effort goallwards with the ball harmlessly landing on the roof of the net.

Henderson would almost half the deficit with a late consolation after Mendy’s terrific dink  but Currie just managed to slap away the chance of the brace and the unlikely Alloa fightback.

After results elsewhere, we drop to 8th, picking up just two points of a possible eighteen and eight points in the last ten games.

Today’s game seemed in doubt just 15 minutes before kick-off due to the heavy fog but Alloa and Cove played out the contest despite the conditions.

Alloa’s best period came early in the heavily compromised period of visibility with Mouhamed “Sena” Niang testing McKenzie from the edge of the Cove box. Cove set up in a very narrow formation and it seemed to suit Alloa who constantly could support through their full backs. But Vigurs injury and the introduction of McIntosh appeared to widen the Cove threat and blunt the Wasps rampaging wing backs as the half wore on. They did however deal well with the intelligent interplay of Megginson and McAllister who received no change out of the centre back pairing of Graham and Durnan. But again as the opener remained elusive for the Wasps, 5 minutes before half time, they were again pegged back by a rocket. Jamie Masson who scored in the Wasps’ last encounter against Paul Hartley’s side, fired another in to rival his last minute winner in the Wee County. This time it was a deft side footer which perfectly found the top corner past the outstretched Hutton from 20 yards.

Alloa’s second half went from bad to worse as just before the hour mark, a Durnan non-challenge elicited a penalty on McIntosh, which seemed especially harsh on replay. The referee consulted and awarded for Rory McAllister who’s been imperious from the spot to step up and solidify the blues’ lead. Mitch Megginson would add late insult to injury too with a pinpoint curling finish finding the top corner and condemning Alloa to a dour 3-0 defeat on the road.

Alloa’s poor run of form continues – Cove stretch their lead at the top – but Alloa need a Christmas pick me up before a tough two weeks on Boxing Day and the 2nd January.