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.

Alloa stuttered against lowly opposition again, despite doing everything but scoring.

We were looking to arrest a run of just a single win in 5 while Clyde were looking to add to what has been fairly good recent form.

The Wasps were the early creators with Boyd firing wildly wide after gathering a deep free kick. Henderson was almost worked in for the opener but could only rebound his shot off Page in the heart of the Clyde box.

David Goodwillie reaffirmed his credentials as the Clyde dangerman with a winding run but as he worked the opening in the 18 yard box he could only muster a tame effort into David Hutton.

Alloa would have a couple stramashes in the box with set pieces looking like they might break the deadlock but nothing would fall cleanly. Durnan, late into the half, passed up a glancing header from a corner, which was as close as either team came to opening the scoring in a fairly quiet forty-five, albeit one where Alloa looked to start turning the screw on Clyde.

In the second half, Jones, Mortimer and Goodwillie made a rare breakthrough but again the Clyde forward could only roll home straight at the Alloa goalkeeper. Barring the early scare, Alloa did indeed pick up where they left off and were soon battering the Clyde goal.

Parry made a point blank save from Steven Boyd after Robertson’s cross met him outside the 6 yard box. The winger only managed to hit the former Wasp in the chest which was enough to divert the ball wide for a corner. From the resulting set piece Boyd almost whipped the ball straight in but for the intervention of another former Alloa hero Mark ‘Sparky’ Docherty heading away. A neat bit of interplay between ‘Sena’, Boyd and Henderson almost worked the opening for a shot from the on-loan Hearts forward but his touch just nudged too close to his Clyde markers who made the intervention.

Mouhamed ‘Sena’ Niang then exchanged a fantastic one-two-pass with Boyd to free himself in the box but whether the midfielder screwed his shot wide or went for a cutback to the onrushing Henderson the golden opportunity was wasted. Clyde promptly counter attacked and while Alloa seemed to have gathered their numbers, a ridiculous driven effort by Ally Love found the bottom corner from 25 yards. Hutton was at full stretch but the ball nestled squarely in the side-netting. Despite the deficit of possession and opportunities Clyde had the lead.

It would hold for the remainder of the game. Scougall would be the only man to beat the Clyde stopper although he failed to defeat the post and Alloa would test Parry through Gilmour and later Cawley but in all honesty struggled to work a golden opportunity. Seemingly cursed to never connect with the frequent flashed balls across the Bully Wee box, Clyde draw level with the Wasps on points with only goal difference favouring the Wee County’s finest to hold 6th position.

Alloa limped home from a freezing day in Methil with just a point after a 1-1 draw and another red card.

The Wasps almost were ahead after 5 minutes when Scougall sliced wide of the target. Alloa captain Andy Graham had flicked it goalward from a long throw but the diminutive midfielder couldn’t direct his effort.

Alloa again threatened 13 minutes in as Cawley smashed high over the bar. King had made a brilliant run into the channel and found Henderson with his first-time cross. The on-form forward controlled and rolled into the path of the Wasps legend but a bounce just before contact thwarted the potential opener.

East Fife did cause plenty of problems in the box as they won a succession of corners from the 17th minute. Higgins connected with the corner and sent a strong effort on it’s way toward goal but for the intervention of Jon Robertson. It would break for Davidson on the edge of the box but he scooped a long strike well over the bar.

Stefan Scougall almost produced the opener as his quick-thinking free-kick smashed the post from a wide angle. Seeing the East Fife goalkeeper leaving his front post for what seemed more likely to be a cross. Scougall curled almost to perfection but could only find the outside curve of the woodwork.

Adam King won the ball back just inside his half and found himself charging down the right as Alloa’s furthest forward attacker. He pinpointedly found Cawley with a cross field switch. Cawley laid off Mouhamed ‘Sena’ Niang but his attempt to place it in the bottom corner and emulate his excellent finish against Bonnyrigg, only swept wide of the East Fife goal.

That was the sum total of chances in the first half – which undoubtedly was a disappointing return after the high quality display the Wasps produced in last week’s Scottish Cup exploits. But, the Wasps reacted well after the break.

Henderson started the injection of pace with a driving effort from outside the box turned away by only the fingertips of Jude Smith. Andy Graham would almost loop the resulting corner beyond Smith and Sena would desperately attempt to prod home but to no avail. With the concerted Alloa pressure it would only take a minute for the visitors to break the deadlock.

Adam King arced a high pass over the East Fife defence after the Fifers’ partial clearance from a signature Andy Graham aimed long throw found him on the end of the box. Euan Henderson was quickest to react and almost in one motion took three successive touches to poke under Smith and set Alloa on the way to victory. An 11th goal of the season for Henderson and his 9th in his last 7 Alloa appearances.

But Alloa seemed to get drawn into a similar pattern of being pinned down in their own half and they struggled to build meaningful attacks into the East Fife half. Kevin Smith would volley straight at Hutton but except the stinging hands of the goalkeeper they would survive. What looked like a shrewd professional foul after a slip by Howie gave away a free-kick and a yellow card but Mercer could only place it comfortably into the hands of Hutton. The Alloa center half, however would pick up a second yellow with a mistimed lunge connecting just outside the box. With Howie given his marching orders for the second time this season, the East Fife onslaught was prepped and five minutes later found the breakthrough.

Substitute Connell looped in a cross and while Taggart, successfully beat his marker to the ball, he could only head back to his own goal. Semple was inside the 6 yard box to pounce on the most fortuitous circumstance and smash into the bottom corner.

Alloa would introduce Sammon and Boyd and the two almost combined in the closing minutes but the flick just ran beyond Boyd and gratefully into the on-rushing East Fife goallie. Boyd almost picked out Sammon after a deft touchline dribble cleared space for a driven cross. Murdoch just managed to meet the delivery ahead of Sammon and Alloa were condemned to a draw against the bottom of the table strugglers.

Alloa produced their most complete display of the season to dispatch the Lowland League leaders at the Indodrill and advance to the Scottish Cup 4th Round.

Bonnyrigg Rose almost produced a goal from kick-off as the Rose flooded Alloa’s back line and Hunter found space in the middle, but before he could pull the trigger Adam King made a vital interception. It would be as close as the hosts got to the Alloa goal all game.

By the 13th minute Alloa had weathered any early nerves and firmly took control of the game. After neat interplay won a corner, Scougall delivered into the box to be met by an audacious and frankly, Zlatan Ibrahimovic-esque flick which perfectly found the bottom corner. Mouhamed ‘Sena’ Niang delivered what should be at least the goal of the Scottish Cup Third Round if not the competition.

The Wasps continued to pull their visitors from pillar to post and on the 20th minute they freed Henderson with another exquisite link-up between him and Scougall. The loanee fired home to set Alloa firmly on the road to victory.

Alloa weathered any second half rally and took control in the second half but struggled to test the goalkeeper Michael Andrews in the Bonnyrigg goal. That was up until the 62nd minute when Jon Robertson rattled the cross bar and Andrews flapped away from behind his line. Robertson was denied a rare goal but Alloa would not have to wait long to extend their lead.

Robertson turned provider, setting up a race between Horne and Henderson. There was only one winner as Euan Henderson stepped inside and drilled down to the bottom corner, with Andrews fingertips not enough to keep out the Alloa marksman.

We’ve had plenty braces from the youngster as he’s racked up goals in this golden loan spell – but there was time and space for a hat-trick. Scougall found space wide, squared to Henderson and getting a fortuitous break of the ball Henderson slotted into the corner to seal the match-ball and to our knowledge a first senior treble. He would soon be replaced by Connor Sammon to receive the plaudits of the Alloa support.

Connor Sammon was not there for show either as he collected from Cawley’s mazy run, and layed into the path of ‘Sena.’ Apparently he’s grown some ice cold nerves as he produced the coolest of finishes to wrap up the scoring and set Alloa up for a 5 star win. The visitors didn’t even muster a shot on target over the 90 minutes and the gulf between the sides was evident for every one of the 513 in attendance.

Alloa faced a stubborn test against Montrose at the Indodrill. Kevin Cawley was the only change from the side who held Falkirk to a 1-1 draw last week. Craig Howie dropped to the bench in his place.

Neither side lit the heather in the first half but one of the biggest shouts was after Terry Masson, who had been carded early in the first half, lunged to wipe out Euan Henderson. Henderson somehow got the talking to and Masson somehow stayed on the park.

It didn’t take long for the second to erupt with Alloa carving out a sustained period of pressure culminating in Mark ‘Vinnie’ Durnan battling through his opponent’s grapple and drilling a header past Lennox in the Montrose goal from a superbly delivered corner by Steven Boyd.

Alloa were flying and could have added to their tally as Niang and Boyd both tested the goalkeeper, and again, Steven Boyd really should have gambled on an effort as he dallied on a promising 1v1. Durnan almost doubled his goal tally in the 57th minute as another corner lined up for the captain.
Durnan did deliver the brace with a rerun of the opener, glancing into the bottom corner this time. Boyd, again the provider of the in-swinging corner.

Henderson broke away from an Alloa clearance and almost put the game to bed. However the in-form striker wasn’t pinpoint enough to pick out the top corner and sent his shot a yard over.

Alloa seemed to be cruising but a 77th minute corner was rerouted to Watson who struck on the edge of the box. It seemed to take a wicked deflection off Craig Johnston into the opposite corner anticipated from the stranded David Hutton.

It was a finish that Alloa will curse themselves for as ‘Sena’ Niang conceded possession cheaply, giving away a corner. The delivery was met with a failed clearance, and dropped for Matty Allan. He toe-poked but with Kevin Cawley throwing his body at the ball, he could only inadvertently divert the effort away from Hutton and into the top corner.

No shame in drawing with this strong Montrose side, but a sickening result in the circumstances with Alloa seemingly comfortable for long periods.