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.

It was fair to say both teams for the majority of the game effectively cancelled each other at a blustery Falkirk Stadium.

Alloa brought back Robertson at left back allowing Mouhamed Niang to return to midfield in place of Kevin Cawley. While Falkirk showed the early promise the first hair-raising moment of the day was when Henderson burst through and had a low effort palmed wide by Martin. Neither side looked like making the breakthrough as the first half dragged on.

In the second Alloa would get in behind, but Henderson could only scuff a shot off Hetherington’s arm – which noone really batted an eye at. Hetherington cleared straight to Boyd but he miscued and Henderson, while finishing exquisitely, received the ball in an offside position.

Callumn Morrison received a raucous welcome on his return and Alloa seemed to be aware of his pace and sit deeper.

Hetherington almost made the Falkirk breakthrough when he drilled a low effort but the alert Hutton smothered the attempt.

But down the other end, ‘Sena’ Niang and Henderson would exchange the ball releasing the on-fire Hearts forward into a 1v1 with Martin. Aiming high at the net, the Falkirk keeper denied the loanee.

While Falkirk continued to have snapshots, again last ditch defending by Ben Hall denied Sena. Sena was the centre of attention again before the Falkirk substitute Williamson crossed into the box and met Durnan’s barely outstretched arm. Just seconds before the Senegalese was brought down by Hetherington while the ref remained mute but the referee then pointed to the spot much to the chagrin of Alloa and Hutton. Callumn Morrison converted from 12 yards sending Hutton the wrong way and all Alloa’s hard work looked to have slipped away.

Sammon was thrown on for a late intervention and while he didn’t win Durnan’s searching ball, did enough to divert the defender into flicking it into the path of fellow substitute Kevin Cawley. A deft touch onto his left saw Cawley’s effort saved but digging the ball out of his feet and Alloa out of a hole was the in-form Henderson to roll past the outstretched Martin from the rebound.

5 goals in his last 3 for Henderson and Alloa are now 3 games without defeat.

Alloa bagged another reputable victory over promotion hopefuls Airdrie in a professional performance at the Indodrill.

It was a strange teamsheet with the absence of the incredibly versatile Robertson with Mouhamed ‘Sena’ Niang taking over his jack of all trades title by starting at his left back berth. Henderson came in for Sammon and Hutton returned for Wright from the pleasing win at Firhill over Queen’s Park.

The game took time to come alive with Airdrie shading the early period but Euan Henderson lit up the match after a driving solo run and firm finish broke the deadlock after 33 minutes.

What followed was a ding-dong battle between a probing Airdrie and a counter-attacking Alloa. Craig Watson almost equalising but for an inspired David Hutton while Alloa sliced open the Airdrie back line at the other end and were only denied by the woodwork after Taggart’s missile cross was redirected goal-wards by Kevin Cawley.

Alloa would snap in a second after Boyd headed onto Henderson. The on-loan Hearts striker seemed to waltz into the box, wait and wait but then placed it beyond the Airdrie keeper to double the advantage and add to his impressive League 1 goal haul.

Alloa continued to pass up some cutting attacks but eventually an Alan Trouten misplaced pass on the edge of his own box saw Fordyce smash a deflected effort into the bottom corner. A nervy 5 minutes ensued but Alloa proved no pushovers as Airdrie failed to find the vital goal. Just 4 points from the League leaders now, Alloa are climbing.

Alloa faced an unbeaten, top of the table Queen’s Park on an uncustomarily Super Sunday.

Alloa named emergency keeper Wright to replace the suspended Hutton. Robertson was preferred at left back and Howie started in midfield as Alloa shuffled around injuries. Sammon also leads the line as Henderson drops to the bench from last week’s loss to Peterhead.

Alloa’s talisman took no time to warm up as Kevin Cawley fired the Wasps ahead after an incisive move down the right within 35 seconds. Alloa were impressive at the back and methodical in attack but they left a gaping hole for Bob McHugh to rifle into the bottom corner in the 35th minute.

After the break Alloa started brightly, but this time Queen’s Park punished them with another precision through ball freeing McHugh, who finished coolly to send the Spiders into the lead. Alloa would not wait long to react to the setback as minutes later Craig Howie converted Scougall’s corner with a header to draw the Wasps level.

The game almost turned into tennis with both sides creating an end to end spectacle – if the pitch resembled a well used, damp and severely cut up Centre court. Both had golden opportunities – Trouten leaning back as he blazed a Taggart cutback over and Alloa putting everything on the line to deny Queen’s Park before Murray could only rattle an effort high into the sky.

Queen’s Park almost made the breakthrough with Luca Connell smashing the post from range but it thankfully bounced off Wright’s post and away from danger. Connell would get what was assumed to be the winner on the 89th minute as Alloa were punished from their own corner. Longridge sprinting past everyone – rounding the keeper in the process and squaring past the penalty spot for the youngster to smash home.

But up steps another youngster; on-loan Hearts forward Euan Henderson. After an advanced throw-in was aimed to Durnan – the skipper flicked a headed layoff to Henderson – He converted low into the bottom corner and Alloa were level. But this game still had plenty to offer and a minute later Charlie Gilmour lobbed one in behind for the pacy striker to punish. Staying on his feet despite a heavy Queen’s Park challenge and up against Muir for the winner, Henderson slotted the ball into bottom corner to complete a euphoric comeback and give Alloa all three points after one of the best contests of a game of football you’ll see in years.

Alloa got off to a flyer against the northeast side when Steven Boyd started and finished a flowing move. Cawley and Henderson showing excellent awareness with two first time passes freeing Boyd to find the bottom left corner. The Wasps continue to threaten on the break but they couldn’t quite carve another opening.

After sloppily giving the ball away though, Alloa were punished. Peterhead’s own pacy forward converted at Hutton’s front post with a flick from McCarthy’s cross and the away side grew into the game after the goal.

At a corner McDonald and Hutton clashed and both were booked. This proved vital, as a minute and a half later, Hutton palmed away the effort of Scott Brown from outside the box into the path of Payne. The Alloa stopper caught the Peterhead striker and a penalty was awarded as well as a second yellow. Alloa for the 3rd home game in a row found themselves down to ten men. Keir Burt replaced Cawley as he was sacrificed for the substitute goalie but there no heroics as Scott Brown deftly fired it low beyond the youngster. Alloa did provide an instant reaction – Scougall floating inside with the ball switched to Church and he delivered on a plate for Charlie Gilmour to rattle a volley high into the net.

Alloa were level but in the second half the introduction of McLean provided yet another target as the set pieces mounted. He won an unmarked flick-on to reinstate the Blue Toon lead. Alloa barely threatened the Peterhead goal as the disadvantaged 10 men continued to chase.

Late on, probably the man of the match, Josh Mulligan finished an impressive flowing break to cement the three points for the visitors. Ill discipline has proven a difficult hurdle so far with a third red card in just 10 league games proving again too much for Alloa as we slip to 8th in the league.

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