Alloa1–1Inverness CT

Ten man Jags make their point


This was the final meeting between these sides this season with Inverness unbeaten in their last eleven League1 fixtures and Alloa looking to get back on track somewhat after two away defeats on the trot following four straight wins that had pushed them back into contention at the top end of the table. Liam Sole was suspended for this one as retribution for a 'head butt' in the KDM game at Ayr. Scott Kellacher had said pre-match that a few were carrying knocks. Maybe surprisingly, Bavidge, and Alonge found themselves on the bench with Wotherspoon and MacKinnon starting. Alloa looked to have a strong starting XI and plenty of quality back-up on the bench. Young Irishman Callum Burnside has been called up to the Norther Ireland u21 squad and celebrated with a hat-trick last week against Montrose. Plenty danger in the Alloa squad to keep our defenders on their toes.

Inverness couldn't afford to slip up today with nearest challengers Stenhousemuir likely to pick up maximum points at Kelty. And by half time our worst scenario manifested with Stenhousemuir winning and Alloa scoring a goal on the interval through Dewar to dampen our spirits. Zimba levelled on the hour but left us with ten men ten minutes later. However, we held out for a point with Stenny winning 2-0.

Our lead is now down to just one point with six games left. Strap yourself in!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A decent enough day for a game at the Indodrill on Matchday30 and an early Oscar MacIntyre cross brought about the first corner of the game but it was easily cleared by the hosts. Plenty of posturing early on but little action in the final third and with twenty minutes gone neither keeper had been called into action although a Danny Devine clearance saved Munro from getting involved. With half an hour gone there was a distinct lack of entertainment with defences dominating. Almost on cue, Ross Munro got his gloves dirty saving from Charlie Dewar some fifteen minutes before the break. A couple of minutes later Chanka Zimba's shot was blocked behind for a corner as the action started. Alfie Stewart hit the post after a good interchange with Longstaff following the corner and a David Wotherspoon shot from the edge of the box was saved by McFarlane in the home goal. At last a bit of pressure was mounting on the hosts defence, but hey stood firm so far. Inverness finished the half on top, or so we thought. Alloa opened the scoring in time added on through a Charlie Dewar header from Burnside's corner.

HALF TIME: 1-0

Kellacher rang the changes at the break with Jordan Alonge and Ben Brannan replacing MacKinnon and MacLeod and five minutes in Longstaff shot over from a difficult angle and Alonge failed to divert a Spoony cross on target. On the hour it was all square as big Chanka shot home from outside the box to the bottom corner with Spoony and Longstaff on the assist. Liam McFarlane saved to deny Longstaff as he shot towards the bottom corner from within the penalty box. Ten minutes after his goal, Zimba went from hero to zero as he was sent off following a clash with Calum Waters. That gave Alloa a lift and Scott Taggart shot over soon after. Longstaff was then sacrificed with Alfie Bavidge coming on. With fifteen minutes remaining we then had to replace Devine through injury with Mitchell Robertson coming on. Kurtis Roberts shot over from the angle as Alloa sensed they had an opportunity to grab all three points. Spoony did likewise at the other end as he fired over from Bavidge's pass five minutes from the end. Alonge fired a free kick wide in the closing moments and on a late break forward Brannan was denied in the top corner by a superb save from McFarlane. Alloa made it a nervy ending as they forced a couple of corners into stoppage time and Roberts shot narrowly over as we held on for the point.

FULL TIME: 1-1