With league leaders Alloa meeting second-placed Montrose at Links Park this promised to be an exciting contest and so it proved.

Montrose got off to a dream start after just three minutes when a slack pass by visitors’ keeper Peter Morrison gifted possession to the home side and Ali Shrive headed home Blair Lyons’ cross.

The visitors equalised on 22 minutes when Morgan Neil headed home at the second attempt following a corner from the right.

Despite action at both ends of the pitch neither side could gain any further advantage and that was the half-time score.

As might be expected, a determined Alloa exerted sustained pressure in the opening minutes of the second half although the Gable Endies were still making their presence felt as Callum Hannah had a shot saved before a Shrive header met the same fate.

However the Gable Endies did regain the lead on 58 minutes when Ryan Williamson found himself clear on the right flank and his cross was headed home by Kane Hester.

Just a minute later, another Wasps’ attack ended with an appeal for hand ball however referee Sean Murdoch awarded a corner.

Hester might have sealed it for the home side on 68 minutes when he out-paced the defence, but his attempt drifted over.

After 78 minutes, substitute Andrew Steeves broke clear on the left, but Blair Lyons was unable to hit the target.

Unbeaten Alloa continued to press for an equaliser, and they finally got their reward in the 90th minute. A misunderstanding in the Montrose defence saw them concede a throw-in on the left. From the throw, Tyrece McDonnell gathered the ball on the bye-line and his cross was forced over the line by Luke Rankin.

Referee Murdoch played around five minutes of added time but neither side could find the net again and a draw was probably a fair result in a game between two teams whose players gave everything. 

The Wasps edged the match in terms of possession but with both teams striving for a winning goal a draw was probably a fair outcome.

Report by Forbes Inglis

Pic by Pheonix Photography

Post match reaction https://youtu.be/1hBf2YmHGTE