Reaction

The Wasps who were returning to play their first match at home in front of their fans since 5th November were looking to collect more league points to push them back up the table. However Stranraer, through ex Alloa midfield player Scott Agnew took the lead after only 9 minutes with ex Alloa manager Jack Ross watching on from the stand.

Alloa drew level after 23 minutes, Jordan Kirkpatrick’s goalbound shot took a deflection of Greig Spence, who knew little about, but still wanted to claim the goal. Jason Marr then watched his header cleared off the line in a first half the home side would be disappointed not going in at half-time ahead.

Stranraer who had stretched Livingston all the way on Saturday, again were giving a good account of themselves, taking the lead again with 18 minutes left after the referee had adjudged Jason Marr to have given away a free kick although he appeared to win the ball. Willie Gibson stepped up and curled a 30 yard free kick into the top corner of the net.

Credit to “The Wasps” they never gave and and top goalscorer Greig Spence flashed a header past keeper Cameron Belford to draw the sides level again.

Ex Stranraer striker Jamie Longworth was then unlucky to see his header come back off the post as the home side looked for the winner. Although fighting back for a share of the points the Alloa players would be disappointed not to continue their recent good home form.

jim goodwin after home draw

Disappointed with the result, it was a game we wanted to win of course, disappointed with the goals, two good goals from Stranraer’s point of view, but we should have stopped the cross for the first one, it was a  great finish from Scott Agnew. I’m really disappointed at the free kick which lead to the second goal, Jason Marr slides in, wins the ball, it actually goes back the way and a free kick is awarded, he gets booked and then Willie Gibson has that in his locker, it was a great strike you can’t take that away from him, but I’m a bit deflated, we bossed the first half, I don’t think we played particularly great in the second half but at the same time the boys showed great determination and character but far too often lately we have been allowing the opposition the first goal, then we have had to dig deep to get ourselves back into games. When we got ourselves back to 2-2 we had another couple of chances where we could have nicked it but I think over the whole piece a draw was probably a fair result.

Iain Flannigan was missing tonight, he picked up a knock at Peterhead, he has a dead leg which he wasn’t able to shake off, I’m hoping he might be fit for Saturday. Kevin Cawley came back into the side, he was missing at Peterhead after picking up ankle knock in training. We have plenty of options, Steven Hetherington is also back in the squad but we would like to bring him back a little bit at a time. We will look forward to the transfer window and do our best at strengthening the side, I would like to bring in two or three more players, but only if they add quality, it will not be the case just to make up numbers they would need to add value to the side, but everybody out there is trying to do the same thing so we are fishing in a small pond at the minute but we will do everything we can to bring in the right people.