Alloa Athletic 2-2 Inverness CT - League 1

Wasps Sting Back

Inverness were without Charlie Gilmour, Flynn Duffy, Paul Allan, Ethan Cairns and Lewis Nicolson for the trip to Alloa although Jack Newman, Luis Longstaff and Keith Bray have returned to the squad after injury. Alloa have plenty experience in their ranks, notably Conor Sammon and Kevin Cawley and went in to this encounter off the back of a superb win over Partick Thistle last weekend in the Challenge Cup. Sammon started on the bench with Cawley joined by Luke Donnelly up front. Danny Devine gave Inverness an early lead with a tremendous birthday boy volley into the corner. After the interval, Calum Macleod added a second, drilling home, but a few minutes later we were level when substitute Sammon and Luke Donnelly scored for the Wasps. Despite a frantic last twenty minutes, that's how it ended. (2-2)

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Once the early posturing was over, it was a birthday gift from Danny Devine as he lashed in the opening goal from twenty-two yards in the seventh minute to give the visitors the perfect start. What a strike from Danny into the corner off the post. Boom and Happy Birthday! Musa Dibaga saved from Cameron O'Donnell two minutes later at the expense of a corner and Billy Mckay put a header wide after fifteen minutes. Adam MacKinnon was denied by PJ mid-way through the half when the keeper parried his strike away for a corner. On the stroke of half time Adam Brooks went through at an acute angle but his effort was saved at the near post and Mckay was then blocked before MacKinnon shot over from a tight angle. Alloa were seeing plenty of the ball in the opening half but it was the visitors that went in at the break a goal to the good and good value for that lead. 

HALF TIME: 0-1

No changes at the interval and it was a lively re-start two minutes in when PJ had to deny Mckay from a tight angle. Following an Alloa corner, Big Musa had to deny Morgyn Neill and at the other end Calum MacLeod burst forward and saw his effort tipped onto the post before the rebound was cleared. Billy Mckay went close again after the hour before substitute Stefan Scougall forced Big Musa into a good save. A minute later MacLeod gave us some short lived breathing space following a swift break forward as he drilled the ball across the keeper into the bottom corner, however Conor Sammon quickly pulled a goal back with a great header three minutes later into the top corner finishing a well built move from back to front. Moments later it was all square when Donnelly looped a ball behind Dibaga after a long throw from Taggart and a touch from Sammon. Having been well in control we were now under the cosh but despite some hairy moments towards the end it finished all square.

FULL TIME: 2-2

Disappointing to throw away a two goal lead after being in control for over an hour. Two great goals scored but we will be not be happy with our defending at Alloa's goals. Most of us would have taken a draw before kick-off, but the manner in which we capitulated will need addressed.

Both managers appeared to be yellow carded in the final minute.

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