Queens line up today saw only one change to that which had won seven days earlier at Arbroath, the available again Derek Anderson taking his place in the centre of the back three at the expense of Jon Crawford.
Queens had the better of the opening exchanges as they started purposefully and pressed Alloa back into their own half. An early effort involving some slick movement between Jim Thomson, Eric Paton and Steve Bowey allowed Peter Weatherson to find some space and fire in an angular effort on goals that was well pushed away by James Evans in the Alloa goals. Eric Paton was next up with an effort on goal as he made space on the edge of the box and shot into the side netting. Alloa though were also threatening, although Andy Goram was not really tested in the opening twenty minutes or so.
In the twenty sixth minute Sean O'Connor should really have done better as he rose to meet a Brian McLaughlin whipped in cross from the right, unfortunately though Sean could only nod it past the upright.
Two minutes later and Alloa were in front, a midfield tussle on the far touchline involving Bowey and the visitors Little resulted in the Wasps player getting free down the wing, his pass into the penalty box was helped on by Jim Thomson and waiting to pounce was Gareth Hutchison who flicked the ball past the wrong footed Andy Goram and into the net.
McLaughlin and O'Connor combine during the first half
Five minutes later and almost a carbon copy goal again for the visitors only this time Goram was there to take the ball cleanly, and moments later the Goalie had to be alert to push over a net bound shot as Queens looked decidedly uncomfortable. Alloa did have the ball in the net in the fortieth minute but the linesman had his flag up and the strike was ruled out much to the dislike of the Alloa front men.
The last action of the half saw Queens Andy Aitken booked for a challenge on Scott Crabbe and Crabbe booked for squaring up to Andy with Andy having the good sense to walk away.
HALF TIME 0-1
Queens made another positive start to the half, as they did in the first, this time it was Eric Paton making space on the right about thirty yards out, he lined up for a shot at goal and struck the ball cleanly, 'keeper Evans managed to make a comfortable save.
Queens were pressing hard and a long range effort from Bowey was well held whilst a Derek Lyle cross from the right was met with too fine a touch from Sean O'Connor's head as the ball flew well past the far post.
Derek Lyle then found himself in the very fussy referee's book as he went over in a challenge on the edge of the box, as the Queens players looked for the free kick the referee pulled out a yellow card and presented it to Derek Lyle for diving.
Lyle's response moments later was to fire in a long range effort but again Evans was up to the challenge.
The save of the match stopped Queens from equalising as an Eric Paton thirty yard effort was headed for the top right hand corner of the 'keepers goal until Evans somehow managed to get a hand to the ball and turn it over the bar, it was a fine save.
Next in the referee's book was Peter Weatherson as he reacted to what was no less than a push in the back from Ferguson who had made the effort of a fifteen yard run to carry out the 'tackle'.
John Connolly then made a change as he replaced Derek Lyle with John O'Neill and pushed Peter Weatherson up to partner Sean O'Connor.
Robbie Neilson was next for yellow again for an alleged dive.
Queens though were still pressing although a goal was looking unlikely due to some poor luck and some great goal keeping. John Connolly decided on some more alterations to the side as he swapped Steve Bowey for Paul Shields and Robbie Neilson for Brian McColligan, whether the resulting change to 3-4-3 made any difference in just two minutes or not, that was all that it took for Queens to finally break down the Alloa defence. A fine goal it was too as Brian McLaughlin picked up the ball on the edge of the box and made himself some space, he then cleverly lobbed the defence and 'keeper to tie the scores at 1-1.
Try as they might a winning goal would not come and the only point to note in the final few minutes was the booking of Eric Paton for yet another minor and needless offence as he was adjudged to have thrown the ball away after clearing the ball out of play of an Alloa player and not being awarded the throw in.
It has to be said that this was not a vintage Queens performance, Alloa know what to do to kill a match after taking the lead and they did this to great effect today, every free kick, every throw in , every goal kick is taken with the maximum amount of wasted time. A point is better than none though.
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