The starting line up today saw one change from last weeks victorious side at Cowdenbeath as Peter Weatherson made his first start of 2002 at the expense of top scorer John O'Neill.
Queens started and immediately were on the attack as Peter Weatherson broke through on goal but found that he had no support, the ball eventually being taken off his toe as he assessed his options. Alloa were next to threaten and in ten minutes an effort by Hutchinson landed on the bar and bounced back onto the bar before bouncing wide. At this time Queens were largely being contained by a solid Alloa side.
In thirty minutes disaster struck for Queens as the defence and midfield were caught watching the Alloa front men pass the ball about on the edge of the box, finally Raeside struck a curling effort that Scott had little chance to stop and the Wasps had stung, the fans knew exactly what to expect for the remaining hour of the match.
Queens knew that it was up to them to force the pace of the match and the ever industrious Peter Weatherson along with a determined Alan Gray combined in thirty seven minutes to produce what was the best chance of the half for the Doonhamers as Gray made his way down the right before cutting in and feeding the ball to Nellie, with his turn and shot Weatherson can count himself unlucky not to have scored as a fine diving save was required from Soutar in the Alloa goals.
HALF TIME 0-1
Changes were needed and at half-time on came Joe McAlpine for Paddy Atkinson as the home side looked to open up the visiting defence, the formation also became more 3-5-2 than 4-4-2. As is usual with Terry Christie coached sides they were not giving anything away as they defended in depth and in the fifty-eighth minute Allan Moore was introduced for Barry Donald with Gordon Connolly stepping inside to allow Moorie to take up his right wing position.
Queens however refused to make any clear cut chances and the best of the first forty minutes of the second half was an overhead kick by Peter Weatherson that didn't trouble the Wasps 'keeper.
The game was finally lifted by the arrival of John O'Neill who must have been frustrated at having to watch a largely defensive midfield showing for all of seventy six minutes until his introduction, the last minutes of the half saw Queens press the visitors goal and George O'Boyle almost repeated his feat of last week as he struck a shot from outside the box that was dipping all the way but just cleared the cross bar, John O'Neill then made a penetrating solo run that almost got him through on goal but no one was around for him to lay-off to and finally Peter Weatherson should have done better than head straight at the 'keeper from ten yards.
All in all a disappointing game and with Stranraer coming from a goal down to defeat league leaders Clydebank our second place in the league has been lost and the league tightened up yet again. One thing is for sure promotion from this league will not be decided until the last moment of the season.
MATCH ACTION
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