Alloa were the visitors for our first home of 2024 and there were two changes to the side that faced Falkirk last week. Paul McKay and Lewis Gibson both dropped to the bench with Kieran McKechnie and Lee Connelly returning to the starting eleven.

It was a slow start to the game with little goalmouth action at either end. The first half chance came after twelve minutes when Scott Taggart crossed from the right and Bobby Wales header was turned wide to earn the visitors a corner.

Neither side could get a foot hold in the game as they battled it out in the middle of the park. Queens were working hard to get the ball but were slack with their passing and couldn’t use it to their advantage.

Midway through the half Taylor Steven cut in from the right to get the ball across the face of goal and unmarked at the back post Wales used his thigh to bundle the ball over the line to give The Wasps a lead.

Trailing Queens did step it up and Craig McGuffie’s effort was pushed on to the bar by PJ Morrison and as the ball spun back into play Morgyn Neill put enough pressure on Jake Hutchinson to force him wide.

It was now the home side on the attack and McKechnie raced through the middle but as he took the ball wide to make space to have the shot, he couldn’t get enough power on it and the keeper saved.

Three minutes later Hutchinson played the ball across the box and McKechnie managed to get it back in but the ball was cleared.

However, two minutes before the break the pressure paid off when McKechnie’s cross was blocked and Connelly pounced as the ball came back and with a good finish placed it into the net.

With their tails up, Connelly played a free-kick into the six yard box only for Neill to head clear. His clearance was picked up by McGuffie and his low shot was deflected for a corner. As Connelly floated it in Efe Ambrose headed just over the bar.

And in added on time, McGuffie again was just wide with another effort.

HALF TIME: Queens 1 Alloa Athletic 1

Into the second half and Connelly tried to create an opening from the edge of the box but the visitors defence managed to keep him out.

He did win a free kick on the hour mark but as he stood over it, it was McGuffie who hit it instead, but he skied it over the bar.

Midway through the second half, Cammy Logan did well down the wing, his delivery into the box was met by Connelly who headed just wide. Logan injured his foot in the process and eventually had to be replaced.

Connelly, Oscar MacIntyre and Kyle Doherty were all involved in a good move before Dave McKay cleared from Connelly.

With ten minutes remaining, Doherty headed the ball on for Connelly but his right foot shot was too high. Queens were pushing and had the visitors on the back foot, but they weren’t doing enough to trouble Morrison.

In the closing stages Alloa hit back and Cammy O’Donnell headed over.

At the other end Doherty tried an over head kick and as MacIntyre kept the ball alive in the box, he played it back to Connelly. As he tried to lift it over the keeper he couldn’t get enough power on it and it was an easy collect.

Steven Hetherington picked up a booking for bringing down Hutchinson as he made his way forward and from the resulting free kick, played in by Connelly, Ambrose header was off target.

In the final chance of the game Doherty played it out wide to Connelly and as he played it back across it was just too far ahead of Hutchinson.

FULL TIME: Queens 1 Alloa 1