Alloa put brakes on runaway Queens

Published on 04/02/2013 02:16

LEADERS Queen of the South saw their seven-game winning run come to an end when Alloa left Palmerston with a point following a goalless draw.

Allan Johnston’s side remain 16 points clear of their second placed visitors and are still hot favourites for the title following a game of few chances.

The Wasps’ Ben Gordon came closest to grabbing the winner with a first half header that hit the crossbar while Kevin 
Cawley almost caught out home goalkeeper Lee Robinson with a lob. There was, however, to be no repeat of Alloa’s December win over Johnston’s side.

Recreation Park manager Paul Hartley was nevertheless upbeat as he said: “We have shown
already that we can match Queen of the South but the league is theirs to lose. We will try and win as many points as we can and see what happens.”

Hartley and Johnston have both been mentioned as potential candidates for the manager’s job at Partick Thistle, however both were keen to play down the rumours with Hartley adding: “It is nice to get mentioned but I’m concentrating on Alloa.”

As for the draw Johnston said: “It was not a great game but it ended with us still 16 points ahead so I’m pretty happy.”

Stenhousemuir moved back into the fringes of the promotion play-off chase with a 1-0 win over Arbroath at Ochilview thanks to a John Gemmell winner just before half-time.

The win brought the Warriors to within 3 points of their fourth placed visitors and level with East Fife who lost 3-1 to 
Stranraer who now have an 8 point cushion over bottom side Albion Rovers.

Second time around debutant Darren Gribben was the hero for the Stair Parkers, scoring two goals before half-time. Paul Willis pulled one back in the second half before Sean Winter scored to secure all three points for Stephen Aitken’s men.

The Ayr United and Brechin City game was postponed as Somerset Park was unplayable.