Alloa Athletic 2 - 3 Airdrie United: Alloa go 'from good to hopeless' as Airdrie grab late victory

Just when it looked like Allan Maitland's Alloa players would spend an enjoyable Christmas sitting just two points off the top of the Second Division table - thanks to the club's sterling efforts in getting the Recreation Park pitch playable - Airdrie United popped up to spoil the party by scoring twice in the last minute to win 3-2.

To make matters worse for Alloa followers it was two former Wasps, Andy Ferguson and Jamie Stevenson, who arrived like ghosts of Christmas past to sour festivities in Clackmannanshire.

Front man Ferguson marked his debut for United by scoring after just five minutes with a close-range shot following a corner. Mick Dunlop, Stuart Noble and Bryan Prunty all then missed chances for the home side before substitute Jim Lister set up Noble to bring Alloa level just before the hour mark.

Prunty was booked for simulation as he tried to win a penalty shortly afterwards and Ferguson gave Alloa a further reminder of what he could do when he shot against a post before Lister headed home a Darren Smith cross to put Maitland's men ahead with 21 minutes left.

It looked like the stocking filler of three points was coming to Alloa until the final minute when Stevenson, who replaced Ferguson midway through the second half, sent in a low left shoot from the edge of the box to level and substitute Tony Watt then shot home from 12 yards to take the three points back to Lanarkshire.

Maitland said: "That was a terrible way to ruin Christmas for our fans. We just stopped playing. There can be no excuses. We went from good to hopeless in the last few minutes."

A far happier Airdrie United manager Jimmy Boyle said: "It was a great effort. The boys never know when they are beaten."