Late blow for Doonhamers

QUEEN of the South lost ground at the top of League One with a crushing home defeat at the hands of Alloa.

It had been well-documented before the match that a rack of Queens players were carrying injuries. And incredibly eight of those started against the Wasps, with new signing Nicky Clark named on the bench.

But not even 20 seconds into the contest it looked like Queens could be forced into an extremely early change. Midfielder Benji Luissint was flattened by his own teammate, Jack Hannah, and held his head. There was a lengthy stoppage as Luissint was down, clearly in agonising pain, but eventually he was able to continue.

The theme of Queens players getting in the way of each other continued. Reece Lyon’s header looked destined to find the back of the net but it was inadvertently blocked by teammate Kurtis Guthrie, before an Alloa defender scrambled a clearance off the woodwork.

Kai Kennedy then came close when his low shot from the edge of the box was turned behind by Alloa stopper Liam McFarlane.

But Alloa would open the scoring on 27 minutes. Stefan Scougall played a terrific ball to Luke Donnelly, who beat the offside trap. The attacker had enough time to dummy a shot and eventually chipped over a grounded Ross Stewart.

The opener looked to have awoken the Doonhamers and it seemed every Queens attack featured livewire Kennedy.

He nearly levelled instantly when his low shot just whistled past the post. Kennedy was adamant it took a deflection off an Alloa defender on the way but his protests led to a yellow card from referee Chris Graham.

The winger then had two other chances – including a fierce free-kick which stung the palms of Graham – and then Guthrie’s close range header was saved by the inspired Alloa keeper.

And on the brink of half time, Queens were adamant they were owed a penalty kick when Matty Douglas was brought down inside the box. However, the appeals were waved away by the referee, with Douglas down receiving treatment.

Queens boss Peter Murphy knew he had to make some changes with Jack Stott – who was another named on the lengthy casualty list – and Zander Mackenzie on for Taylor Charters and Luissint, who had a shiner of a black eye and was struggling to see out of it during the break.

The hosts came to life for the start of the second period. Brennan Dickenson’s free-kick had to be punched clear by McFarlane.

But the Alloa keeper could do nothing to prevent Queens from scoring on 51 minutes.

Mikey Hewitt’s long throw was nodded by Guthrie into the Alloa mixer and up rose Lyon who bulleted his header into the top corner.

It was now all Queens who looked to take the lead. Dickenson had a header tipped behind for a corner.

And the from the resulting Kennedy set-piece, it was nearly déjà vu when Lyon’s header flew just millimetres wide of the same top corner he hit minutes before.

McFarlane was again the hero of the hour for the Wasps as he got down well to deny Guthrie from eight yards.

Then after a Queens breakaway, a host of players in blue could’ve pulled the trigger, but eventually Mikey Hewitt did . . . then it trickled into the grateful arms of McFarlane.

The visitors had weathered the storm and started to come back into the contest. They had a massive chance on 67 minutes when Donnelly blasted over while one-on-one with Stewart.

The biggest cheer of the day came when Clark entered the fray for the last 18 minutes.

His first involvement was to set up Dickenson who fired inches wide from 25 yards.

But then a disastrous couple of minutes for the Doonhamers settled the contest.

Right back Hewitt had to be subbed off with a hamstring injury and his replacement, Niall Rogerson, botched a clearance that fell to Kurtis Roberts, who ran in and smashed home on 84 minutes.

It all became a tad desperate for Murphy’s men with them aiming hopeful balls to teenage striker Seb Mason and to Clark.

And despite nearly ten minutes of added on time, Queens couldn’t find the leveller.

QoS: Stewart, Hewitt (Rogerson 82), Douglas, Hannah, Charters (Mackenzie 45), Smith, Dickenson (Mason 83), Luissint (Stott 45), Lyon, Kennedy, Guthrie (Clark 72). Subs not used: Green, Allan, Johnstone, Mason, Ross, Clark. Alloa: McFarlane, Taggart, Dewar, Clarke (Clarke 63), Roberts, Donnelly (Sammon 82), Scougall (Hetherington 75), Gentles, McKay, O’Donnell, Stewart. Subs not used: Ogayi, Rankin, Orsi, Buchanan, Foster, Adamson, Burnside. Ref: Chris Graham. Crowd: 1099.