Relief for Petrie after shutout earns point

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Montrose boss Stewart Petrie was pleased with his side’s showing against Alloa as the Gable Endies kept a clean sheet after conceding nine goals in their previous two games.

He said: “We’ve had our issues the last couple of weeks defensively and we’ve conceded goals.

“So the biggest pleasing factor from today is we looked more like ourselves defensively and kept a clean sheet and gave ourselves something to build on.

“We’re more than pleased to get back into the groove because your confidence takes a wee sting when you concede what we’ve done over the past couple of weeks.

“It was important to show the right attitude and application and we did. I thought we were excellent from that point of view. It’s a good point for us.

“Obviously Sean (Dillon) coming back gives us a bit of experience in the back here and we changed the way we played a little.

“I thought we defended crosses well. Alloa are a massive threat at setpieces and thought we defended crosses into the box really well.”

The game was end-toend stuff. Rory Mcallister headed a cross from Graham Webster over on 23 minutes before Craig Brown might have put the Gable Endies ahead but his shot from a narrow angle finished in the side-netting.

On the half-hour mark clever play by Craig Johnston gave Mcallister another opportunity but the ball was safely gathered by Alloa keeper Myles Hogarth and minutes later Kerr Waddell headed a freekick over the bar.

Both team’s had chances in the second half but neither side could find the net.

In the third minute of added time Alloa substitute Kieran Offord went down in the box but referee Grant Irvine waved away penalty claims before booking the player for simulation.