Raith Rovers’ last-gasp goal hero Kyle Benedictus reckons the point earned against Alloa could prove to be a crucial one in the race for fourth place.
The Wasps looked set to claim their first home win of the campaign, only for their former defender Benedictus to rescue a point for Rovers with a 92nd-minute equaliser.
It was not the result Raith had hoped for against the bottom club but, with results elsewhere going in their favour, the Kirkcaldy men extended their lead over Queen of the South to eight points.
“It’s a disappointing result, but we’ll maybe look at it as a positive point come the end of the season,” Benedictus said.
“Queens got beat again so we’re a point higher on them we’ve got to look at the positives.
“We had a lot of chances but Alloa played well, got their bodies on the line and blocked a lot of things.
“On another day it would’ve been three points, but it could be a good point.”
Raith created the best openings in a first 45 minutes of half chances.
Ryan Hardie had two glimpses of goal in quick succession after working space for himself in the box, but his first effort was blocked by a defender near the line, while keeper Scott Gallacher parried the second.
Alloa’s best effort of the first half came on 18 minutes when Connor McManus tried his luck from 25 yards and his dipping volley landed beyond the bar.
At the other end Mark Stewart fired a James Craigen cut-back wide, before the striker charged down goalkeeper Gallacher’s clearance but lost out in the race for the empty net with Dougie Hill.
Rovers started the second half strongly with both Stewart and Aidan Connolly testing Gallacher with shots from the edge of the area.
However, Alloa appeared to grow in confidence and after Michael Duffy went close with a volley from 20 yards, the hosts took the lead on 63 minutes.
The Raith marking left a lot to be desired as Mitch Megginson burst to the byline unchallenged before cutting the ball back to unmarked Steven Hetherington, who had a simple tap-in.
Raith responded by bringing Joel Thomas off the bench to add a physical presence up front but, despite constant Rovers pressure, the visitors struggled to create chances.
Alloa had a chance to kill the game on the break when Duffy raced clear only to be denied by Kevin Cuthbert.
With the Alloa defence blocking everything Rovers could throw at them, it seemed the hosts were destined to win at home for the first time this season.
But Benedictus popped up with the equaliser two minutes into injury time, hooking the ball home from close range after Thomas had flicked on a Rory McKeown long throw.
“After all the high-profile games recently I knew this was a tough game,” said Raith boss Ray McKinnon.
“A lot of teams have struggled here. It’s a hard place to come because of the park and the way they play. They are quite solid.
“I was delighted we kept going until the final whistle. There’s a good spirit amongst the boys and I think they deserved at least a draw.”