Tony Wallace marked a century of Dumbarton appearances with a double as the Sons were held by Alloa.

The veteran midfielder stabbed home from close range to cancel out Luke Donnelly’s second minute opener, before slotting home a second from the spot early in the second-half to give his side the lead – before ex-Son Calum Waters levelled to ensure the points were shared.

And Sons boss Stevie Farrell admitted he was frustrated that his side hadn’t taken victory in their first league game since falling into administration.

The boss said: “I think we’re disappointed not to take the three points. I think we expected Alloa to have a lot of the ball, but we were content with that.

“They didn’t play through us at all until the second goal. I thought we defended our box when we had to, and I didn’t feel that they peppered our goal. I was quite comfortable at 2-1 if I’m being honest.

“After the goal to make it 2-2 you’d think Alloa would have the momentum to give it a real go. But we’ve managed the game well and on another night could’ve nicked one at the other end.”

Carlo Pignatiello swings in a cross for the Sons
Carlo Pignatiello swings in a cross for the Sons (Image: Jen Owens Images)

Farrell made just one change from the side which had defeated the Wasps 3-2 in the Scottish Cup five days’ previous, as illness ruled out Kalvin Orsi with veteran Tony Wallace taking his place.

On a horrible night in Clackmannanshire, Sons got off to a nightmare start – falling behind inside two minutes.

A slack pass gifted possession to Lewis O’Donnell on the edge of the area, and the wide-man burst to the byline before squaring for Luke Donnelly to tap into the empty net.

Sons’ response was strong, and they levelled with 15 minutes played.

A neat passing move eventually found Craig McGuffie down the left, and the winger dug out a cross that flashed right across the face of goal before finding Wallace – who lashed home his first goal from open play since May.

The 33-year-old could’ve had a second in as many minutes almost immediately as a driving Michael Ruth run saw the forward pick him out on the edge of the box, but his low drive flashed just beyond PJ Morrison’s post with the keeper at full stretch.

Finlay Gray holds off a challenge from an Alloa defender
Finlay Gray holds off a challenge from an Alloa defender (Image: Jen Owens Images)

That would be as close as either side came to finding a third goal of the evening in the first 45, with Sons dealt a blow when Michael Ruth was forced off with a back injury after a clash with David McKay.

However Ruth’s replacement, Joel Mumbongo, made his presence felt early in the second-half as he took advantage of the unexpected early opportunity.

The Swedish forward looked to have lost possession after racing into the box, only to win it back from David McKay who clumsily brought the former Burnley man to the ground.

Centurion Wallace stepped up to calmly send Morrison the wrong way from 12 yards.

Mumbongo was involved again with 19 minutes remaining as he burst beyond ex-Son Morgyn Neill and perfectly picked out the onrushing Craig McGuffie with a pass across the face of goal – but Morrison reacted superbly to deny the winger a first league goal for Dumbarton.

And it would prove a vital moment too, as the Wasps levelled soon after.

Substitute Steven Buchanan showed great strength and skill to wriggle clear of McGuffie and Cammy Clark and reach the byline, before picking out former Dumbarton man Calum Waters to slide beyond Brett Long from inside the box.

The ever-dangerous Luke Donnelly then looked like he could win it for the Wasps after a neat move sent the towering forward clear in the box, but a perfectly placed sliding challenge from Ethan Brown denied the former Stranraer man.

At the other end meanwhile both Ryan Blair and Cammy Clark had openings for Sons – but both saw their efforts blocked, as the side were made to settle for a share of the points for the second time this season.

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