LUKE RANKIN rescued a point at the death against Montrose as Alloa continued their unbeaten run.

The youngster came off the bench for his first appearance in seven weeks to tap in his side’s second goal to draw 2-2 against the Mo.

Rankin’s last gasp finish ensured Alloa carried on through the league without defeat and kept the Wasps joint top of the table.

Andy Graham was forced into one change going into this game, with last week’s matchwinner Conor Sammon replacing the injured Cameron O’Donnell.

Montrose had a dream start to the game as Blair Lyons latched onto a misplaced pass from Wasps keeper PJ Morrison.

Morrison fired the ball out aiming for Scott Taggart, but Lyons scooped up the ball and charged forward, sending a lofted cross over towards Alastair Shrive who headed past Morrison.

It was a sore moment for the shot stopper, who has otherwise been impeccable this season so far.

Alloa were quick to respond, Morgyn Neill cancelling our Shrive’s opener with a header of his own on the second time of asking after his initial effort struck the crossbar.

The visitors were denied a strong penalty appeal as Steven Buchanan had his shirt pulled in the box, restricting the winger’s run into the box.

The referee ignored calls for a spot kick, however, and the two sides went into half time level.

“We’ve spoken numerous times this season about the boys’ character,” Graham said. “It’s never in question.

“I was more pleased with the response to losing the early goal – making an error like that is frustrating from our point of view.

“The boys responded really well to that and they were very good in the first half – we played some really good football.

“We were unlucky not to go ahead but fair play to Montrose, they changed their shape at half time and went on to cause us a few problems.

“All credit to the players for just digging in, they just keep going all the way to the end and they’ve done it again today.”

Alloa started the second half with much more of the ball than their hosts, but it was Montrose who regained the lead, this time through Kane Hester.

Neill continued to test goal, putting in a commanding performance as part of the back line and also up top, having a couple more chances in the second half to add goals to his season tally.

It seemed destined that Alloa would suffer their first league defeat of the season until Queen’s Park loanee Tyrece McDonnell sent a ball in for the waiting Rankin.

A stramash of Alloa players were positioned in the box searching for a winner, but the young striker got his poacher’s finish to equaliser for Alloa in the last seconds.

The involvement from the youngsters off the subs bench was a particularly pleasing moment for the manager, whose game changing subs allowed Alloa to take something from the game yet again.

“That’s what they’re on the pitch to do,” Graham went on. “The guys didn’t come off because they’ve played badly.

“Kev Cawley and Luke Donnelly were excellent today but we had to try and change the shape and do something different to get back in the game.

“All you’re asking is that the guys make an impact when they come on and they did that really well.

“We’ve got a good few players in there that are showing a lot of potential but I genuinely don’t look at age.

“I don’t look at that as to why I pick a team on a Saturday, it’s about what you’re producing on a Tuesday, Thursday and most importantly on a Saturday.

“That’s why you’ll get in the team and it’s nothing to do with age.”

Rankin’s goal was also a pivotal moment for the young striker – his first league goal this campaign and also his first since injury.

The 19-year-old had an electric pre-season and League Cup campaign, the highlights being his late double against St Johnstone.

An ankle injury ruled him out after the first two games for a short period, making his first appearance during a friendly against Linlithgow Rose on Tuesday.

Graham added: “Luke had a really good pre-season and a really good League Cup campaign.

“He was really unfortunate that in training, he goes and does his ankle and he’s been out for the last five and a half weeks now.

“It’s a long time to be out for but what he does really well is gets in good positions and scores goals.

“His all round play was a bit rusty but it’s going to be when he’s been out for that length of time but one thing you can’t deny is he can sniff out a goal today.

“He’s done that today to get us a point.”