A POINT is a point. At this stage of the season, every point counts.

Alloa would have preferred three, they could have had three and maybe should have had three, but a point will do.

With Arbroath losing, the gap between relegation and the play-off is four points. It has certainly set up a mouth-watering tie at Gayfield Park this Saturday.

Alloa started this match with intent. From the first minute they looked like a team that knew they had to win this match. Kevin Cawley was the first to strike at goal, driving towards the box before firing a shot over the bar.

Another half chance fell to Liam Dick minutes later. Scott Taggart, making his landmark 200th appearance for the club, delivered a wonderful set-piece to the back post. Dick, unmarked, just couldn't sort his feet out and missed the ball.

If the first handful of opportunities were half chances, the next was golden. A smart turn by Lee Connelly gave him a yard to deliver a cross that Innes Cameron controlled.

His shot was blocked but the rebound bounced perfectly for Jon Robertson, who hit the ball into the ground and over the bodies thrown in front of him. It looked in, but Viljami Sinisalo, somehow, managed to get a strong hand on it and keep it out.

Then, like on so many occasions this season, Alloa were punished. An Alloa corner was collected easily by Sinisalo, and Ayr countered.

Tom Walsh received the ball in the centre circle and made his way towards Alloa's box. Ray Grant was dragged towards the ball, leaving space for Cammy Smith to receive the ball before cutting it back across the box for Walsh to place it past Parry.

Alloa continued to put the pressure on. A Connelly cross was just inches too high for Cameron, who couldn't get the connection he wanted. Thankfully he wouldn't have to wait long for another chance.

Walsh should have doubled his tally and Ayr's lead, but he couldn't keep Patrick Reading's cross down. A delightful ball took everyone out and Walsh was free, but his effort went miles over.

The miss would be costly, as Alloa equalised less than a minute later. Taggart was given the space to drive forward and Cameron was clever enough to spin Jack Baird and run in behind. Taggart's pass was excellent and Cameron took one touch before waiting for Sinisalo to go down then lifting the ball over the keeper and into the net.

Now, for Lucas Williamson's goal. A day after turning 18, Williamson scored his first senior goal, and he'll do well to score a better one.

Robertson fired a decent ball towards Cameron but he couldn't control and Ayr cleared their lines. Job done. Enter Williamson.

From 30 yards out, he controlled the ball on his chest, took one touch to settle it before rifling the ball into the top corner. Three Sinisalos couldn't have saved the strike, never mind one. Three seconds it took for Williamson to control the ball and for the back of the net to ripple.

A goal to the good, Alloa ramped up the pressure. Another good deliver by Connelly was just inches too high for Steven Hetherington. The ball would then fall to the feet of Cameron who took his time before striking a half-volley that hit the side netting.

Ayr were resorting to long range strikes by this point, with none of their efforts troubling Parry. Then, disaster struck. Luke McCowan's floated through ball didn't look too troubling. Parry rushed out, eyes on the ball. Robertson was running towards goal, eyes on the ball. The ball bounced off Robertson's knee and with Parry off his goal line, it trickled into an empty net.

From that moment onwards, the game was there for the taking. Both teams pushed for the winner. Substitute Stefan Scougall countered and found Cawley, who cut inside and was clearly tugged by Jordan Houston. Cawley managed to get a shot off but the tug was obvious and the referee unmoved.

With three minutes of the 90 to go, a cross once again found Walsh unmarked at the back post. This time he was able to get his shot on target and Parry was beaten. Thankfully Andy Graham was on alert to clear the ball off the line.

In extra time, another Alloa penalty shout fell on deaf ears. Alan Trouten received the ball in the box and maneuvered the ball through two Ayr defenders before being brought to the ground.

In the end, two teams settled for a point. Alloa will feel they should have gotten more, but it's still a point closer to Arbroath. The two teams meet on Saturday, in what could potentially be season defining for Alloa. Another performance like last Saturday's will give them more than a fighting chance.

ALLOA: Parry, Robertson, Taggart, Graham, Dick, Williamson, Grant (Trouten), Hetherington, Connelly (Scougall), Cawley, Cameron. UNUSED SUBS: Willison, Buchanan, Jamieson, Thomson, Murray