Dwarfed by visitors' golden victory in the snow white of Ochilview

Stenhousemuir 1 Alloa Athletic 3 TERRY CHRISTIE, a man with a midas touch for transforming smaller clubs, continues to work his magic. Just last month he guided Alloa to an historic Challenge Cup win and the Recreation Park side remain on course for a return to Division One for the first time in a decade.

This latest victory, an entertaining affair, played out on a heavy pitch dusted with snow, was thoroughly deserved and keeps Alloa within two points of leaders Clyde.

Not that Stenhousemuir are unaware of Christie's talents. His cup exploits with the Larbert outfit are legendary although it was his replacement Graeme Armstrong who guided them to a first ever promotion in May.

Remarkably, aged 43, Armstrong continues to play regularly but he and his fellow defenders endured a difficult afternoon. Alloa dominated early on forcing seven corners inside 10 minutes, and with Willie Irvine prompting from midfield they always posed a threat. It was Irvine who opened the scoring after 20 minutes steering home his tenth goal of the season after Ian Little had nodded Ray Sharp's corner into his path.

When Martin Cameron plundered his 13th goal of the campaign soon after the interval there seemed no way back for Stenhousemuir. Cameron's bustling and ferocious shooting power have made him a target for a number of bigger clubs but his 51st minute effort from Little's cross was a fairly routine strike.

However, Stenhousemuir battled back and in 63 minutes Tommy Graham scored with a simple back post header after a corner from Jimmy Fisher.

Earlier, Alloa goalkeeper Mark Cairns had twice made important saves from the impressive David Lorimer and four minutes from time he denied Fisher who saw his 20-yard volley brilliantly saved.

As Stenhousemuir chased the game Alloa threatened on the break and Irvine and Cameron came close to scoring before the latter ran through to plant a shot past Lindsay Hamilton to confirm his position as the most potent goal scorer in Division Two.

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