A victory for either side would have earned more tangible rewards but both had to satisfy themselves with just a solitary point that ensured it was 'as you were' as the season draws to a dramatic climax.

Queen of the South knew a win would have clinched a promotion play-off slot, whilst for Alloa the three points would have lifted them above Cowdenbeath and out of the play-off places at the bottom of the Championship. Both now have two games remaining to achieve those aims.

Ben Gordon played a captain's role five minutes from the interval when he headed in the opening goal for the home side but two goals in the space of just three minutes shortly after the break, the first a disputed penalty from Derek Lyle and the second a magnificent finish from Mark Millar, turned the game on its head and had Queens where they wanted to be.

However, Liam Buchanan then earned the Wasps what could prove a vital point in their fight to avoid relegation when he restored parity in the 66th minute and Millar took his side's battles too far two minutes from the end when he was shown a straight red card for an attempted head-butt on Michael Doyle.

"The boys knew it was a big game and we got our two goals, but unfortunately we couldn't hold to the lead," said Queens manager James Fowler, whose side are five points ahead of fifth-placed Falkirk with two matches remaining.

"It's still a point gained for where we want to be but we knew if we had won we could have tied it up. But we'll look forward to next week now and hopefully we can do it at home."

Alloa's opener came from a corner just before the break. Iain Flannigan whipped in a magnificent set-piece that Gordon attacked with more conviction than any of the Queens rearguard and the defender was rewarded when his header nestled in the back of the net. The lead did not last long, however. Danny Carmichael won Queens a penalty with a darting run into the area just five minutes into the second half.

Alloa were angered by referee Stephen Finnie's decision but Lyle was not bothered and hammered home the spot-kick. Carmichael, who had been converted in a half-time tactical switch from a wing-back to a more straight-forward winger, then swung over a fantastic diagonal pass on the break as Queens surged ahead just two minutes later. Millar still had plenty to do but chested the ball down expertly before finishing with aplomb on the angle.

The momentum of the match swung yet again in the 66th minute, however, when Alloa restored parity. Flannigan fed Buchanan on the left and the striker side-stepped his marker before drilling low past Zander Clark at the keeper's near post. It may not have been the result either wanted but both know their contrasting targets are still within their grasp.

"Ourselves, Livingston and Cowdenbeath are all trying to bust a gut to get over that finishing line," said new Alloa manager Danny Lennon, whose side are just a point behind Cowdenbeath, who they face on the final day of the season. "It's going to be the team that brings the most to the remaining games that does that."

Alloa: Gibson; Doyle, Gordon, Benedictus, Meggatt (Ashgar 69); Holmes, McCord, Cawley, Flannigan (Ferguson 75); Buchanan, Spence (Chopra 62).

Queen of the South: Clark; Dowie, Durnan, Higgins; Carmichael, McKenna, Millar, Holt; Paton (Russell 75); Reilly (Pickard 88), Lyle (A. Smith 86).

Referee: S Finnie.

Attendance: 822.

Man of the match: Danny Carmichael.