Alloa 1-1 Raith Rovers

Aug 17 2008 Bill Morrison Reports

RED-FACED Raith keeper David McGurn had striker Kevin Smith to thank for saving his blushes.

Smith's equaliser rescued his side after McGurn's first-half howler gifted Graeme Brown the opener.

The Fifers almost took the lead in 21 minutes.

Smith's header from Robert Sloan's pinpoint cross was well saved by Wasps keeper Raymond Jellema.

Within 60 seconds McGurn had an almighty let-off when his poor clearance fell to Jamie Stevenson but his long-range effort drifted just wide.

But this was a sign of things to come and McGurn was at fault as Alloa took the lead.

He spilled Pat Scullion's 30-yard free-kick and Brown was on hand to tap the loose ball into the net in 27 minutes.

Raith were level eight minutes later when Smith drilled the ball into the net from close range

But there was controversy at the end when Raith's Mark Campbell was involved in a scuffle with Alloa's Dougie Hill, a clash missed by the ref.