IT WAS the scene of triumph just eight months ago.

But, the emotions couldn't have been more different in Ayrshire this time around as jubilation in the sunshine was replaced by disappointment in torrential conditions.

Connor Shields' strike to secure Championship survival was a distant memory on a disheartening day for Peter Grant's Alloa, who stumbled in their first major clash of a testing winter period.

One Wasp who won't forget the game in a hurry, however, is Cammy O'Donnell. The 18-year-old became the first from the new look academy to start in the league and his composed, battling display was a testament to the teenager and the work being done by Derek Nicholson and his staff.

The long term future looks bright in the Wee County, but for now the short term goal of playing second tier football next season looks an increasingly tough task.

However, how often have we heard that uttered in the same breath as Alloa before?

Unfortunately, they have similarly made a habit this season of gifting their opponents a head start and while they have a flair for fighting back there was no such turnaround after Ross Docherty rose highest to nod home the opener five minutes in.

Kevin O'Hara thundered home a second-half goal of defiance but ultimately the Wasps paid for a sluggish first-half.

The swirling conditions played their part for the opener when a corner devilishly danced over Jamie MacDonald's head to force Kevin Cawley into emergency action on the line. The respite was only short lived and seconds later it was 1-0 when the Wasps failed to take heed of the warning.

There must have been moments in the first half when MacDonald felt he'd been cruelly cast in a remake of Groundhog Day as the on loan Kilmarnock stopper produced a string of fine saves - much like he had last week - to keep Alloa in the game.

First, Alan Forrest picked the ball up on the end of a flying break, cut inside Scott Taggart, and would have been forgiven for beginning the celebrations only for MacDonald to claw away his goal bound effort.

The keeper was on hand to deny Stephen Kelly from the corner but this time Docherty ghosted beyond a static Alloa backline to tap home the rebound and make it two with less than a quarter of an hour gone.

The hosts were determined to wrap up the points by half-time. Kelly stung MacDonald's palms with an effort from distance and Docherty did the same as he hunted for his hat-trick.

O'Hara was cutting an increasingly frustrated figure at the other end but it was his tireless running that gave the Wasps their only real chance of the half. After nicking the ball off Jordan Houston's toes, he forced Ross Doohan into a block at his near post.

A statement was needed from Alloa in the wake of the half-time break but it seemed they were in danger of making the wrong one. Some sloppy play generously handed Luke McCowan and Craig Moore attempts to put the gloss on the result only for MacDonald to once again bail out the Wasps.

The whispers around Somerset Park told the story, however. Alloa were making tentative strides back into the match as their nervy hosts suddenly looked for all the world like a team without a win four games.

With less than 20 minutes to go the Wasps put a sting in the tail. A long ball found the head of Andy Graham, who nodded it towards Alan Trouten.

The striker barely glanced O'Hara's way with a delicious flick and soon the ball was in the back of Doohan's net when the former Falkirk man let loose with a thunderbolt to stun Ayr into silence.

It seemed improbable during the first but Alloa were just a goal away from parity and a crucial point in the survival fight.

In a season of moments, Doohan had the crucial one when he stuck a foot out to deny substitute Liam Buchanan the equaliser with the last kick of the ball.

There was no partying amongst the loyal Alloa fans on the final whistle like in May and they'll know as much as anyone that Morton on Saturday will go a long way to deciding the mood come the end of the season.