East Fife 2-2 Alloa Athletic

The Fifers looked to be surging towards sixth place in the league after a Kevin Smith opener and a Scott Taggart own goal had put them ahead against the Wasps despite Jamie Longworth having replied for Jim Goodwin’s men.

But in the dying moments of the match sub Scott Hynd, one of the smallest players on the park, headed home an equaliser from a corner to leave Insall and his team mates sickened.

Again it was another game when East Fife proved they’re more than a match for any side in the division without getting their full reward for it.

Insall, whose cross forced Taggart into the intervention which led to East Fife’s second, couldn’t hide his disappointment after the whistle.

He said: “I’m lost for words because it seems to be happening to us most weeks at the minute.

“We just can’t get a break.

“This was one of our best performances in four or five weeks.

“The boys are gutted to concede a goal in the 89th minute.

“We were well worth the three points and it feels like a defeat.”

East Fife will at some stage have to start turning these positive performances into three points, but Insall insists there’s more than enough quality at the club to start doing just that.

“I’ve said before that most of the players in our team could go into full-time football,” he said.

“If most of them didn’t have decent jobs they may take that risk to do that.

“We’ve shown against sides like Livingston and Airdrie we’re more than capable of mixing it with the big boys.”

East Fife started against Alloa with a real attacking intent, knowing anything taken from the game would see them ease out of the relegation zone.

Insall went close when he raced in on Neil Parry’s goal, only to be denied by the keeper’s feet.

They didn’t have to wait long for the opener, though, and Mark Lamont’s ball sent Smith scampering clear.

He gave Parry no chance, thumping the ball between the Alloa no 1’s legs.

Alloa started the second half a different side and levelled when Longworth took advantage after the Fifers had failed to clear their lines and beat Ryan Goodfellow.

The visitors should have taken the lead just a couple of minutes later but Greig Spence rifled high over the bar from six yards.

East Fife punished the miss when they again got their noses in front.

Insall raced down the line and whipped in a superb cross the Alloa just couldn’t defend.

Scott Taggart attempted clearance saw him turn the ball into his own net.

But just when it looked like the Fifers would cling on to the three points, Hynd levelled matters with a late header from Iain Flannigan’s corner.

Boss Gary Naysmith said: “I’m disappointed, I can’t hide that.

“It’s a game we should have seen out having been ahead twice.

“I know we were the better team and Jim Goodwin spoke with me and agreed that we should have won.

“It’s nice to hear but it’s also doubly disappointing when we don’t win.

“The lads have given me absolutely everything again and once we cut out the silly mistakes and get that win I’m sure our season will take off.

“Taking away the Queen’s Park game we’ve been putting in some good performances but the results haven’t matched that.

“We need to start getting the results when we’re playing well.”