Alloa Athletic v Greenock Morton

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Plenty of good football but no goals, The Wasps can be proud of how they played against their First Division rivals on Saturday, Greenock Morton but rued the cost of not scoring when on top in the second half. Greenock Morton who had scored eight the previous week against Stranraer had to work hard for this victory in which the scoreline does not reflect the balance of play, however as we know it is goals that count and Greenock Morton were clinical in that department while Paul Hartley was looking for at least one goal to put pressure on Allan Moore’s side. Darren Young missed the game after taking a knock and Peter Innnes made his debut for the club. Although wishing to win every game the manager has set his sights on the League, which is the only avenue the club can return to be playing at a higher level. Next Saturday Paul Hartley takes his side to Stranraer in the opening League fixture of the new season.


 


paul hartley after morton game

I was disappointed we didn’t score today, it was incredible, some of the football we played and the set pieces were good but we just couldn’t get that goal to change the game. Morton punished us at three set pieces, so disappointed with the result but not the performance, Morton are a First Division side, they are full time so there were encouraging signs for us. I said before we have only been five week at best with this set of players and you can see our intentions what we are wanting to do and that we want to pass the ball and at times today the football from ourselves was a joy to watch the way we keep possession but we just couldn’t score today however a lot of encouraging things so I’m pleased the way we played, the fitness levels were outstanding but we must take it into next week for our first League game against Stranraer, that is what is important for us, it would be great to get through in the cup ties but the League was always going to be our priority.
Still not sure how we didn’t score the guys are trying to give me a heart attack, the balls were cleared off the line, our own player clearing off their line, I was kicking every ball but we have all seen or played in games that sometimes it just don’t go for you in front of goal and that was certainly the fact today, but apart from the goals we lost at set pieces everything else was positive stuff. When you play against a team from a higher division you need to raise the bar a bit and I think we did that today, that’s no fluke the way we played today that is how we have played in all our pre season games, we gave them a game, their manager stated that, how he felt he didn’t know how they didn’t concede a goal today and carried a bit of luck on their side, but the way we competed against Morton today was pleasing for me. The way the guys are playing I don’t think I will need to be putting my boots on, the guys in the midfield we have are very talented young players, a young hungry team with energy, we will see how it goes but I have every faith in them, I think they are good players and will only get better.

Ground

Indodrill Stadium
Indodrill Stadium, Alloa