Reaction

The Wasps started the New Year with an important derby day victory over local neighbours Stenhousemuir at Ochilview, however losing late goals again dampened a very good display and a vital victory. Prior to the match Stenhousemuir named Davie Irons as their new manager to take over from John Coughlin who recently resigned. Alloa Athletic started the game well and took the lead after only 12 minutes, due partly to a fumble by home keeper Ally Brown but Stuart Noble who has now scored a goal in each of his last five games took advantage to roll the ball into an empty net. Three minutes later the impressive Michael McGowan scored a great solo goal to increase “The Wasps” lead. Injuries to both Andy Scott & Kevin McDonald unsettled the rhythm of the midfield but a third goal eighteen minutes from time by substitute David Gormley increased the score to 3-0 and Alloa looked capable of adding to their tally. However once again two late goals had the Alloa fans in disbelief as they could not have imagined another late turnaround. Manager Allan Maitland was happy at the end of the game to secure the victory but knows his team will need to show better concentration levels, greater courage on the ball and will look for his team to ensure sloppy goals do not cost them in 2011.

allan maitland after new year victory

To start the New Year it was important for us today to win the game, we played well against Peterhead and didn’t win, we played well against Airdrie apart from the last couple of minutes and didn’t win and last week played well against Livingston but again did not win the match. Today for probably 88 minutes we played well, started well and we were obviously very aware of the fact that they had a new manager so anything negative they had from their last game against East Fife would have disappeared and it would all be positive stuff, so it was important that we started the game well and we did. Stuart Noble was excellent and scored his goal well – he is in a good run of form at the moment and Michael McGowan scored an excellent individual goal and Bryan Prunty had two great chances and the goal keeper pulled off two excellent saves. At half time we were pleased, we had played really well and controlled most of the second half but maybe switched off a bit for the last two goals, I felt we didn’t match their mid field runners coming through – in general the objective today was to win and we have done that. I don’t want to focus on anything negative I want to focus on the positive – it was a good win for us – a win away from home which is something we haven’t managed much – so 2011 has obviously started well for us and is going to be a better year than 2010. Happy New Year to all!