Reaction

Victory today against Brechin City ended the season on a high note, the club eventually finishing 8th in the league, Arbroath’s shut out against Raith Rovers at Stark’s Park enough to keep John McGlashan’s side ahead of the Wasps on goal difference. A Greig Spence double before half time had people asking when an Alloa Athletic player had last scored a hat-trick at Recreation Park – 28th Nov, 2005, Ian Nicolson in Scottish Cup victory over Selkirk 9-0 or 31st January, 2004 when a Ross Hamilton hat-trick helped “The Wasps” defeat Forfar Athletic 4-0 in the league. The home side played well and at 2-0 ahead they might have increased their lead with efforts from John Grant and Andy Scott going very close. However Brechin City scored a good goal from the dangerous Stephen Ettien and then equalised when a long Ian Nimmo ball into the box was turned into his own net by keeper Raymond Jellema. However Alloa showed great character and substitute Hugh Kerr put over a great cross which top scorer Andy Scott headed past Craig Nelson to give the home side a deserved 3-2 victory.

allan maitland at somerset park

We came into the game today with Ayr United having everything to play for and we had absolutely nothing to lose, a bit like Queen’s Park last week playing against us and throwing so many bodies forward. It was important for us today, to stay in the game and also to understand the pressure that Ayr United and their supporters desire to win the game, and we had to stand up to that and I think we did that really well. It was a big day for us and we had Gary Carroll, 19 years old, Greig Spence, 16 years old and Marc McCafferty who is still 18 years old in the team, so we had three young boys playing today and I was asking them the question before the game how will they stand up to the pressure today and I thought after the first ten minutes the three of them did really well, Greig Spence, I know his finish was magnificent for the goal, but his actual ability to stay on side before that was great, it would have been so easy just to be offside but he timed his run great. Obviously you feel for Ayr United, they have had a great season, but now they are in the play-off’s it is important for them to realise they still have so much to play for and instead of being despondent they have massive games coming up in the next fortnight and they have every chance of going on and winning them and still securing promotion through the play-off’s, I wish them all the best. For Alloa’s point of view, I don’t think we could have played any better than we did today, I think we were excellent, passed the ball well and created opportunities in the first half when we should have scored, we did score a chance in the second half although Gary Carroll had a great opportunity just after our equalising goal, which could have won the game. During all that our goalkeeper had two absolutely magnificent saves, the one at the end was absolutely magnificent, and the free kick which he touched on to the crossbar as well. I have been critical of Jellie this season, compared to last season, but today I thought he was excellent, albeit after the 15 minutes at the beginning when his decision making was poor, but he came through that and was fantastic today, We’ve done well and stayed up, which is the very least of your expectations, it has been a disappointing season for us, unfortunately we are getting to a stage now, a couple of weeks ago at Methil against East Fife and today when I am beginning to enjoy seeing the team play football again and then we reach the end of the season., a couple of months ago I couldn’t wait for this season to end, it was good today and I’m pleased we had a decent support with us today and I’m pleased they saw us play well, delighted and good luck to Ayr United.