Alloa Athletic v Kelty Hearts

3 - 1
Full Time

KO KO 11 38 41 55 57 62 62 64 68 81 87 88 FT

Highlights

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Alloa kicked off the first home game of the league season by taking on Kelty Hearts. The League 2 Champions were praised for being the better team against Edinburgh from the opening day but like Alloa came away with no points to show after a 2-0 defeat.

Alloa made one change as Church dropped to the bench to accommodate captain Mark Durnan while notable absentees for the Fife side included goal talisman Nathan Austin and Kallum Higginbotham.

The opening of the game seemed to go the way of Kelty with the visitors enjoying possession and getting a few breaks over the Alloa defence. Agyeman’s deflected effort after just 5 minutes was stopped by the quick reactions of Hogarth and just 40 seconds later the striker again got a break of the ball and clear path to goal but could only strike over.

Kelty would rue those misses. After 11 minutes, a route one kick from Hogarth and a piercing run from Sammon won a corner. Stefan Scougall flighted the ball into the six yard box and inexplicably Jamieson carried the ball over the line into his own goal.

Alloa from there went from strength to strength with Scougall again being freed after a superb move inside the 18 yard box but this time it was solid handling from Jamieson to deny the Alloa maestro.

Sammon would sclaff an air shot after another tidy move down the right and pinpoint cross from Cawley and Adam King would head tantalisingly wide from a superb lob into the six yard box by MacIver, and then finally, MacIver was flagged offside after what looked a golden opportunity to double the lead after Andy Graham’s flick on was directed to him alone at the back post. Jamieson saved the effort but MacIver’s head was in his hands with the magnitude of the chance.

The second half was very stop-start with substitutions but Church, Robertson and Rodden all made their appearance within 17 minutes of the restart for Durnan, Cawley and Scougall respectively.

Rodden made an instant impact. With a qualified left back on the field, Taggart, from his natural side, scooped a sublime first time cross to the back post and Bradley Rodden duly connected with his head to fire home for his first Alloa league goal.

Alloa looked to be managing the game out but on 81 minutes another horrendous gaffe from Kelty between Jamieson and Logan left Bradley Rodden with the easiest of finishes into the back of the net to cement the result.

A late cross from Cardle would be directed into the bottom corner off Andy Graham’s head but it was little but consolation for the visitors as Alloa comfortably saw out the remainder of the game to chalk up their first league win of the season.

Alloa Athletic

31Jay Hogarth Goalkeeper
2Scott Taggart Defender
5Andy Graham Defender 87'
6Mark Durnan 3 Defender 62'
14George Stanger Defender
7Kevin Cawley 8 Midfielder 38'
16Adam King Midfielder
11Murray Miller Midfielder
12Stefan Scougall 10 Midfielder 11'
15Ross MacIver Forward
18Conor Sammon Forward
21Keir Burt Goalkeeper
8Jon Robertson 7 Midfielder
19Steven Buchanan Midfielder
10Bradley Rodden 12 Forward 68', 81'
22Paul McLaren Defender
17Seff Khyyam Forward
3Daniel Church 6 Defender

Kelty Hearts

1Darren Jamieson Goalkeeper
2Cameron Logan Defender
4Thomas O’Ware Defender
5Lewis Martin Defender
6Jordon Forster Defender 41'
7Joe Cardle Midfielder
10Jamie Barjonas Midfielder 88'
12Michael Tidser Midfielder
22Alfredo Agyeman Forward
24Finn Robson Midfielder
25Kyle Doherty 14 Forward
8Thomas Reilly Midfielder
14Ross Philp 25 Defender
15Dougie Hill Defender
16Robbie McNab Defender
17Brodie Strang Midfielder
20Liam Campbell Midfielder
27Scott Cameron Defender

Ground

Indodrill Stadium
Indodrill Stadium, Alloa