Competition: Championship

Alloa Athletic v Livingston

Manager Barry Smith was disappointed in the manner in which “The Wasps” started today’s game against Livingston, Craig McDowall being called upon in the opening minute to pull off an important save. The visitors took the lead after twenty minutes when Simon Mensing was left unmarked in the box to sweep home the opening goal and it wasn’t until the same player was red carded for a goal stopping challenge on Derek Riordan that Alloa started to get back into the game. “The Wasps” with the one man advantage were now on the ascendancy but could now find the net. Derek Riordan’s net bound shot striking the keeper and going to safety. Then out of the blue Martin Scott tried an audacious strike from just over the half way line which caught Craig McDowall off his line and changed the game back in the favour of the visitors, a late goal made in 3-0. This was a bad result and one the players will look to put right next Saturday when they visit Cappielow to play Kenny Shiels, Morton.

 

barry smith after livingston defeat

We didn’t start the game well and we struggled to get into it, once their player got sent off we were on the ascendancy, the second goal was a great strike but we still have to be doing better. The sending off should have changed the game in our favour but unfortunately we didn’t capitalise on it, but I was more concerned with the start of the game cause we didn’t start properly, we need to start games better, rather than trying to find our feet, we need to start in the first minute. We didn’t start the game well and then struggled to get into the game. Everybody knows Derek Riordan’s ability, the goals which he has scored and that’s why he is here cause at the moment we are struggling to score goals and hopefully bringing him in will help our other strikers as well. On another day Derek might have scored – either running through when he got brought down or the strike he had, which is one of these the keeper has stood big and saved it but there was a couple of other chances when the ball flashed across the face of the goal and a touch was all which was required – but we will keep working at it, but the most disappointing thing today was the start we had. Next week against Morton is just another game, we will go and compete and both teams will be looking to get three points, today’s result doesn’t change our will to win next week. I think the players were low on confidence before I came here and I am now trying to pick them up, but there are certain aspects I will not accept in today’s game but there are other things we will work on to be better. Although we have brought in Derek Riordan, it is also about the other players responding, playing alongside a guy of his ability and hopefully we can get others players up to that ability as well. I have full confidence in being able to raise the confidence of the players.
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Dundee v Alloa Athletic

Alloa Athletic FC after a turbulent last fortnight bounced back where it mattered most on Saturday, on the park. New manager Barry Smith watched from the Dens Park stand as his side gained a good point against Dundee, who had previously edged the previous games against “The Wasps” this season by the tightest of margins, again it looked like another penalty might seperate the teams. However the Alloa Athletic players never gave up and it was a credit deserved when Ben Gordon equalised after great work on the wing by substitute Iain Flannigan had created the opening. This was a positive display as the players looked to impress their new manager and indeed prove this is still a lot of football to be played this season

 

paddy connolly at dens park

A good point in the end obviously, getting such a late goal but the boys fought really hard and showed good team spirit, which is exactly what I expected and with the new manager watching from the stand he will see the boys are fighting for each other, which has been the case since the start of the season been recently we have been going through a bit of a sticky patch and when that happened some of the decisions go against you, the penalty decision, my gut feeling was that it was a great tackle and it wasn’t a penalty, but it happens and later I was more worried about the players getting more bookings cause we cannot really afford that at this stage of the season, but maybe getting the goal at the end, meant that the boys were in good spirits coming off. I know Dundee had a lot of the ball, our game plan was to try and soak up the pressure, which worked for good spells in the game and we had the two players up top, but I would like if they had been more of a threat but overall I thought we deserved at least a point, so pleasing we at least took something from the game – this season Dundee have knocked us out of the Ramsden’s Cup and edged us in the other league games by a single goal, that is the first time this season we have taken a point from them, so in that aspect pleasing, there is good signs there for the manager – the fighting spirit, they are all fighting for each other, the young lad Liam Lindsay who came in for his debut on loan from Partick Thistle did well but we are still a wee bit stretched in numbers, Kevin Cawley was out suspended today, Jason Marr & James Creaney were injured but the lads who came in did well, Eddie Ferns did well when he came on, Iain Flannigan helped create the goal so from that point of view they all played their part. Certainly a bit of a morale boost prior to next Saturday’s Scottish Cup tie against Dumbarton, after losing the penalty after 69 minutes and going behind we had to change things a little bit and try and throw bodies forward and sometimes it works for you and sometimes it doesn’t, Eddie went wide right and I said to Ben Gordon we will just have to go man to man at the back, we were as well losing 2-0 as 1-0 and at that point threw Ben forward and Ben has come up trumps with the late equaliser, he took the goal well and he has done that a couple of times this season so for that point of view pleasing. Pleased more for the players it has been a tough couple of weeks for them with everything that has happened – losing their manager, but now they have a new manager to impress. We are in there fighting now, we are at the stage of the season where I think it is more important you get results than performances but I felt we got both today and we got a point out of the game, I would like to have been a wee bit more in the final third with the ball but we can’t have everything and we could have scored in the first half but pleased in the circumstances with a point.
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Alloa Athletic v Dumbarton

 

mike mulraney, alloa chairman

This is somewhat of an unusual after match conference, normally the chairman wouldn’t be speaking first before the manager – The manager and I have had a chat and while I would rather he hadn’t made this decision, and we have had a long discussion about why he has made that decision, I respect the fact that if it’s how he feels and what he wants to do, his relationship with myself is one that is that I respect that decision. It’s not one that I wanted him to make but I am not happy he has made this decision but is one I do respect regardless of my personal feelings about it – therefore I can confirm that with enormous regret and not something I wished to happen I have accepted Paul’s resignation not because I want to but because my respect for Paul is such that I feel that once he tells me that he wants to do something and he is adamant about it and he is committed to that decision. I know that it is not something that he has taken lightly so I can confirm and will hand over to Paul shortly that Paul has decided that he believes that his tenure at Alloa Athletic has come to a natural end – again I would reiterate that I have less experience than Paul at footballing matters and I feel that Paul could still do an outstanding job for Alloa but once he has made his decision he deserves the respect of his chairman to accept it and that is what I have done.

paul hartley on resignation

The decision today is nothing to do with getting beat 5-1 because I have had other bad results in the 2 ½ years I have been here but over the last couple of weeks I have just felt that my time is up with Alloa Athletic, the journey was going to end and get someone else in to regenerate the players here. It is something I have thought about and I spoke to the chairman today. I have had a great 2 ½ years here and it was not a split second decision to do with the result. I just feel it is time for someone else to come along and get the success that I had – every manager has a shelf life and we have had great success here – we came from the third division with no players and have taken the team along to the championship. I have been having a think about it over the last couple of weeks in terms of how I have been feeling and sometimes you get a sense of things and your players – they have been absolutely brilliant for us but it happens sometimes I am sure I have left the club on a good footballing footing it is now up to someone else to take over – they will have a great chairman to work with – I have a great relationship with him and it has come as a shock to him and I have had a great group of players I have also had a great back room team also who have helped me all the way. I have no future plans whatsoever – I will probably have a little break and I will think about the time I have had here and the enjoyment. We have come from the 3rd division with a lot of hard work and a lot of stress and strain on the way but I have left the club with a great footballing side considering where we came from. I am sure whoever comes in to take the job they will have a great chairman and a good team and I am sure they will do well here. There is no doubt I still believe the group of players at the club are good enough to stay in the championship by the end of this season. Sometimes you just need a fresh face in to keep them going. Eight or nine of the players have been with me since the start at the third division and I am sure whoever comes in, the players will work for them as they have for me. I am sure the chairman will pick the right man. He is a fantastic chairman to work with. We have had a great success and never had a fall out in the 2 ½ years that I have been here and I would like to thank him for giving me this opportunity in terms of getting into football management but I have made up my mind and it is 100%. I just think it is the way I am feeling sometimes you are at a club even as a player and you just need a fresh challenge sometimes and I feel that I have definitely taken the club as far as I can go but there is no way I have lost the players in the dressing room – we had a bad result today but that happens along the way. I am sure Alloa will stay up – I have kept them in a good position we are not near the bottom of the league what we have done here has been a remarkable job. Paddy Connolly will take charge of the club for the next few weeks until the chairman sorts something out.

Mike Mulraney continues –

Paddy will take charge of the club for the next few weeks – I have spoken to Paddy and for the avoidance of doubt Paddy has intimated that he does not want to be the manager moving forward on a full time basis but he has got the full support of the back room and the full support of the board and the team and one thing I would say that I said to the players and I said to the back room and I know the directors are all aware of is one day those players out there will be talking to their kids and their grandchildren about the fact that they played under Paul Hartley – just as much as the same as the very best managers that are here at the moment in the top clubs throughout Europe – the players who were there at the start of their careers say that and one day those players who are along in the Alloa dressing room today will be able to say to their kids and grandchildren we played under that man. It has been fantastic having Paul here – he has been an outstanding credit to Alloa Athletic Football club, an outstanding servant, an outstanding manager whose dedication to the cause was above and beyond anyone’s recognition and understanding so a big thanks to Paul for all the work he has done with the club and be under no illusions that personally if I had the choice my next manager would be – quite clearly – one pick – Paul Hartley. Thank you.
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Queen of the South v Alloa Athletic

“The Wasps” went down to their third defeat in their last four games in the league, the difference between the teams on the day was that Queen of the South took their chances and scored the important first goal, from which they took confidence. Certainly Alloa manager Paul Hartley was disappointed to lose the match but knows the team were creating their own chances but need to be more clinical in front of goal. Alloa started brightly and Andy Kirk and Stephen Simmons had chances to put the visitors in front before Queens got the break through after 30 minutes. In the second half Alloa again started well but were hit with a third goal for Queens against the run of play. Full credit to the Alloa Athletic players who never gave in and substitute Ross Caldwell, making his debut after joining from Hibernian on loan on Friday pulled a goal back and had the opportunity the close the gap further but shot over the bar. Next Saturday Dumbarton will visit Recreation Park in a game “The Wasps” will look to bounce back, looking to get back into winning ways.

 

paul hartley after defeat in dumfries

In terms of the goals we lost today we could have done better, but in terms of our attacking play today I can’t criticise my players, I thought we were excellent at times, however the difference was that they took their chances and we didn’t. Disappointed in the manner we lost the goals, we work a lot on the defensive side of our game at stopping crosses and they got two of their goals in that way, we allowed too many crosses into our box today. It was two easy goals to prevent for my liking but in our attacking side of the game we had some good performances in terms of how we played and passed it and moved and we put them under pressure at times. We started the game really well in the first 15-20 minutes we were looking good and I was enjoying it and then they got the opening goal  which changed the game, it is a disappointing result and we must look to bounce back next week. Good for Ross Caldwell to score his goal, I thought he did well and after coming on, he looked a threat, a good presence and a good finish for his goal, which was one of the pleasing aspects with Ross getting his goal, I’m sure he will do well for us. We started the second half very well and were on top, the first time Queen’s go up the park they scored their third goal, that’s the thing you have to concentrate for the full ninety minutes and at times today we switched off in our defensive part of our game but as I have said in our attacking game we looked a threat with really good play and moments in the second half, but we need to get back to winning ways next week. We are still wanting to look upwards, it is a tough league and there is no easy games so we need to get back on track and pick a team to win the game next week. At half-time I said to the players, one goal and we are back in this game, what I did ask them is don’t give up, keep going all the way and fight till the end and they did that, they keep fighting till the end and never gave up and showed good spirit amongst themselves. Things got a bit heated with one or two challenges which were let away with but that’s the way it goes. Jason Marr had to go off, he was struggling with a thigh injury, so we are down on another centre half so I might need to see if I can bring someone else in and try and improve the squad. It was a nothing when I was sent to the stand, I thought the play should have been stopped, I said I thought the play should have been stopped, cause the lad had a head injury, he is in the dressing room just now with concussion, and to be fair in hindsight, maybe our players didn’t see it either in terms of putting the ball out of play. I didn’t swear at the ref, just thought the game should have been stopped because Liam Caddis had taken a head knock, but the ref decided to send me to the stand, so I just need to get on with it. He said it was my action in which I threw my arms, but I didn’t swear or anything.
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Alloa Athletic v Cowdenbeath

This is a game “The Wasps” will look back knowing they never really got going, Cowdenbeath were a far better side than we had met at Central Park earlier in the season and could have been a couple of goals ahead by half-time, Kyle Miller missing after been clean through on goal. “The Wasps” started the second half far better but had not cutting edge to their play, then during Alloa’s best spell of the game Cowdenbeath scored a goal out of the blue, Kane Hemmings scoring his 16th goal of the season. Alloa might have taken a point from the game, Graeme Holmes was brought down in the box by John Armstrong, but the ball broke to Ryan McCord who fired home and looked to have equalised, however the standside linesman raised his flag and the goal was chalked off. Later in the game Eddie Ferns headed over in Alloa’s last effort on goal.

 

paul hartley after defeat by cowdenbeath

The better team won today, in terms of chances they had, we were way off it in terms of the standard we have set over the season, that is the worst we have played all season, we didn’t get going today, I couldn’t put my finger on it, we were really flat, we had no energy and no intention about our play. We had a chance to go third in the table today, which I had said to the players before the start of today’s game, a real incentive to get into that top four and get ourselves up there – but we didn’t perform, we had too many players below par, we had one star performer and that was the goalkeeper but in terms of the rest them, we need to do better and I now have to pick a team for next week to compete down at Dumfries against Queen of the South. I was disappointed in the disallowed goal, it was their defender who played it back, but it is the way it goes sometimes in football. If we had got a point today I would have been pleased but I thought in how they played and on goal chances they were by far the better team. It is always a concern when you are not scoring goals, especially at home, we have been really good defensively but in terms of at the other end of the park we do not have somebody who scores 15 or 20 goals a season and they are hard to come by, but we are trying our best and I’m trying to get a couple of players in before the next week or so, we must keep at it, goal scorers everybody wants them but I will try my best to get a couple in during this transfer window.
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Falkirk v Alloa Athletic

Alloa Athletic ended 2013 with an excellent display at the New Falkirk Stadium, their first competitive game at the new stadium since last playing “The Bairns” in a league match at Falkirk in Season 2002/03. Although the game ended 0-0, the same score as our clash earlier in the season at Recreation Park, both teams could have won the game, Falkirk being the home tie had the bulk of the possession but Alloa Athletic could claim to having the more clear cut chances on the day, hitting the home side on the break and could have snatched all three points in the second half when Kevin Cawley and substitute Declan McManus had great chances to win the match. However the final chance of the game fell to Falkirk substitute Phil Roberts who unleashed a powerful shot which Scott Bain dived to save and pick up his 13th shut out of the season, a statstic which cannot be overlooked.

 

paul hartley after draw at falkirk

I thought in terms of our second half performance, the way that the team played, I thought they were outstanding, in their shape and organisation and will no to get beaten and we counter attacked really well, we had four or five good situations where we could possibly done better but in terms of coming here, which is difficult, we said that before the game, we tried to keep the crowd quiet and I think we did that and they were getting frustrated – we had a game plan and it worked. I think when you go away from home you are always going to be under the cosh and we knew we would be under pressure for large periods of the game, we definitely play a different way away from home than we do at home, we are more of a counter attacking team away from home and we usually play two up top but when you are playing teams at the top of the division we have to adapt, we are solid and don’t lose many goals and we try and hit teams on the counter, breaking in numbers which we did successfully today.

Scott Bain again delivered again today with some good saves, but I thought the back four were good, I thought the team were good, in their style of play not wanting to get beaten, making last ditch tackles when required which was evident in the second half but we had great chances when we countered and we could have had a couple of goals today, with a wee bit more composure in the final third of the park.

Michael Doyle stepped into central defence today, and did a great job, we were really low on numbers today, with only 15 players, two or three of them  with niggling injuries so we were down to the bare bones, we had a call off this morning from Stephen Simmons and Ben Gordon suspended so we were really low in numbers, but the effort from the players and the guys that came in were outstanding. That was or fourteenth clean sheet of the season and if you get clean sheets you do not lose games It’s an old saying but we have a really strong foundation there in terms of how we work, but it’s all credit to the players and their application.
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Alloa Athletic v Dundee

Dundee for the third time this season managed to edge out Alloa Athletic by a 1-0 scoreline, both previous games had been settled by a penalty, the penalty at Dens in the final minute of the game, while on this occasion they soaked up Alloa Athletic constant pressure in the second half and hit them on the break, against the run of play. The result again puts John Brown’s team top of the league and yesterday’s result was a game in which they punished Alloa for not taking their chances and in Peter MacDonald have a striker who netted his 14th goal of the season. The nearest “The Wasps” came to scoring was a minute from the break when Andy Kirk’s effort, was correctly ruled offside. In the 2nd half Liam Caddis had a shot which was parried, Daryll Meggatt followed up and in the goal mouth melee Andy Kirk could not knock home. Later in the game Ben Gordon’s powerful shot was turned round the post but for all their effort in a game Alloa had a real go, it was Dundee who collected all three points.

 

paul hartley after dundee at home

Disappointed not to take anything from the game, in terms of the second half performance, I thought we were excellent, we were really on the front foot, we had a right go at them and it was another game in which a single goal decides the game but in terms of the way the players played I was really pleased with their effort and application. I thought in the second half we started really well and created some good opportunities and I thought we looked a real threat at times and one sort of mistake costs us for them to get in and score but in terms of game I thought we were excellent against the team which is top of the league, I didn’t think there was much between the two sides. In terms of the second half there is no doubt Alloa Athletic created the better chances, I was really pleased the way things worked and I felt we competed well against Dundee, they are a strong and experienced side but I think I have to give my players credit in the way they play week in and week out, I was delighted with them. Liam Caddis came in and did very well, he was very good and looked composed on the ball and took the game well he looks to be an asset for us. Next weeks game against Falkirk will be equally tough, the games keep coming at this time of the year, they are all hard games, but we go into the game full of confidence and have a game plan to win the game.
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Alloa Athletic v Greenock Morton

Another three valuable points gathered in a game which Morton would have been lifted by the bringing in of their new manager Kenny Shiels, the game was played in dreadful conditions and was a credit to both teams and their supporters who braved the conditions. Not a game in which was conclusive to silky football but both teams battled against the wind and driving rain. Michael Doyle’s cross struck the cross bar but the ball would not come down for Andy Kirk, Kirk then had an effort ruled offside before he eventually got on the scoresheet three minutes before half-time after Kevin Cawley’s initial shot had been paried by Caraux. Morton had lots of possession but never posed a ny threat in front of goal, indeed Scott Bain never had a save to make in the game. Paul Hartley introduced substitutes Eddie Ferns and Declan McManus and both helped extend “The Wasps” lead, first Eddie Ferns broke clear but pulled his shot wide and then six minutes from the end he sped down the wing and crossed for Declan McManus to score his first goal for the club since coming on loan from Aberdeen. In the closing two minutes Paul Hartley introduced 17 year old Ryan Gemmell to give him a well earned first team debut.

 

paul hartley after morton victory

It was a game played in difficult conditions, but in terms of the players attitude and work ethic, I thought they were tremendous, it was another clean sheet for us, we have sort of based ourselves on that this year. We knew it would be a tough game for us today, with the new manager coming in, which would give their players a lift, but we showed a good mental side about us today, in a game we scored two good goals. We are doing ok, we are nearly half way through the season and we have a good points tally but we need to keep it going, we have a tough run of games coming up, there is no doubt we are punching above our weight but the players deserve where they are, because of their performances and the way they go about their business. Good for Declan to get a goal, he has been working hard during a frustrating time so it was pleasing to see him get his goal, it was a good finish, I thought both substitutions made a good impact on the game when they came on, in terms of trying to get us up the park and get in behind their defence. It was difficult in the second half playing with a wind directly in our faces but the players concentration levels were really high, our keeper didn’t have a lot to do but we defended our box pretty well. We are looking forward to each game just now, next Saturday it will be Dundee,we do not fear them, they will bring a big crowd, it is a game the players are really looking forward to, we always tend to do better against the bigger clubs in our league. I introduced young Ryan Gemmell before the end of the game, he is only 16, what we have seen of him this year, potentially he is going to be another great prospect, he has a real opportunity, he has a tremendous footballing brain, he is another one of the youths we are trying to blood and I thought today was the time to give him a start.
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Hamilton Academical v Alloa Athletic

“The Wasps” completed a great double over league leaders Hamilton Accies by defeating them 1-0 home and away this season, this was “The Wasps” first win in the league at New Douglas Park since a 4-3 victory in October, 2003. Manager Paul Hartley made changes to his side for the teams third game within a week. Hamilton Accies playing at home had most possesion but the Alloa defence looked resolute and when the opportunity arose the visitors caused problems going close on the break. The winning goal was straight from the training ground, Michael Doyle did great to win a corner in the opening minute of the second half and Ryan McCord found Daryll Meggatt at space at the back post to head home his first goal for the club. Alloa indeed had chances to increase their lead when Willie Robertson and Eddie Ferns went close.

 

paul hartley after victory over leaders

Today’s game was a totally different game, in the way that I set out my team, we changed our system and it was sort of sprung on my players, but in terms of what my players gave me – they were outstanding, we came here to frustrate Hamilton Accies and might have even scored a couple of more goals on the counter attack. It was our third hard game in a week and my players are not used to that, so we changed the personnel and I thought they were absolutely outstanding. Scott Bain made a couple of outstanding saves but we have come to expect that of Scott, he is the outstanding young goalkeeper in Scotland and I keep saying that, I don’t think he will be with us too long but we want to enjoy his benefit when he is still with us, it just shows you his levels of concentration when he has to make a vital save. I thought the full team were great, the players who came in Darren Young and Willie Robertson but in Kevin Cawley he was brilliant all over the park, in terms of the way he has taken his game to a new level – we are doing ok. It was a tough shift for him, alone up front until we could get players forward to support him, and even in the second half when he came deeper, he has a great work ethic about him, he never complains or moans, we give him a job and he goes and does it, but all my players have a great work ethic about themselves and we showed good quality also in scoring the goal. We are doing ok, we keep saying that we are trying to accumulate as many points as we can, just now we are in a tough run of fixtures with Morton, Dundee and Falkirk in our next three games. The players deserve the credit, when we put a team out, we pick a team which we think will win the game and they did that today.

It was a very good goal with Michael Doyle brilliant in the build-up play around the goal, great unselfish running which was required today because we knew Hamilton would have most possession of the ball. We had worked at the corner in training, it was another different set piece because I knew Hamilton Accies had been watching and videoed some of our set pieces, it was a free header at the back post, so pleased for Daryll he deserved it. It was a great result for our fans, they pay good money and travel all over the county to watch their favourites albeit a small band, we know we do not have the biggest support in the world but we have given them something to cheer about but the players deserve all the credit.
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Dumbarton v Alloa Athletic

Paul Hartley’s team extended their current unbeaten run to five games after a 1-1 draw at the Bet Fred Stadium, Dumbarton in a game rescheduled from 23rd November after the original fell foul to frost. This time the game went ahead in a gale force wind and driving rain which made the game at times a bit of a lottery. Dumbarton included five ex Wasps players in their team line up – Jamie Ewings, Mark Gilhaney, Bryan Prunty, Mitch Megginson and Colin Nish, managed by another ex player, Ian Murray who also had a short spell on loan from Hibernian at Recreation Park. Alloa had the benefit of the strong wind in the first half and took the lead after 24 minutes when Kevin Cawley expertly curled his shot into the top right hand corner of the net. In the second half Dumbarton had the bulk of possesion, but “The Wasps” still had opportunities to extend their lead. Andy Kirk did have the ball in the net but Graeme Holmes was flagged offside and then Stephen Simmons watched as his 20 yard shot rebounded to safety off the post. In the end it took a special goal from ex Wasp Bryan Prunty to earn his side a draw, scoring with an overhead kick and celebrating with his son, who was a ballboy behind the goals.

 

paul hartley after draw at dumbarton

I thought we defended well in tough conditions tonight, it was not a game for the faint hearted in terms of the wind and the rain, however I thought we stuck at our task and took the lead with a really good goal from Kevin Cawley and defended really well as a team with good shape about us, we could have nicked the three points but we lost a goal after a mistake from our goalkeeper’s bad kick out, but there was still a lot of work to do for them to score– but on the evening we will take a point. In the first half we might have been more ahead we had a couple of chances, hit the post also in the second half before Dumbarton scored which would have made it 2-0, we soaked up pressure and hit them on the counter attack, that was the plan we had – but in terms of how the players performed, their work ethic and their attitude to the game, we did well, but again on Saturday will have another tough game when we face league leaders Hamilton Accies in a run of difficult games coming up for us. It was another point tonight which moved us towards safety, although we are one point of the play off positions our remit at the start of the season was to stay in the league first and foremost and we have done ok so far but there is a long way to go, we are only 14 games into a long season, however we know we are a match for anybody on our day.

The Scottish Cup tie against Dumbarton in February will be a totally different game, it is a one off game,we are hoping the weather will be a bit better cause that spoiled things a bit tonight, the pitch was good it was in great condition but the wind and rain at times didn’t help both teams play football. Kevin Cawley has been good all season in his work ethic, it was a good goal this evening a great finish, I’m pleased for the wee fella, he has some attitude to the game and maybe doesn’t get 15-20 goals a season but he has everything else in his locker and is still improving. He was a kid a Celtic when I was there but his game is still getting better and better, each time we have moved up a division, Kevin has handled the step up and I definitely think he can handle the step up again.
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