Competition: Championship
 
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Heart of Midlothian v Alloa Athletic
Alloa have never beaten Hearts in a competitive fixture but they have regularly made an awkward game for Robbie Neilson’s sides in recent years. Both teams looking to bounce back from disappointing results at the weekend with Hearts losing to league leaders Dunfermline and Alloa losing to what looks like near rivals this season Queen of the South.
Unfortunately for Alloa on the night they were quickly punished. 3 Alloa players draw to Roberts’ shot. 1 lucky rebound and Halliday in acres of space. He dinked the cross over Naismith but Michael Smith who was charging into the space vacated at the back post drilled home past helpless Parry to make it 1-0.
Halliday threatened himself soon after but smashed his effort over the bar. On 24 minutes, he would make no mistake. Alloa having opened themselves up once more left Hearts and Halliday with a gaping hole to roll him in and he slotted past the goalkeeper to double the ‘Jam Tart’s’ lead.
A third through the game and Alloa had a strong shout for a penalty denied as Berra tripped Thomson as a deep freekick was floated in. Officials ignored the contact but almost a free way back into the game for the Wasps.
Alloa were caught again soon after in transition from a corner. With Grant getting sucked out to the touchline and Thomson and Trouten left on defensive duties Walker breezed in behind to cut back to Haring. His first time effort sealed the victory after only 37 minutes.
In the second half there was a competitive nature to Alloa. Innes Murray with a low daisy cutter grabbing a rare shot on target. The damage had been done in the first half and the second was a routine and fairly drab affair. Boyce did make the highlight reel after winning a penalty with the one time Hearts opened up Alloa in the second half. He poorly executed his effort from the spot with Parry saving low to his right but was given a reprieve as the Alloa goalkeeper came off his line. With the second attempt, he opted for power. Drilling it almost centrally at Parry’s goal. The power was a bit too much and he smashed the crossbar with the ball ricocheting high into the stand behind.
Alloa didn’t crumble in the second half and kept it competitive but they’ll need to find some guile up front and some defensive solidity to meet Hearts in the Betfred Cup on Saturday with any hope of progressing.
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Queen of the South v Alloa Athletic
The Wasps and the Doonhamers have both yet to pick up Championship wins and both sit on just a point after their opening fixtures.
Alloa heavily rotated against Stenhousemuir and returned to the same XI that drew 3-3 with Dundee with one change, Neil Parry, ruled out from injury since the third game of the season against Edinburgh City, returned between the sticks.
The game started at a slow pace with both sides sizing each other up. Liam Dick made an especially noteworthy block as Queen of the South lobbed over Taggart at CB and the left back vitally recovered to block Aidan Fitzpatrick’s effort. The next massive talking point was what looked like a Queen of the South penalty. Connor Shields’ blocked cross found its way to Maxwell who headed into Parry’s hands but fractionally late Andy Graham put his head into the left back’s cheek. The captain was on the floor and instantly the surrounding players signalled to the bench. After a stoppage and heavy strapping applied to Graham, the game continued. Alloa carved open a chance in the box. Kevin Cawley running into trouble cut back to Robert Thomson. He cut inside his man to open up the opportunity for the left footed drive but his shot tamely found its way into Leighfield’s waiting arms. On 34 minutes Alloa carved open Queen of the South. Maxwell was again floored by the quick feet and strong running of Thomson and his cutback to Alan Trouten was lifted over the bar by the midfield hitman. A disappointed Adam Brown who was himself unmarked summed up the magnitude of the missed opportunity with his outstretched arms.
Minutes later Alloa would be punished for their profligacy. Queen of the South who left their men forward from a corner, quickly taking a throw-in and freeing up the space in behind Liam Dick, floated a cross into the centre. Gregor Buchanan jumped early, and with the aid of his hands holding down Andy Graham, stayed up to nod the effort into the net. The appeals to referee Beaton were bizarrely shrugged off on the basis of the earlier penalty shout for Queen of the South and the captain was left to rue having not gone down under the Queen’s centre back’s challenge.
Alloa had not got going in the pedestrian first half and after the break they were instantly sucker punched. Aidan Fitzpatrick spinning away from Raymond Grant, stumbling after another couple steps after a slight contact won an incredibly soft free kick. Up stepped Joe McKee, who dispatched it perfectly to find the corner of Neil Parry’s net and double the misery of the Wasps.
Despite Alloa’s careful probing Queen of the South contentedly sat back and hit on the counter. They would carve Alloa open with another two or three gilt-edged opportunities. Alloa should have had a penalty late on as Trouten was irreventially hauled to the floor but a serious lack of chances created will worry the Wasps’ who now sit bottom ahead of their double header with Heart of Midlothian in the following week.
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