Competition: Championship

Alloa Athletic v Cowdenbeath

The Wasps moved to third place in the division after their second home victory of the season with manager Paul Hartley insisting home form this season will be so important in keeping “The Wasps” in the right end of the league table. Having gone ahead early in the second half, Cowdenbeath hit back within five minutes to equalise and later struck the crossbar, showing how difficult all matches will be in the Championship. Alloa fought back and after going close, Andy Kirk put the home side back in front after good work by Kevin Cawley. Eddie Ferns then sealed the victory in the closing minutes, using his great pace to get into position and fire home the winner.

 

paul hartley after cowdenbeath victory

I am delighted, it was a good three points, I thought we deserved it.  We took control of the game in the second half but even in the first half we still had good control and lots of possession.  We took the lead early in the second half but they equalised soon after, but it was the reaction of our players which was excellent today.  We are doing okay, I have always said that our home form would be important and that is two wins from two here.  The players are great they are a great bunch of lads – they work ever so hard for each other and were disappointed at conceding a goal today.  We have a tough game on Tuesday night now.  Andy Kirk’s goal to put us back in the lead was a good strikers goal, Kevin Cawley did brilliant to set him up – when Andy Kirk is through on goal you always fancy his chance to score.  We have a good variation of set pieces and teams are struggling to cope with it – it’s hard work in the training ground which is good to see it paying off.  We know set pieces will be vital for us this season – we have good variations we do not just lump it into the box and try and work things to create good situations.  We now have two tough away games, we will look at the Aberdeen game first which is the next game ahead on Tuesday night for us, so I will have the players in for light training on Monday evening and then try to pick a team which will give Aberdeen a tough game.  I will try and set my team up to be as positive as I can and try to win the game – there should be a big crowd at Pittodrie.  Aberdeen had a disappointing result today so I am sure their manager Derek McInnes will be looking for a re-action from them.   It is a good stadium and our players who have not played there, should enjoy he occasion – I am looking forward to it, going there as a manager, but the most important thing is that the players go and express themselves and show that they can play.  Our back four and goal keeper are vital for us and we know this season there will be periods when we come under pressure, but we need to stand up well by blocking things and putting our body on the line, the players were still disappointed to lose a goal today, but the spirit they showed to win the game will be vital this season.
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Dundee v Alloa Athletic

A last gasp penalty winner for promotion favourites Dundee was a cruel end to a game “The Wasps” certainly deserved a point. Indeed having weathered strong Dundee pressure in the opening 20 minutes of the match, it was Paul Hartley’s team who should have gone ahead, Andy Kirk crossed for Ryan McCord to time a great run into the box, but his header was tipped to safety by the home keeper. At this stage of the game Alloa were dominent and James Creaney went close with long range effort and then the Dundee defender, Iain Davidson was caught trying to play the ball out of play at the byeline and the alert Declan McManus robbed him and passing inside to Andy Kirk but his goal bound shot was deflected over for a corner. In the second period Dundee did come back into the game and Scott Bain produced a great save from Martin Boyle, “The Wasps” were sitting deeper but looked in no danger, until the penalty decission two minutes into stoppage time robbed them of a deserved point.

 

managers at dens park

Our attitude and commitment were tremendous but the penalty at the end just killed us, I’m gutted for the players. The players work ethic towards today’s game was first class,  I can talk about tactics but it is the players, the quality we have, their attitude at not wanting to get beat was first class. Coming away from home we know it is always going to be difficult, Dundee are the favourites, they have a good squad of players, we came here with a game plan to frustrate them in the first twenty minutes and I think we were doing something right when you hear the home supporters booing their players off the pitch at half-time!

 

We knew they would come at us in the second half, we withstood the pressure, our defenders were great, the work ethic by the players was terrific – I’m proud of my players today. I think we will be ok in this division, we are new in the league, we are a wee bit unknown – we have now ran Dundee close twice already this season, if we can play like that every week I think we will have a good season, I know what I get from my players, I know what I get from them – but I am a bit gutted for them today, the way they played I’m proud of them. What we have being trying to do in training, is we work close in shapes that suits us – against Dundee in the Ramsdens Cup in the opening game of the season we played in a different shape, today we played more in a style of play the players have been used to over the past two seasons, it did work and the players looked happy in that system, we were flexible and were able to revert back to match up against them if it wasn’t working, we were under pressure in the second half and Scott Bain pulled off a fantastic save but other than that he had very little to do and that’s good at a place like this. We will need to defend as a team at times over this whole season.

 

Next week we will take positives into the Cowdenbeath game at home which is one of our “Bread and Butter” fixtures this season – we are at home, I have always said that home form will be important, if we do well at home, we will then give ourselves a chance.

Paul Hartley, Alloa Athletic FC Manager

The main thing today was to get a win, but full credit to Paul Hartley and his players, it was another tough game they gave us, they made it equally as difficult in the Ramsdens Cup – a part time outfit, well organised who made it very difficult for us. We never really created a great deal, I still have a few players getting used to each other and I have to realise everybody’s gunning for us, so to get the win, it was a stonewall penalty kick and the game lasts ninety minutes so as well as we played in the first period, during the first twenty minutes, then we let it go, but came back strong in the second half, made the changes that probably made the difference – Martin Boyle is pretty direct, wee Jamie Reid came on along with Stephen Doris physical presence it caused a problem, he managed to win the penalty and Kevin McBride converted it well. Happy just to get the three points, and it’s a clean sheet, my goalkeeper made a great save in the first half and if that had went the other way it might have been a one goal game – just happy to pick up the three points and get some points on the board.

John Brown, Dundee FC, Manager
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Alloa Athletic v Livingston

Alloa Athletic showed excatly the fighting spirit which will be required as “The Wasps” embarked on their league challenge in the new SPFL, the victory over Livingston was the start Alloa manager, Paul Hartley was looking for, in a season when home form and results will become so important. The game was decided by a solitary goal, Stephen Simmons slotting home after a great cut back from Kevin Cawley had created the space for the “Simmy” to score the all important goal. Andy Kirk did have an early opportunity to open the scoring but struck his shot in a manner it allowed their keeper to block. This is the first time “The Wasps” have defeated Livingston in a league game since they replaced Meadowbank Thistle in the league back in season 1995/96. Livingston came back at “The Wasps” in the second half and even a red card for Ross Docherty for two bookings, did not appear to stop their determination for an equaliser, the woodwork coming to the rescue – but Alloa stood resolute and might have extended their lead late on.

 

paul hartley after defeating livingston

It was a very pleasing win for us in our first game in the Championship. You never know how it is going to go but we were solid with a clean sheet, a 1-0 win and we are off and running. I think our home games are going to be important for us this year and we will try to get as many points as we can. The players were fantastic in terms of effort and they had some good quality about them so we are pleased to get the win. It was a great ball for the goal from Michael Doyle, some great work from Kevin Cawley to get the cut back as he is always on the move and Stephen Simmons is in the right place up supporting, as midfielders should be, to supply a great finish but I think we deserved it in the end. Andy Kirk had a great chance when through on their keeper and showed some good composure to create the chance but he probably hit it too well and gave the keeper the chance to block, but he was excellent for us with his hold up play and his experience for young Declan McManus was beneficial. I thought as a team we had some great moments and there are a lot of positives to take from the game. We find ourselves joint top of the league and if we can stay there for another 35 games that would be great!  All we can do is try to hold our own in this league and hopefully we can surprise a few teams. We are unknown and everyone has us down as the favourites to get relegated and I think that will suit us. The starting eleven was very strong but I had a bench full of kids for this game. If we can get the missing players back fit then we have a strong 18-man squad. I am delighted for the guys because their effort is fantastic and they give it everything every week.

The Dundee game next Saturday is not a worry for me. I don’t fear anybody. We will go and have a go and be as positive as we can. We will set the team out properly and hopefully we can get a result. Three points for us though, today against Livingston, when other teams haven’t picked up any is a boost and we will try to pick up as many as we can. Scott Bain was great for us again, he is the best young keeper in Scotland without a doubt. I keep saying it and he has shown his maturity over the last couple of years with exposure to first team football and he was outstanding again today against Livingston as keepers need to be at this level. We are up another level this season, and he is going to be called upon a lot more. We want to keep our better players at the club but we are not here to stand in their way either. We want our players to progress, we had an offer for Scott Bain in the summer from a SPFL Premiership side which we turned down because we hold him in very high regard and the offer wasn’t good enough. He has a fantastic future ahead of him and I have absolutely no doubt that Scott can go to the very top of the game.
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Dunfermline v Alloa Athletic

Paul Hartley has become the first ever Alloa Athletic manager to win back to back promotions, having also won the Third Division Championship last season, his first season since becoming Alloa Athletic manager and hanging up his boots. He is only the second ever Alloa Athletic manager to win promotion with “The Wasps” on two occasions, the other being Terry Christie in Seasons 2001/02 & 1999/2000. This season “The Wasps” finished 2nd in the league behind a superb Queen of the South team who won the league, setting a new points total having accumulated 92 points to beat the previous record held by Gretna. This season Paul Hartley’s side finished 2nd with a total of 67 points, two more league points than when they were pipped on goal difference in season 2009/10 when they had 65 points.

PAUL HARTLEY AFTER WINNING PROMOTION

I couldn’t have imaged this feeling when I took the job on, you don’t how it was going to turn out, what a rollercoaster I have been on in the past two years, it has been fantastic, some of the guys have been with us over the full two years, which has been full of joyous moments, but football has a strange way of working, you can get a bit of success, then you don’t get success and you are branded a failure, this wasn’t won over these last two games but over the season we have shown a great level of consistency. I thought we were fantastic today, I know Dunfermline got a goal and we were spooked a bit with that but Kevin Cawley could have scored a number of goals today especially in the first half had he been a bit more patient, the group of players in the dressing room are a great bunch of boys of seen that with their work ethic and their quality so I’m delighted for them. When you win things as a player you sort of take it for granted but it’s funny now as a manager – you are under pressure right away to win games – its pressure, pressure, pressure, and next season it will be the same again in the First Division, so we will look to have a good holiday, then look to the squad and look to bring in more quality players – I think we will look to enjoy tonight and the next few days but the last two games were high pressured games and I was under the scrutiny a bit, but we have come through it with flying colours.  Dunfermline Athletic were not put in this position by their players or their manager it was mismanagement from the people were in charge of the club – it’s the way Scottish Football is at the moment you just need to look at Hearts, Rangers and Dunfermline who have been struggling financially – we cannot afford for our bigger clubs to be in such a financial mess and being put into the bottom tiers of Scottish Football. At Alloa I am on a small budget, it is the way we work, it’s what we are under with crowds of around 400, we need to work with what we have, its worked the last couple of years but I will try to get better players in and there will be a lot available on the market – full time football is not the as it was 15 or 20 years ago its different, players getting to 29/30 year old are looking for part time full and we think we are a good part time club, well run, financially we are well run but I will try to bring in new players, I’m sure there will be players who will be willing to play for us. It is good thing for chairmen that there is the potential for more money coming into the Scottish game, which should work its way down through the leagues – the more money the merrier but not a lot of managers might see the difference, will I see any, maybe, maybe not but I will just deal with it. It was a good turn out by the Alloa support today, but you would hope so it was a final and they came out in good numbers today but it would help my cause if we could get a few more through the gate. Some of the players are off on holiday at the start of the week to Magaluf, I hope they have a good time but I will need to start the planning for next season as soon as Tuesday night, I hope to speak to the players and let them know who is staying and who is going – that is the down side of football – letting people go, but somebody has to do it

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Alloa Athletic v Dunfermline

Alloa Athletic recorded a 3-0 victory in their first ever Live TV match in the SFL First Division Play Off Final 1st Leg, covered by BBC Alba. The victory, the clubs first over Dunfermline Athletic since 1st September, 1982 when “The Wasps” ironically defeated “The Pars” 3-0 in a League Cup Sectional match. On the evening Paul Hartley’s team can be proud of their display, the scoreline could have been even more such was Alloa’s dominence in the second half. However in the semi-final Dunfermline Athletic showed how they can turn the tables at East End Park and Paul Hartley and his team will give Jim Jeffries side every respect, knowing the game is still at half-time, nothing has been won yet.

 PAUL HARTLEY AFTER FINAL 1ST LEG

I thought the second half performance was very good – the first half I wasn’t happy with, I know we went in 2-0 ahead but I was not happy in the way that we had played, but in the second half we were totally dominant. But we know that the tie is only at half time, I said that to the players, we know Dunfermline will be different when we play at East End Park, with a big crowd behind them and we have seen how they turned it round in the semi-final tie against Forfar Athletic. So we need to be aware of that, we will not go to East End Park to sit back, we will go and have a go again and try and hopefully score. I thought we were solid as a team, the back four were great, the goalkeeper didn’t have a lot to do, the midfield work was good and the front two were a handful. It was a good performance but we know the tie is not over. We are a fit team and we base our game on a lot of fitness, so I was not surprised we finished the stronger team, we kept going, I know Dunfermline are full-time – so our players will need to recover as soon as possible, they will be in tomorrow night to do a cool down and then we have to go again on Sunday with the same level of performance. At no stage did we think about sitting back, we just wanted to go for it, I told the players to keep going, keep passing the ball and we tried to do that, cutting them open at times – if our final pass or final shot had been a bit better we could have scored more goals but before the game I would have settled for 3 – 0. The players did themselves proud, I said to them before the game – Do yourselves justice, go and put on a big performance, there would be lots of people watching, it is the first time Alloa Athletic have featured in a live TV match, go and show how good a team we are and we managed to do that, it was a great atmosphere and that’s what the Play-Offs bring. Recreation Park is a passing surface, there is no complaints, there are no bobbles or bad bounces – I think it is probably the way forward for the weather we have in Scotland and especially in the lower leagues. Ryan McCord had to go off and is likely to struggle for Sunday, whereas Jonathan Tiffoney was just a bit of cramp so he should be ok.
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Alloa Athletic v Brechin City

Alloa Athletic reached the First Division Play off Final against Dunfermline Athletic after their 4-3 aggregate victory over Brechin City. The Wasps lead 2-0 from the 1st leg at Glebe Park, but an early goal by Andy Jackson got Brechin City back in the tie, Kevin Cawley’s 14th goal of the season levelled the scores on the day. Scottish Cup Final referee Willie Collum, then awarded a penalty to Brechin when Jonathan Tiffoney was adjudged to have blocked a shot with his arm, Alan Trouten dispatched the spot kick. back came “The Wasps” in a game they started to control. Calum Elliot was fouled in the box by Ewan Moyes and the ex Hearts striker slotted away the spot kick with great confidence. In the closing stages Alloa should have taken the lead but bad luck in front of goal saw the Brechin goal lead a charmed life, with Kevin Cawley’s effort come back out from hitting the inside of the the post. Well into stopage time Andy Jackson did bundle the ball over the line but Alloa and their fans knew they had reached the final after Calum Elliot stroked home the penalty kick.

PAUL HARTLEY AFTER PLAYOFF SECOND LEG

Quite an eventful game, a bit of a roller coaster, thankfully we have a chance to progress into the First Division.  It was a great game, from end to end there were incidents and goals and it was good for the spectators but not good for my heart!  The Brechin City players celebrated their goal close to our dug out and I celebrated our goal which I am entitled to do and then things spilled over a little bit – they thought I was a little bit disrespectful but I thought it was disrespectful of them in the first instance – I think you should be allowed to celebrate a goal but that is the way it goes – there was nothing really in it. After we were sent to the stand it made it difficult as it is hard to get your instructions across to the players when you are up there – it is much easier down there but that’s the way it goes sometimes.  I am delighted for the players because they have worked so hard throughout the season and we have given ourselves a great chance.,  We will hopefully give Dunfermline Athletic a right game – I think on our day we can beat anyone – we anticipate there will be a big crowd here on Wednesday night but we will go into the game and we will have a go in both games we will not sit back and we will try and play as best as we can – I have a good group of players in there , I think we know what is in front of us two games to try and get us into the First Division which would be a magnificent achievement for a club like this. I think we are all looking forward to it – it’s preparation now for the guys – they have to prepare properly, be professional and show that they are ready for Wednesday night.  It’s a great thing for the players and spectators to see the excitement here today and obviously the same at East End Park.  I think we are crying out for something in Scottish Football to make the end of the season a bit more exciting – down in England where you see the play offs it’s a full house.  I am hoping to be back on the touch line on Wednesday and looking forward to it – it will be a cracking game, Dunfermline Athletic have got some good young players but on the day we think we are a match for anyone – we will try and play in the proper way and the proper manner and we will go out to have a right go at them.  We know Dunfermline will bring a big support so it will be good for our players to have that and hopefully our home fans will turn out and support us if it is as good a game as it was today I think the fans are in for a real treat over the next couple of games – that’s what you play football for – games like this, the excitement and to try and get to the next level.
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Brechin City v Alloa Athletic

Wasps take two nil lead into 2nd Leg of First Division Play Off Semi-Final after fine 2-0 victory at Glebe Park this evening

PAUL HARTLEY AT GLEBE PARK

I thought the team were absolutely fantastic tonight, we dominated the game. It’s a great result for us away from home and we know we have a strong squad. This is a terrific first leg result for us but the tie isn’t dead. It is only half time, we have seen how football matches can change and we know it will be another tough game on Saturday. We will stay aware of their threat for Saturday. We know they will play better on Saturday but we must go into the game with confidence. We approach the game like it is 0-0 again, it’s only half time. We have seen it happen before when a team has come back from this kind of margin so we will have to be aware of that and give Brechin the utmost respect and not get carried away. The players have been great tonight with this performance and no matter what happens at the weekend, they have been brilliant all season. I have a great bunch of boys here with a great work ethic. We played some lovely football at times and cut them open on a number of occasions and we could’ve scored more goals. We never panicked when Jason Marr went off injured the guys just slotted in with meggatt at centre back and docherty to left back and that shows what a strong squad we have and bringing Darren on just helped us to control things and see out the game. We can all talk about tactics but at the end of the day it comes down to players. If you have good players then you have a chance. Every game we line up and try to win it. We go to attack teams, we have a good belief about us and we try to play in the proper manner.
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Alloa Athletic v Cowdenbeath

Saturday’s Play off Semi Final 2nd Leg was just a step too far as the team struggled to maintain their unbeaten run against Cowdenbeath this season. Even prior to the kick off Allan Maitland was dealt a blow as Declan McAvoy was injured in the warm up and had to be withdrawn, then ten minutes into the came, Andy Scott who had scored a double last Saturday in the 3-1 victory over Cowdenbeath had to be replaced. In front of the biggest crowd this season at Recreation Park – 1,234 the team were desperate to win but in the end were found to be running empty. In the first half Alloa had the best opportunities but credit to Cowdenbeath who in the second half stepped up a gear and scored the crucial first goal and deservedly won after Paul McQuade clinched the game with eight minutes left. Although disappointed that the club missed out on promotion, this has been a great season for the club and a year of great progression on and off the park, disappointed yes, despondent not and we will look to build on this season’s displays and look to strengthen in the summer.

 

allan maitland congratulates cowdenbeath

First and foremost it is only fitting to congratulate Cowdenbeath who were excellent today, they played really well – I thought in the first half they passed the ball well but we had the best chances. Unfortunately, David Hay had a great save in that spell from Bryan Prunty and we missed a couple of chances. In the second half I thought they were the better side and deserved to win it. At the end of the game I was listing the players who were not available today, Mark Gilhaney, Stuart Noble, Scot Buist, Tony Stevenson, Declan McAvoy who was injured in the warm up, Dougie Wilson and Brown Ferguson. I then had Andy Scott being injured after only ten minutes and Bryan Prunty having to leave the game with knocks, along with David McClune & Gary Carroll who were injured but still on the park. In fairness to the players they have been magnificent this year – our season ended today, if it wasn’t today it would have ended Wednesday or Sunday but you cannot go with that list of players out and expect to win the play offs. I have nothing but admiration for the team and wish Cowdenbeath every success – I hope they go on and manage to win the Play Off final now, we have come on leaps and strides this year and what we will try and do is build on that for next year. I have nothing but pride for all the players who have been involved at this club this season, but by the end of this game it was boys against men and unfortunately for us the men were just that bit stronger that us. We will just utilise that and make ourselves stronger and better for next year, I think in fairness if we look at our team we would openly admit we are nowhere near ready to go and compete in the First Division and we will look to address it during the summer and look to go and win it next year – and get ourselves over that finishing line and be better prepared for it. The main thing today is to concentrate on Cowdenbeath and well done to them.
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Cowdenbeath v Alloa Athletic

Alloa lost a last minute goal against Cowdenbeath in the First Division Play Off Semi Final tonight at Central Park, although the goal was credited to John Dempster, who had just came on the field of play as last minute substitute, David McClune actuallu scored an own goal, heading the ball past David Crawford under pressure from Dempster. However this was a creditable result for “The Wasps” who once again were without seven first team regulars. David Gormley had put the visitors ahead but there were not many clear cut chances in the game, although Cowdenbeath did have the better of the second half, neither keeper was called to make any serious saves. The second leg will take place at Recreation Park, Alloa on Saturday 8th May, kick-off 3.00pm

 

allan maitland after playoff semi 1st leg

This seems to be a season littered with last minute goals – Whether its Stirling Albion’s last minute goal here last week to snatch a draw, Cowdenbeath’s goal tonight or our last minute goal when we beat them in the Scottish Cup , there has been a lot of late goals this season, but tonight for my point of view on the back of the disappointment of not having won promotion as champions I thought we were excellent tonight, we had seven players out through injury and I thought our attitude was great, we controlled long spells of the game without making too much of a threat, Cowdenbeath might have felt we might be feeling sorry for ourselves but there was no sign of that, we were first to the ball, aggressive in the middle of the park, got the ball to the front two who were really good tonight, David Gormley scored a great goal and as the game went on I thought we maybe didn’t create chances when we had the opportunity, we defended resolutely our two centre backs were top drawer tonight. There might of being a worry going into this game we might not be up for the game but from the first minute to the last we were up for it, even to the extent we scored both goals in the game – David McClune got in front of John Dempster to score an own goal but Dempster’s presence caused the goal, before “mini” dived in to header it in to his own net. So we live to fight another day, we have been to Central Park on four occasions this season and drawn every game, while we have met at Recreation Park and we have won three, so we hope that form continues on Saturday in the second leg of this tie. Cowdenbeath have been excellent all season and had a strong side on the park this evening so every credit to them. Saturday will be our eighth game against Cowdenbeath this season and we will look forward to that and hopefully progress into next weeks final.
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