Season: 2012-13

Queen of the South v Alloa Athletic

Alloa manager Paul Hartley was disappointed his side took nothing from a game in which they contributed so much and competed well. Queen of the South have already proved this season that they have set the benchmark for this season now leading the league and the still the only side unbeaten in the league this season. Kevin Cawley passed a fitness test and lead the line for “The Wasps”, the game was fairly even early on with best chances for the visitors falling to Ryan McCord and Martin Grehan who after getting into good position delayed his shot and the opportunity was lost. Scott Bain was in wonderful form pulling off three wonderful saves to keep the scores level at half-time. Queen’s opened the second half strongly but Alloa’s defence looked strong. Then for the second time this season Nicky Clark was to be the man who mattered, scoring while Alloa were having a good spell in the game after his initial shot had been blocked. Paul Hartley introduced all three Alloa substitutes in an effort to grab an equaliser but Queen’s held out for a narrow 1-0 victory, Kevin Cawley had an opportunity late in the game but it was not to be on this occasion.

Pictures from Colin Johnstone, QOS FC

paul hartley at dumfries

We can take plenty of positives from that performance, we defended very well and in the end lost to a scrappy goal. I thought we were going to get a point, there wasn’t much in it at all. We watched Queen’s in midweek against Dundee United and I thought they were excellent, but today we nullified their two forwards. We had to come here with a game plan and I think it worked well, even after they scored. Having watched them we knew they create a lot from wide areas and we had to restrict them and that worked well. Even their goal was scrappy and we should have cleared it.
They are a real threat through the middle given half a chance but we didn’t allow them to create the chances. I thought we had done enough for a draw but Queen’s are a very strong side and we know they will be there or thereabouts come the end of the season, but I’m proud of my players and their efforts. We move on to another hard game against Forfar Athletic next week, but every game is difficult in this league and we will need to be up for that game too.

 
1 - 0
Full Time

Alloa Athletic v Stranraer

Alloa Athletic bounced back from last weeks disappointing defeat from Stenhousemuir to record their first home league victory of the season a game which was a complete contrast to the previous week. The most important thing was to make sure “The Wasps” collected three points today, but a home home victory by three goals to nil has to be pleasing, albeit the scoreline could have been so much more emphatic had chances been converted more clinically in the second half.

paul hartley after first home victory

It was nice to get three points today we were always in control of the game even later when they went down to ten men we still controlled the game, we has loads of possession and could have scored probably more goals, we were a wee bit slack at times but today getting the three points was the most important aspect, certainly after a bad defeat last week. It was a big game for the team today, I was looking for a reaction after a bed defeat and I was confident I would get that from the players. It was good to get David Cox back involved again today, he played 75 minutes in midweek in a bounce game and he gave us a good 60 minutes today and I was pleased with that, it was like having a new player for us having been unavailable recently. I was glad to get our first victory this season at home, last season one of our strengths was our home form and we would like to try and rediscover that for this season, but we have to remember we have come up a division but any teams home form is always important. Nobody likes to see players getting sent off, but we have been there before ourselves, it is one of these things but sometimes it becomes even harder to play against ten men, but today we managed to pass the ball well and had good movement. Next week will be a tough game against the league leaders Queen of the South, they are the form team, they are going well, Allan Johnston is doing a great job there but we will make sure we are ready. We will go into the game with confidence and have a real go at them, it will be tough they are at home but on our day we are a match for any of the sides in this division. Kevin Cawley took a knock today and I took him off for precaution but I expect him to be fine for next week, he ran his socks off again today, got his goal and won sponsors “Man of the Match”. WE haved moved back up the fourth in the table after today’s victory, we will look to win as many games as we can and see where that takes us.
3 - 0
Full Time

Alloa Athletic v Stenhousemuir

“The Wasps” are still looking for their 1st home victory in the league this season after a disappointing game in which Paul Hartley’s side failed to take the opportunity of defeating local neighbours Stenhousemuir, whose team was without three main first team players. Neither goalkeepers were tested in a game which looked like ended 0-0, until Stenhousemuir scored on the break after 67 minutes when Darren Smith scored to break the deadlock. Alloa manager Paul Hartley introduced all three substitutes to try and get a hold in the game, but in fairness it never looked anything other than a bad day for the home side. In the final minute Stenhousemuir extended their lead when they were awarded a penalty and ex Wasp Brown Ferguson made it 2-0 to put the result beyond Alloa. It is now important that the team can bounce back with another home game next Saturday against Stranraer.

paul hartley after derby defeat

We were second best today and didn’t deserve to win the game, it was a bad day for us, it is the worst I have seen us play for a long time, I’m disappointed. We didn’t have one performer today, we just couldn’t get going – it’s a harsh lesson which the players need to learn quick and be ready for next week. We didn’t perform the full game – not in the way that I know Alloa can play, we need to regroup again and make sure we are ready for next Saturday. Games come thick and fast so we need to be ready for next Saturday, we know we will need to perform a lot better than we did today.

I’m not accepting that standard of performance – I praise my players all the time but we had no spark today what so ever and nothing was happening for us in the game, so we need to address that and make sure that we are better. We have no excuses, we never performed today and Stenhousemuir were the better team and deserved to win.
0 - 2
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Brechin City v Alloa Athletic

Alloa Athletic bounced back from the disappointment of losing 3-2 last week at home to Arbroath, by ending a run of over five years without a win at Glebe Park. This win and display was good as “The Wasps” have promised all season and no one could doubt the style and good football the team displayed in handing Brechin City their 1st defeat this season at home in the league. After dominating the first half, Paul Hartley’s side could have been stunned by Brechin City taking the lead when striker Andy Jackson scored his sixth goal in six games, but their response was positive, Robert Thomson bulleting home the equaliser in 65 minutes before, man of the match, Kevin Cawley deserevedly put the visitors in front. Alloa threatened to increase their lead in every attack and looked to add to their tally. Martin Grehan looked like a man on a mission when he came off the bench, feeling aggrieved that he had not started the match he looked hungry and with two minutes left scored a memorable solo goal to win the match. This was a great team display against a Brechin City side who will not lose too many games at Glebe Park this season, but on the day Alloa Athletic were clearly the better team.

paul hartley after win at brechin

I am delighted with our performance a tough place to come and win. I thought in the first half we were excellent it was a bit like last week without getting the goal. I thought some of our play was outstanding at times when we passed the ball, they couldn’t get near us. In the first ten minutes we created some really good chances but we were a bit erratic in our finishing. In the second half I think they had had a bit of a rollicking from their Manager at half time because we dominated it and they had a spell for 10 minutes when they got the goal and then it is how you react after that but the players reacted brilliantly, they were magnificent today with the goals that they scored. I was going to take Robert Thomson off but then he scored the goal and then we scored another good goal ., I thought it was a really good team performance away from home and it’s not an easy place and it shows you the way we can play football. We are a passing team we always play in the right way and I thought today it could have been five or six, that’s the way we played today but that has been coming . The first four games of the season we have been fantastic , we’ve just not been getting the results in so it takes us into the break now with two home games coming up, we just like to give the boys the rest that they deserve, that is for sure and be ready to go again. Robert Thomson had a great strike and he took his goal brilliantly – good for Grehan to score as well – he was left out in the starting 11 today – I thought I would change it today and get a little bit of pace in behind – he came in and showed his composure, great team performance. Kevin Cawley gives a great performance every week – he maybe doesn’t get the goals he deserves, he may have felt that he should have scored but I know what I am getting off him, every week he works his socks off and he has the quality to work with that. I am pleased with the first four games but we have to keep it going.
1 - 3
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Alloa Athletic v Arbroath

Alloa Athletic lost out in a five goal thriller today at Recreation Park which was a great advert for the SFL Second Division, although “The Wasps” will be wondering how they took nothing from the game?

Both teams were keen to play open attacking football and “The Wasps” started by far the best with Kevin Cawley giving the home side a two goal advantage, at this stage another goal for the home side would have killed the game but just on half time Arbroath grabbed a lifeline when Derek Holmes snatched a goal to bring them back into the match.

At half time Paul Sheerin made two tactical changes and opened the second half brighter. A defensive mistake in midfield giving the ball away gave Arbroath the chance to draw level before they snatched the lead after 63 minutes, however a mionute later referee George Salmond produced a straight red card to Arbroath substitute Daniel Rennie for a two footed tackle on Daryll Meggatt.

Alloa were again back in the ascendancey but as hard as they tried they could not break down a resolute Arbroath defence, on another day Martin Grehan’s diving header would have earned a desereved a point for “The Wasps” but it was not to be.

paul hartley after arbroath game

It was as good as I have seen us play in the first half – it was excellent we were good all over the park, we played some good football we pressed them well and I couldn’t see that result coming but that is what happens in football it is cruel a times but we need to learn from that it is not just about 45 minutes but we need to play well for the full 90 minutes. We know that we are good as anybody on our day – we switched off at certain times – they got a bit fortunate with their goal just on half time and that gave them a bit of encouragement. In the second half they came out for about 10/15 minutes and created the openings which was our own doing with a slack pass in the middle of the park and then we gave away a cheap free kick and they punished us but that is football – we need to learn from that and bounce back and that is the reaction I am looking for now. There were some decisions which didn’t go our way but I don’t want to blame that – we should be good enough to win the game on the day – we need to crack on again. I am delighted with the way we played especially in the first half , not so happy the way we conceded the goals that is something we need to address and work on but I am confident in the players I have but it is a hard one to take. This game is finished now and we need to forget about it and the players have got to go again next week against Brechin City which will be equally challenging.
2 - 3
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Albion Rovers v Alloa Athletic

Alloa Athletic collected their fist vicory of the season against Albion Rovers,at Cliftonhill Stadium, Coatbridge. This was a comfortable win on a pitch which left a lot to desire. Martin Grehan opened the scoring for the vistors after only 14 minutes, his 2nd competitive goal this season. Kevin Cawley was outstanding, while Robert Thomson will be rembered for scoring two vital goals and was unfortunate not to add more to his tally.
0 - 3
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Alloa Athletic v East Fife

Alloa Athletic had to settle for a draw in their opening league game of the season, East Fife took the lead after 30 minutes with a Darren McCormack spectacular effort, although “The Wasps” had the best of the early play it was the visitors who took the lead. Again in the second half the home side took charge of the game,but had still no goal to show for their effort. However Stephen Simmons marked his home debut with a headed goal from a corner to level the game. Paul Hartley introduced Robert Thomson, whom he had brought on loan from SPL Club Dundee United and only a last ditch goal line clearance denied him the winner.
1 - 1
Full Time

Queen of the South v Alloa Athletic

Alloa Athletic are hurting after losing 5-2 at Palmerston Park against Queen of the South in the Scottish Communities League Cup. Although never playing as well as they can “The Wasps” scored twice and were level going into the last twelve minutes of the game, before the home side scored three goals in seven minutes to clinch the tie, a result in the end which was harsh on Paul Hartley’s side but on the day no one could deny Queen’s desrved their victory.

Fantastic Alloa support at Starks Park
paddy connolly at palmerston

I think the score line was a bit heavy on us but the better team won in the end. Obviously disappointed in the result, we showed a bit of character to come back into the game twice, we have shown this in the past last season but today we didn’t defend well, we didn’t play well as a team, at half time, the manager spoke to them and told them we were still in the game at 1-0 down, we hadn’t played well – we showed a bit character getting the goal but I think overall the better team won. We will bounce back. We have a tough league game next Saturday against East Fife. Queen of the South look to have set the bench mark for the second division and gave us a bit of a hiding today looking at the score line at the end of the day – the manager has had harsh words with the players today and told them it’s not good enough which I need to agree with on that as we never performed well, too many of our players did not show the quality that they showed last season. Queen of the South will be the team to chase but we will bounce back. It was a bit of an eye opener for us in the heaviness of the defeat – we will be back into training on Tuesday. It is hard to pick positives when have been beaten 5-2. We did score two goals away from home and would like to think on another day that would be enough to win the tie but losing 5 goals was a bit of a sore one. The manager is still looking to bring one or two new players in but obviously players are now being tied up and we might need to look at the loan situation – we had a few injuries today that left us short but that is no excuse we had a strong 11 out there and we expected to get a result today and get a decent performance but never got that. Daryll Meggatt was suspended today but he will come into our thoughts on Tuesday at training, however we will be without Ben Gordon next Saturday against East Fife as he serves a one match suspension carried over from last season so someone will need to come in to cover for Ben who has been one of our top performers so far this season. We had the same situation last year where we were knocked out early in the two cups so hopefully we will bounce back from it.
5 - 2
Full Time

Cowdenbeath v Alloa Athletic

Alloa Athletic today went out on penalties in the first round of the Ramsdens Cup for the second time in a row. Having went behind in 2 minutes to a Lewis Coult goal, the team did well to come back and equalise through Ben Gordon and should have had the game won in the regulation 90 minutes. Again in extra time Alloa had the best oppportunities but could not find the winning goal their play deserved. So to penalties and after Scott Bain saved from ex Wasp Lewis Coult, Ryan McCord had the chance to put “The Wasps” ahead for the first time in the match, ex Alloa keeper Thomas Flynn did well to save Ryan McCord’s penalty. Penalties are always a bit of a lottery and Cowdenbeath converted theirs far better. At the end of the day it is goals that count and although Alloa did well they will look back on chances which on another day they would have taken. A relieved Colin Cameron said after the match “He is just delighted to be in the draw for the next round”.
1p - 1
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Robert Thomson

Previous clubs – Dundee United, Alloa Athletic, Dunfermline Athletic, Brechin City, Dumbarton & Greenock Morton

Another player who returned for a second spell at the club having had a succesful spell on loan from Dundee United at start of Season 2012/13. Born in Paisley, he began as a youth at Dundee United before going out on loan to gain first team football. He left Dundee United at end of 2012/13 season to move to East End Park with Dunfermline Athletic, he then had a spell with Brechin City and Dumbarton. Jim Duffy signed him for Greenock Morton but injury curtailed his success, having had surgery in last close season he rejoined “The Wasps” and looks to regain his goal scoring and be a different type of threat at six foot two.