Season: 2013-14

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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Alloa Athletic v Stirling Albion

This was the cup tie the fans had wanted, renewing a rivalry with local neighbours Stirling Albion, indeed it was the visitors who opened brightest and their top scorer Jordan White rose to head them in front. Ten minutes later their young 18 year old forward Sandy Cunningham kicked out at Michael Doyle and was shown a straight red card, this changed the flow of the game with Alloa now having much more of the ball. However it was five minutes into the second half before “The Wasps” would draw level, ex Wasp Kieran McAnespie bringing down Jonathan Tiffoney in the box and Ryan McCord coolly scored past another ex Wasp in goal David Crawford. Eight minutes later Graeme Holmes rose majestically to head Paul Hartley’s team in front. David Crawford then was busy somehow keeping his goal intact, he pulling off a brilliant save to deny Kevin Cawley. In the final minute of the game Jason Marr fired home to make the tie look safe at 3-1 but substitute Graham Weir in time added on fired home the goal of the game from 25 yards, 3-2, a good old fashioned cup tie with “The Wasps” going through to the next round and last 16 of the cup.

 

paul hartley after cup tie

It is good to be in the next round, we didn’t start the game particularly well, we gave them to many free kicks which lead to the opening goal, the sending off changed the game with us having much more of the ball but we weren’t at our best today but we showed real character in the second half to come through and win the game. Playing again ten men is never easy but our decision making has got to be better in terms of when we get the ball, what do we do with it, we were too slack at times, there were players who had an off day but what they did show was tremendous character and a will to win, I told them at half-time they would need to improve if not they would be out of the cup – and we wanted to be in that draw on Monday, so we are in the next round and I look forward to see who we will get. Not quite sure what we are wishing for this time, a big tie but hopefully another home draw and with some of the teams which are left in the draw we might get another tie which would favour us and who knows from there
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Alloa Athletic v Raith Rovers

Striker Andy Kirk helped manager Paul Hartley celebrate his 100th competitive game for “The Wasps” in style, the experienced striker netting the only goal of the game. The 1st in this game always looked to be important and thats how it ended up, both sides had opportunities in the first half but Andy Kirk’s goal just after the hour mark won the game and earned him the “Man of the match” award. The Wasps might have increased their lead on the break in the 2nd half but were happy to win the points and move into 4th place in the division.

 

paul hartley after victory over raith rovers

It was a great way to celebrate my 100th milestone, by gaining another three great points, I thought the players worked hard and deserved it the way they went about their business, we didn’t want to lose a goal, players throwing their bodies on the line when they had to, we defended really well as a team earning us another clean sheet, so it was a great result. We had good chances, especially on the counter attack today from the wider areas, we worked on this at training all week to exploit their weaknesses and we tried to do that. Andy Kirk had the one real chance and he took it so well, it was a great finish from him. We know we have a keeper and back four who have kept a few clean sheets this year. The result moves us up to fourth in the table, we’ve started well but there is a long way to go, we need to keep it going.  The big thing for us is to stay in this league but the boys can be pleased with what they have done so far, their spirits excellent.

I know my name has been linked with the Inverness job, but another ten managers have also been linked, all I can say is we must be doing something right! – I’m enjoying it here and I’m enjoying working with the players here, I have had no contact from them, I go about my business,  I don’t talk to the press about being involved for jobs, so I need to keep it going here and see what happens.

Derek Riordan was at the game today but he still has a long way to go in terms of his condition, but he is a player I would definitely be interested in because he is a player of real quality, I have seen that in the few training sessions we have had, so he knows how we work and what we do, who knows what can happen. The one thing for Derek just now is he is not playing, he is still a young man at 30 years old – he should be playing football, so we have given him the opportunity to get in a good level of condition, I think the boy just wants to play now, but he needs to get himself proper first, but just now he is unfit to play, so we will give him every opportunity, we have given him the facilities but it is up to him. He needs to work hard, he has not been involved in match action, he is doing his own stuff but it is not the same – I think he is a good 4 – 6 weeks away, but it is up to him if he wants to work hard and if he wants it.

I thought our two centre backs coped very well today, we had a few players out there who could have come back and haunt us, but we knew their threat and I think we coped very well. Our experienced players played a big part, Stephen Simmons  controlled in front of the back four and Andy Kirk scored the winning goal, I was pleased, delighted.
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Cowdenbeath v Alloa Athletic

The Wasps defeated Cowdenbeath 2-0 at Central Park on Saturday, it was a great team performance in which striker Andy Kirk headed in the second goal, after Kevin Cawley had earlier opened the scoring, however Andy might have had a hat-trick in the game, after being denied two goals which were chalked off after the officials flagged for offside. Cowdenbeath looked to have been given a life line at the start of the second half when Scott Bain fouled substitute Marc McKenzie, but he redeemed himself saving the penalty.

 

paul hartley at central park

Really good performance, solid, thought we had good quality, thought we deserved the win, there only looked one winning team today, it was a big game for us and I had stressed that to the players. Some of our play was really good our attacking was good, defending, when required was also good, we changed things a bit today, we tweaked it but overall we were the better team. I brought Jonathan Tiffoney into the team today and he was immense, he has played in that role before, his energy in the middle of the park, adding quality, linking up with the right side of the play, he had a great game today, I had been stressing to get better delivery in the final quarter of the park and we saw that. Pleased for Andy Kirk it was good for him to get a goal but overall a great team performance, with good individual performances also. I think the score line could have been even more, but it could also have changed when they missed the penalty, that could have changed the game. Scott made a bad mistake, he was poor there and that’s not often I would say that but he redeemed himself with the penalty save so pleased with that but overall pleased with the performance because this is a tough venue to come and win, there is teams who have been beaten here likes of Morton going down 5-1 in the last home game, it was nice to get the three points. It was nice to get that bit gap again the way the other results turned out, we are trying to push the teams above us and trying to catch them – we had a pretty decent start to the season, I have to give the players credit their attitude is fantastic, I’ve got a good set of playing in the dressing room.

Derek Riordan is in training, I spoke to him last week, I had tried to bring him in at the start of the season but he had a couple of other options at that time but they haven’t worked out, but he hasn’t played for a year, so the condition he is in in terms of fitness is way behind, but I would be interested in him because he has great quality, we can see that already at training in the past week and it has given other players a lift in the dressing room seeing him training at the club, it is that we can try and attract his type of player at Alloa Athletic an ex International player but we will just have to wait and see in terms of his fitness he is way behind but it is something we will try and work on with him, and not sure if we could play him as a “trialist” in this league I don’t know the rules if they would allow this to play a “trialist” in the Championship there might be a problem so we will just need to see where it takes us in the next couple of weeks – can we get him fit, if we could he would be a fantastic addition to the squad
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Alloa Athletic v Inverurie Loco Works

“The Wasps” progressed to the next round of this season’s William Hill Scottish Cup after defeating Highland League side Inverurie Loco Works at Recreation Park, Alloa today 3 – 0. Alloa started this game as favourites due to their SPFL standing, however Inverurie Loco’s had nothing to lose and in the first half of the game gave as good as they got. The match changed in the second half after manager Paul Hartley introduced Eddie Harty to be more direct and use his pace to get behind the visitors rearguard. This made the home side a far more dangerous proposition to Loco’s and after Kevin Cawley had put “The Wasps” ahead, the team never looked back and ran out comfortable 3-0 winners, pleased to be in the Fourth Round draw which takes place on Tuesday.

 

hartley after cup victory

That was a tough game for us today, I thought in the first half we were poor in terms of our intensity of play, our build up was far to pedestrian, that’s why I changed it at half-time. I brought Eddie Ferns on to bring a bit of pace to the game who would be a threat in behind their defence.  In terms of going through to the next round, brilliant, another clean sheet which I was pleased with, but in terms of how we played and kept the ball, I’m not happy. Eddie coming on at half-time changed the game, that is why we brought him on, to try and get in behind them because they were playing a high line and we kept on being caught offside, but his pace was a threat and he put in some good cross balls – so pleased with that. The goals were good, Kevin Cawley’s goal was a good finish, and pleased for Alex Salmon getting his first goal for the club, but the most pleasing thing was to get through the tie because I was worried about this tie today, I have been stressing that all week, it was really worrying as a manager because it is one of these ones which is a potential banana skin and you don’t want to be hitting the headlines the next day by going out the cup to Highland League opposition and that’s no disrespect to Inverurie Loco’s, they were good, they played some good stuff, they gave us a game today in which they gave us a fright. But again I say the main thing is we are in the draw for the next round of the tournament when the draw is made for the fourth round on Tuesday and we will look forward to that now. We want a big club, one of the big boys, that’s why you are in football – you want it for the players and the club, so we don’t mind who we get. Young Lewis Wilson had been doing well in the reserves, so he deserved his start today, he did well, why not throw him in, how are you going to see how young players react without giving them a chance, you don’t need to wait until a player is 20 or 21, Lewis is 17, and we wanted to see if he could handle the occasion and he did well.
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Alloa Athletic v Queen of the South

Ex Wasp, Iain Russell returned to Recreation Park and scored two goals for Queen of the South in their 3-0 victory over “The Wasps”. The first goal in games is so important and having started reasonably well in the game Paul Hartley’s side could not find the opening goal. The opening goal gave Queen’s a lift and helped their confidence having started the game second bottom of the league. Alloa fought back into the game but lost a bad second goal at a stage when they were on top in the game having spurned chances in front of goal and seen last ditches clearances keep the visitors goal intact. Queens extended their lead fifteen minutes from the end when Gavin Reilly netted. This was a day when too many Alloa players did not perform to their potential but they will be keen to get back in action and will look forward to their home William Hill Scottish Cup tie at Recreation Park next Saturday against Inverurie Loco Works.

 
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Livingston v Alloa Athletic

Alloa’s poor record at Livingston continues, “The Wasps” having never ever won a league match at Almondvale since the club took Meadowbank Thistle’s place in the Scottish League back in Season 1995/96. Ben Gordon’s late equaliser in the 86th minute looked to have given “The Wasps” a point which would have been against the run of play in the second half with Livingston having by far the better of the game. Then in the final minute Andy Barrowman pounced to give the home side the full points and silence the Alloa fans who saw a point snatched away in the final minute. Scott Bain again had to keep his side in the game, especially in the second half, the Alloa players kept going until the final minute but on the day didn’t create many chances in front of goal.

 

paul hartley after defeat at livingston

The better team won on the day, plain and simple, we could have got a point but I think overall they were better than us today, it’s not often I’ve said that. We were out passed today, and out thought, their movement was too good for us – so we have to regroup again and move on to next week. We now need to be focused on our next game, we will need to look at what we didn’t do well here today and start working on it on Tuesday night, we need to dust ourselves down and be ready for our next challenge. It was disappointing to lose an early goal but it gave us plenty of time to get back into the game and we did, we scored a good goal – but they deserved to win the game today. The boys kept going and we ended the game with five players up front, we needed to have a real go after losing the second goal, but in terms of our possession and how we dealt with the ball, we didn’t do well today. We have been really good in the first quarter – we just need to go again.
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Falkirk v Alloa Athletic

Our first local derby against Falkirk since Season 2002/03 ended in a no scoring draw, the game was played in a cup tie spirit with plenty of action for a healthier crowd of 1,625 inside Recreation Park. Once again Alloa Athletic keeper Scott Bain was to prove just how good a season he has had, with five shut outs now in our nine league game this season in a higher division. Falkirk started brighter, but soon the Alloa midfield got to grip with their Falkirk counterparts and stopped them playing, breaking up possesion and winning the 50/50 balls. Although the game flowed end to end and both teams might have thought they could win the game, the forwards of both sides were limited to scraps to feed of, but there was no shortage of commitment, Alloa manager being happy to end the first quarter of games with fourteen league points.

 

paul hartley after derby draw

I thought it was a really good game, I thought our application, attitude and work ethic was brilliant and another clean sheet, that’s five in our nine league games, so pleased with the performance. Scott Bain again had an excellent game, he was really good, I have said over the past two and a half year since he came here from Aberdeen, but I do believe he is getting even better, he has moved up a division this season, he is a top young goalkeeper, he is only 21 and has played over 100 games at that age, there are not too many goalkeepers have played at this level, week in and week out, a lot of them are number two’s, his handling was great, his presence he came and caught everything and when we needed him he made vital saves at vital times, I wouldn’t stand in his way, we are not a club to keep players back, the boy could look to go full time, he was my first signing from Aberdeen – he is a brilliant kid, he is learning all the time and it is doing him the whole of good to get all these games under his belt but he will eventually move and when that day comes there is no way we would stand in his way, that’s for sure. It was a typical local derby and we were good in the battle, we said that was our game plan to ruffle them up, to get in against their good players and make it awkward for them. Most of the teams in this league have a huge advantage over us being part time but it didn’t show today, not with the fitness levels that we have got. The game was end to end at times, there was chances, good action and meaty tackles, but that is what a derby game is all about, we said that to the players before the game “Don’t forget that it is a derby and make sure you are ready for it, the battle, and be in for the 50/50’s”. As we come to the end of the first quarter teams have done their homework on us, it shows they are paying attention to what we can do – but I thought overall I thought the players were great, I’ve got a really good bunch of guys in there.
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Greenock Morton v Alloa Athletic

Victory at Cappielow against Greenock Morton was our first away victory this season and remarkably Alloa Athletic’s first victory in the league against Greenock Morton at Cappielow since 17th November, 1928, when “The Wasps” won 4-3, which was to be the Greenock sides only defeat at home that season. Paul Hartley’s side probably played their best football of the season and the scoreline could have been far more emphatic than the 2 – 0 scoreline but it was great to see the team creating so many chances, but another three vital league points gathered, now giving us 13 points from the first eight games, next Saturday will will face local neighbours Falkirk, the last team we still have to face in the first quarter.

 

paul hartley after victory at cappielow

It was a fantastic performance today, at a tough place to come to, I know Morton are at the wrong end of the table and we always knew it would be a tough game, but I thought the players were excellent, they controlled the game and could have scored more goals, if we had a better bit of composure in the final third of the park.  It was also another clean sheet, that’s four out of the eight games that we have had clean sheets.  It’s about that mentality that we try and install in the players.  I thought we deserved the three points today.  It is important to try and pick up points away from home, our home form has been excellent and that will be the key this season, but we were worthy winners today to pick up our first away victory of the season.  It was good for Andy Kirk to get back on the score sheet, strikers strive on goals, and it was a great goal made by a great ball in from the right from Michael Doyle, who played very well today.  Andy’s experience took him across the defender and it was a glancing header which was a fantastic finish.  However we should have scored more goals today – we wasted chances at times – we knew going in 1-0 at half time that Morton would come out at us – however, I thought we controlled the game from start to finish.  Some of our play was excellent today, their goal keeper kept them in the match with great saves but it was good for us to create so many opportunities, but coming away from home it was a brilliant result and I am very proud of them.

In terms of possession and chances that was probably the best we have played this season.  We haven’t always created as many chances and at times have starved our strikers,  today we created good opportunities, coming here we had a game plan – I had already watched Morton and I thought that our game plan worked.  It was important to try and stretch their back four and I thought we did that but our overall performance as a team was excellent.  The back four did well but our keeper did not have a lot to do.  Kevin Cawley was excellent in his work ethic in getting forward.   I am really pleased for the team.  Declan McManus is a little bit frustrated for not scoring his first goal for the club since coming on loan from Aberdeen, he went so close today when he rounded their keeper but went a little wide and his shot struck the post,  he is still young – he is a kid who has scored a lot of goals for Aberdeen at Under 20 level but it is a different step up in senior football – he will get his goals and needs to be patient – he is a bit down but we will pick him up again.  Our ambition is still to stay in the league at the end of the season – can we stay in the league – we are new to it – we are up against seven full time clubs – but who knows were football can take you – if we can keep playing like that every week – we keep attacking and even at 2-0 we were looking to increase our lead. Who knows what can happen in football.
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