Season: 2018-19

Alloa Athletic v Stirling Albion

The Wasps reached the 2nd Round after defeating Stirling Albion 3-1 at the Indodrill Stadium on Tuesday 15th August, which maintains the clubs long unbeaten record against Stirling Albion which now goes back to 7th March, 2009.

Jim Goodwin was forced into having only two outfield players on the bench such is the tightness of his squad, not helped by Greig Spence having to sit the tie out carrying forward an suspension carried forward from last season and Jake Hastie playing for Motherwell colts.

jim on the irn bru cup victory

We said after the game, it was important to get the victory and progress into the next round, I felt first half was an excellent performance we were well on top, dominated the game, started the second half really well, scored a terrific goal then kind of had a spell of 15 minutes where we dropped below the standards required and allowed Stirling Albion back into the game, their goal was a decent corner from their point of view but we have to do better and mark their man and take responsibility in that area and we also got sloppy in the middle of the park, taking too many touches. However we ended the game better again and got our foot back on the ball, I understand the crowd want us to keep going and get four or five, Stirling themselves dropped off and we kept the ball and ran the clock down and just delighted to be in the next round.

I am quite relieved we have the weekend off now the players that are here have worked ever so hard through the pre season into the Betfred Cup and at the start of the season we have been really tight with limited options off the bench, we had to take Greig Spence out of the team tonight due to a suspension he picked up last season with Raith Rovers and Jake Hastie was back playing for Motherwell Under 21’s tonight, we were down to the bare bones again, so it gives me a good week to try and get the ones who are almost over the line and hopefully this time next week we will have some good news regarding signings.

We will come back in on Thursday night we will have a light session on Thursday and I think I am going to give the boys the Saturday off because the 13 or 14 players that are here have worked very hard both in training and in the games, they have given me absolutely everything so they have earned to have the weekend with their families.
3 - 1
Full Time

Alloa Athletic v Greenock Morton

Defeats in our opening two league games of the new season have been hard to take, losing such a late goal at Dingwall and looking on top in the second half yesterday at home against Greenock Morton before Chris Millar unleashes a goal fit to win any game. The Alloa players are not getting the results their efforts merit at present but at the end of the day everybody knows it is goals that count.

Manager Jim Goodwin knows this season was never going to be easy and is working tirelessly to bring in new faces to strenghen his squad, knowing we will need to be even better than last season to make things happen and silence the doubters who are expecting Alloa to struggle.

In this league chances are going to be limited, but there was little between the teams yesterday, especially in the second half when “The Wasps” dominated possession but lacked the killer punch in last third of the pitch. Jake Hastie was a consistent threat on the left flank of the pitch driving at the Morton defence, but we needed to get an equalising goal when we were on top in the second period.

Indeed the turning point could have been when Greig Spence was flattened in the penalty box by Morton defender Rory McKeown which looked a very strong case for a penalty. Having survived this scare Chris Millar’s second goal of the game with ten minutes left was a body blow, at that stage against the run of play but a fantastic strike.

jim goodwin after morton take the points in alloa

It was a hard result to take, the first goal in this league is very important, particularly between the two sides today ourselves and Greenock Morton where there was not a great deal between the teams. Both goals are disappointing from our point of view, the first goal in particular I thought we could have defended a lot better, Chris Millar broke his way through into the 18 yard box far too easily, a decent finish from his point of view and the second goal was a thirty yard strike right into the top corner, there is not a great deal you could do to stop that, but other than that there was not a lot between the two sides. It would be very easy for me to come in here after last Saturday and here today against Greenock Morton if we had been miles apart and we were getting overrun and teams had been far better than us, it would be far easier to take, at the moment that’s very frustrating because that is just not the case, I feel we should have had a point on the board from Dingwall, losing a goal so late last week in the 88th minute, and today there was nothing between the teams, but fair play to Morton they are the ones sitting with the result, we have now had two league games and nothing to show for it.

I think in the second half the boys went out and done exactly what we asked of them, in terms of being patient on the ball, our movement from side to side and getting in behind them, I thought Jake Hastie on the far side got the better of the right back four or five times, maybe we are just lacking the final ball in the final third, we definitely didn’t work their goalkeeper enough, it was difficult Morton dropped off a bit in the second half and had pretty much ten men behind the ball for long spells and we were trying our best to break them down but unfortunately we just couldn’t find the opening, I felt at 1-0 if we had got the next goal I really felt we could have gone on and won the game but it wasn’t the case, but it was a sore one to take.

The disappointing thing for me is we are not really surprising anyone, people expected us to lose at Dingwall, people probably expect us the lose every game in this Division, they look at how difficult the league was for Brechin City last season but I know we are better than that and that’s the real frustrating thing for me and I think we should have at least a couple of points on the board but that is very easy for me to say those things but we have to go and do it on the pitch to do that we have to be a little bit better and creative in the final third and that’s all that is letting us down at the moment, defensively the boys have been great as I said it was a mistake for the first goal today but the second goal was a fantastic strike, other than that I can’t remember Neil Parry having a great deal to do.

When Greig Spence was flattened in the penalty box it looked a stonewaller, from where I was and that was at 1-0, I just don’t understand, the linesman who is on the same side of the pitch as me, the referee had a good view of it, Greig is in front of the defender and the defender clearly barged into the back of him, I don’t understand how that was not given. If that was given at 1-0 and hopefully we had went and converted it to make it 1-1, it was game on again but those are the decisions that you need the referee to be brave enough to give, it is very easy to give fouls in and around the middle of the pitch but the big decisions which they are paid to make, unfortunately I think they got that one wrong.
0 - 2
Full Time

Ross County v Alloa Athletic

jim goodwin after late defeat at dingwall

I’m gutted for the players to be honest, for the amount of effort and hard work they put in the game today, I think it merited a point, we certainly didn’t do enough to win the game, apart from Greig’s chance in the first half we never had any other clear cut chances after that but I thought we defended really well at times, I thought our shape was good, we were frustrating Ross County in the second half, we knew they would be able to make changes they have a big squad and they brought some bodies on who can change it up, Brian Graham coming on made a difference.

The goal against was just a lapse of concentration at the end both wingers matched their full backs all the way for the duration of the game, it was a big learning curve for young Jake, going forward he has been absolutely brilliant since he has come in from Motherwell, we are very lucky to get him on loan, going forward he has been absolutely outstanding and that is just a learning curve for him on his path to bigger and better things.

We were hanging on there is no doubt about it, I think I am very honest in my assessment and I think Ross County were certainly the better team in the second half they were pinning us back, we knew they would they are a good team they are favourites to win the league, so it was important for us to come up here and be compact and hard to beat. I felt we could have done a bit better on the ball, that was my only frustration today. I thought we could have utilised the width of the pitch and put a couple of more passes together. The first half, I thought we were excellent there was nothing in the game in the first half but after 65, 70 minutes we seemed to run out of steam and unfortunately I don’t have the options in the squad at the moment to go and freshen things up, Kevin Cawley had a back spasm in the warm up, that ruled him out, Iain Flannigan was suspended and we have another couple of injuries, young Reis Peggie came on and did fine but it is what it is – we are really disappointed it is going to be a big part of the season going forward where we have a group of players who were used to winning last season and now it is going to be how can we pick ourselves up and bounce back and go again and look forward to next weekend and look to put things right.

Our players are fit but there comes a stage in the game we were just getting penned back and we were desperate for the final whistle, the timing of the goal was disappointing, if you lose the game 3 or 4 nil you hold your hand up, but over the piece today I felt we deserved a draw and a point, albeit Ross County were the most threatening going forward.

I am still trying to get more players in to strengthen the squad, we have a couple who are just nearly over the line, it’s just one of these ones it is not done till it’s done! We thought we would have at least one of them in before today’s game, Ahmed Aloulou should be fit again for next week, Iain Flannigan will return after suspension and David Galt is still off with a virus he has had for the last month or so, we are missing big players when you have such a tight squad a players as we have it is difficult when you lose key players but no excuses fair play to Ross County they are one of the favourites to win the league, we wish them well but still disappointed we didn’t take a point.
1 - 0
Full Time

Alloa Athletic v Ross County

Four games in two weeks appeared a bridge to far for “The Wasps” on Saturday against Ross County at the Indodrill Stadium. In truth Ross County were worthy winners on the day but with the scoreline still at only 1-0, the second goal not coming until two minutes into time added on an the end of the game, Jim Goodwin’s players gave everything knowing that a draw on the day would have been good enough to win the section.

Ross County looked to bounce back from their midweek reversal against Arbroath at Gayfield and certainly Stuart Kettlewell & Steven Ferguson must have been pleased with the reaction, giving Alloa very little space and quickly closing players down and winning second balls.

The Wasps did well to go in at half-time at 0-0, thanks to some excellent goalkeeping by Neil Parry. The opening goal when it did come just before the hour mark had a touch of fortune about it, defender Callum Morris deflecting a shot across goal past Neil Parry.

The closest “The Wasps” came to getting an equaliser was through Greig Spence about fifteen minutes prior to the end of the game, his overhead kick left County keeper Scott Fox stranded as he watched as the ball creeped inches past the wrong side of the post.

Alloa manager Jim Goodwin could not fault his players effort on the day but did conceed County were physically stronger and taller and he is still on the look out to strengthen his squad.

jim goodwin after wasps go out to ross county

It was a disappointing day, I couldn’t have asked any more from my players in terms of effort from the boys but I think it was just one game too far, to be honest we had four games in two weeks and we have a very small squad and I think that showed today. We were a little bit leggy I am being honest but in fairness I think Ross County were the better team on the day, there is no arguments there. I went to watch them against Arbroath and I knew they couldn’t be as bad as they were on Wednesday night and I was expecting a reaction and I think they got that, they were the better team. We didn’t create anything of note, I can’t remember us making Scott Fox make a save. We are disappointed to have got eight points from a very difficult group, but were nowhere near getting through in the end. We knew had to get at least a point, to achieve nine points before a ball was kicked today, as it is a point today would have won us the group. It would have been great but unfortunately it just wasn’t to be – We need to pick ourselves up now and look forward to the league campaign starting next week.

I  think if you look at the goals we conceded today, there was not a great deal we could do about them, we defended a corner well initially and it was a ball knocked back into a crowded box which takes a deflection and goes in, it was not like we had been carved open. The second goal we were committing bodies forward which  wouldn’t have happened normally, so I’m not really bothered about the goals against it would be different if we had been getting picked off and lose the game to four or five goals I would be concerned, I’m not concerned the lads have put in a great about of effort in the last couple of weeks, we have been played well picked up some decent results, scored a lot of goals but the evidence is there that the squad is light and I will need to work hard this week to try and get some bodies in and help the lads out because I limited to the amount of chances in could make; I had a couple of defenders on the bench that realistically weren’t going to come on and change the game, the one change I could make was bringing on Adam Brown but it would be nice to have one or two more attacking options so that will be my main job before the transfer window closes.
0 - 2
Full Time

Elgin City v Alloa Athletic

The Wasps have put themselves in a good position after victory at Borough Briggs, Elgin this evening, the club’s first ever victory at the ground. The players were excellent from the off, carrying on from their penalty shoot out victory v. Dundee United at Tannadice on Saturday.

The opening goal came as early as the second minute, Jake Hastie scoring his first goal for the club. Nine minutes later in was 2-0 Alan Trouten scoring his third goal in three matches and Jim Goodwin’s men had made a statement.

Elgin City made a strong start to the second period, with home manager Gavin Price looking for a reaction, however Jake Hastie’s second goal of the game, set up by Reis Peggie, killed the game.

jim goodwin after victory at elgin

Good to get a victory at Borough Briggs for first time another good monkey to get off our backs, but tonight was just a good team performance; right from the start of the game the boys were excellent, the goals were obviously important and being 2-0 up at half-time, I then thought Elgin came out and were the better team for the opening five minutes in the second half, but the third goal really killed the game off, it was a great ball from Reis Peggie and Jake Hastie had an excellent touch over the goalkeeper’s head and that really killed Elgin’s momentum and we were able to manage the game from there on in.

We have been in a very difficult group – Arbroath at home is a difficult tie, Dundee united another difficult game and then coming up here on a Tuesday night with all the travelling and everything else which could have been another difficult night but I think the players deserve a lot of credit for the way they went about the last two games, we have had three games in seven days which is very demanding on the players because how tight the squad is as well, we had a couple of suspensions tonight with Liam Dick and Iain Flannigan, two key players drop out the team and Reis Peggie and Jon Robertson came in and it was just like for like, that’s the beauty of having such a good squad, we still need to add to it, I think we still need two or three more bodies in, but quality and similar to what we have got and I think if we can get them in it will put us in a good place going forward.

It now goes down to a home match against Ross County, with only the winner guaranteed progression but with home advantage our confidence is high and hopefully everybody will come through the game unscathed, we have one or two with little knocks so hopefully they don’t come to much, but the boys are in great spirits at the moment and it certainly makes the trip down the road so much easier but we are looking forward to the Ross County game, we will be underdogs no doubt, Ross County will be up there at the top end of the Championship table competing to get back into the Premier League but we know if we go about our business in the manner that we have done in the last three games then we will certainly give them a difficult game.
0 - 3
Full Time

Dundee United v Alloa Athletic

The Wasps were victorious at Tannadice, winning 4-3 on penalties, but their second half display was worthy of victory within the ninety minutes, by the end of the game it was Dundee United who were hanging on with “The Wasps” going so close to clinching the winning goal

In was Jim Goodwin’s side who started the match the brightest with the Dundee United team looking very nervous. Greig spence flicking an effort into the side netting. United did look dangerous at set pieces in the box and Nicky Clark was unfortunate with a header which struck the woodwork before Frederic Frans bulleted a header past Neil Parry to give the home side the lead. Csaba Laszlo then watched his side have their best spell in the game, although Alan trouten nearly caught their keeper out of his goal prior to half time.
In the second half “The Wasps” took the game to their opponents showing great spirit and never gave up. They got their reward with eleven minutes left when Jake Hastie, who had been a torn in the flesh of the Dundee United defence with Frederic Frans giving away the penalty.
Alloa keep on going “Keeping Believing” and could have won the game in the regulation 90 minutes. Jake Hastie again broke into the United box and was brought down, but on this ocassion the referee awarded a free kick on the edge of the box.
“The Wasps” were faultless in their execution of the penalties:-
0 – 0  Stewart Murdoch – penalty saved
1 – 0  Scott Taggart – great way to celebrate 100th appearance
1 – 1  Fraser Aird scores
2 – 1  Greig Spence – great confidence and finish
2 – 2  Adam Barton draws game level again
3 – 2  Iain Flannigan – bottom corner finish
3 – 3  Declan Glass – did well in 2nd half
4 – 3  Alan Trouten – 2nd penalty converted in game
4 – 3  Paul McMullan penalty saved
jim goodwin after bonus point against dundee utd

I was really pleased with the overall performance, there was a spell after about twenty minutes of the first half I felt Dundee United were on top and they were on top for about ten minutes in that spell and they looked dangerous, but over the whole piece I thought the game plan was brilliant the boys carried it out to the letter, pressing them high, we knew they wanted to play out from the back, we went and locked on and caused them to make mistakes and kick the ball out the park and it eventually they started after ten minutes going long from their goalkeeper and played into our hands to be honest with Zac and Andy going to compete with Nicky Clark and compete for second balls. Early on in the game we had a number of chances I felt as well, half chances if you like, not clear cut chances but we certainly had the better of the early part of the game.

The goal against is disappointing, it was a fantastic ball in from Fraser Aird and it is “Land of the Giants” with United’s centre backs six feet four and the big boy Adam Barton in the middle of the park, we’re not that big a team so that was always going to be a danger for us, we were disappointed to lose that goal in that manner but second half I thought we were excellent. We came out and really went for it, Jake Hastie in particular, I don’t like singling boys out but in particular a young 19 year old who really took the game to Dundee United and he caused their right back all sorts of problems and for me I thought he should have had a second penalty as well, and that maybe goes and kills the game and we could have gone back down the road with three points instead of two.

I’m not having a go at the referee, I really like Steven he is one of the better referee’s in the country and a really good guy as well so I’m not going to argue over six inches but for me it was on the line and if it’s on the line it’s in the box that’s the rules. I thought it was a penalty but it doesn’t matter we will take two points at a difficult place to come, I think it is 40 or 50 years since Alloa last won at Tannadice, but we came here to win a game of football, to get that monkey off our back if we had scored the second penalty, but it was not to be, I thought the quality of the penalties in the shoot out were unbelievable – Taggart’s top corner, Spenny top corner, so really good quality penalty kicks, but big Neilly will get all the credit for the saves that he makes. The players put themselves forward and backed themselves, they have that confidence to go and do it, but I thought it was strange when we went and took penalties into an empty stand, I don’t understand that, I thought the games is about entertainment for the fans, so why take the penalties 100 yards down the park into an empty stand?

It was a great afternoon for us, it puts us in a really good position, we now go up to Elgin on Tuesday night, the boys will need to recover well because as you can see we are a very tight bunch very low on numbers at the moment, so we need the boys to recover properly and go and have another difficult game at Elgin in midweek and only if we win that it puts us in a good position.
1 - 1p
Full Time

Alloa Athletic v Arbroath
4 - 2
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Liam Dick

Previous Clubs – Falkirk, Stranraer, Dumbarton

Twenty five year old defender who joined the club from Dumbarton after ending that season in the Play-Off final for Dumbarton against “The Wasps”. Liam began his footballing career with Falkirk making 29 first team appearances before going out on loan to Stranraer to gain regular first team football where he played for the next two and a half seasons before joining Dumbarton in January transfer window. One of the club’s unsung hero’s last season who has made the left back position his own.

Adam Brown

Previous Clubs: Celtic Youths, St. Mirren, Airdrieonians

Friend of Maradona

Adam was one of the Jim Goodwin’s first signings in May 2018, having impressed for Airdrieonians. Started his footballing career with Celtic Youths before short spell with St. Mirren. Twentyfive year old player who has a great engine and gets up and down the pitch. Adam scored his first competitive goal for the club with rocket shot into the top corner of the net, a goal which would have been fit to win any game against Dunfermline Athletic at East End Park last season. This season will be a big opportunity for Adam in midfield now Iain Flannigan has decided to retire and one he is desperate to grab.