
23 June 2026 7:30 pm N/A Alloa Athletic v Civil Service Strollers

Season: 2019-20

Alloa Athletic v Dundee United

Playing in front of the BBC TV Cameras on Friday evening, Alloa Athletic proved just how good a team they can be and thoroughly deserved their victory and all three points against league leaders, Dundee United.

The winning goal came as early as the 18th minute and was a joy to watch, not just for the supporters at the Indodrill Stadium but in front of all the people watching live on BBC Scotland.

Scott Taggart played a slide rule pass inside Dundee United defender Liam Smith and played in Kevin Cawley, who cut the ball back across the face of the box for Kevin O’Hara to score past United keeper Benjamin Siegrist.

The Wasps were on top in the first half and should have gone further ahead, only a last ditch block by Troy Brown denied Iain Flannigan while Adam Brown had a shot saved and Kevin O’Hara shot just curled over the bar.

In the second half Dundee United had more possession and pressure but Alloa stood their ground, concentrated and were very competitive and always looked dangerous on the break with Adam Brown and Kevin O’Hara stretching the United defence.

Indeed United keeper Benjamin Siegrist allowed a Mark Reynolds passback to go under his foot and he had to scramble back to clear the ball from crossing the line.

Three minutes from the end of the game referee Greg Aitken showed Iain Flannigan a second yellow card on the evening after a foul on substitute Louis Appere but the defence stood resolute for a famous victory.

peter grant after victory over leaders dundee united

I think anybody who has seen the game might have thought we might have had a couple of other goals in the first half, we know we were played against an excellent side, who can cause you major problems with their very good players, but I have said to people before if they have listened to me, that we have very good players also, or best defenders were our front men and or best attackers were our defenders because they got on the ball used it very well and when didn’t have possession of the ball the strikers worked so hard to put the opposition under pressure and not to let them get easy balls forward. All round I was chuffed with the whole performance, we knew we would be under the cosh at a certain period but I think to a man everybody stood to their guns and concentrated and were committed and competitive and I think that is so important when you are a footballer.

I genuinely thought that we played really well, scored a great goal, but as I said to you we have to respect these players, I know they are part-time and people keep mentioning that fact but they are good players, it is not worth for some of the players to go full-time, because of the jobs they have, you have to respect that these kids can play, I see them training and that’s why I got disappointed after the Ayr United and Arbroath games, which is no disrespect to them but we didn’t turn up and it’s not because we are part-time, because I see the way they train every week and that’s where the disappointment comes because I can see the way they train and the way they prepare and what you have seen tonight is how they perform in training. They got their just rewards tonight but we have got to make sure we turn this into a fortress, because the results have not been good enough at home, I don’t like to look back but I think it is so important we build on that result tonight because all your home games are your most important games to take three points from because if you lose at home it is not easy to go and win away in this league. Chuffed with tonight but we must move on and start focusing on next week that is the way football is. You will live with this, enjoy your weekend and then we will get back to work on Tuesday night.

Kevin O’Hara has been excellent for me, he is a young man who had probably been out of the game for about a year not playing much football and I had seen him playing with my son at Falkirk and I thought he was too good a talent to loose and I got an opportunity in the summer to talk to him, his big choice did he want to go part-time and he was delighted to do that, he came here and I think he has been excellent for us, he gives us something different, but then you look when Liam Buchanan comes on, he was excellent for us using his experience very well, he is a different type of striker, I have Robert Thomson who I know can effect a game, I have Alan Trouten who has been excellent, so I have four strikers who I think when I have them all fit, I can mix the way we play and I think that is so important and every one of them has had a big effect when they have played for the team so if we can keep them all fit we will be ok.

Lawrence Shankland puts me in mind when I played against Ally McCoist, when you don’t give him a sniff but he still managed to put the ball in the back of the net, so the concentration levels have to be spot on, right from the start to the ninety fifth minute, Lawrence is a terrific player and thoroughly deserves his call up to the Scotland National side, you create him chances and he will score goals it doesn’t matter if is at International level or club level whatever and that’s why when Oli McBurnie gets a lot of criticism, how many chances has he missed? If you miss the chances you have a right for people to criticise you but not when there are no chances created and I thought we defended really well tonight led by Andy Graham but I thought young Robbie Deas a young man learning his trade, Scott Taggart, Jon Robertson who was playing on the opposite side of the pitch tonight through injuries, Jamie MacDonald’s experience also showed tonight, I could go right through the team and it would be unfair not to mention any one player because I thought they were all terrific tonight and it was a thoroughly deserved result.


4 October 2019 1 - 0 Full Time

Dunfermline Athletic v Alloa Athletic

A point at East End Park against Dunfermline Athletic was a huge improvement in the teams performance against Ayr United the previous week, but this was a game, albeit there was not a lot either keeper had to deal with, “The Wasps” would rightly feel disappointed they didn’t collect all three points after Dunfermline Athletic scored with a goal, where there was a clear hand ball in the build up.

“The Wasps” were unfortunate to lose key defender Liam Dick after he failed a late fitness test, failing to recover from injury picked up last Saturday against Ayr United, this gave an opportunity to Adam Brown which he was to grab with both hands. In a very tight squad injuries to Neil Parry, Liam Dick, Blair Malcolm and also Robert Thomson who had a tight hamstring, left manager Peter Grant with a real lack of depth to his squad. It was obvious from the kick off that Dunfermline Athletic had learned from the threat of Alan Trouten who was closely marked at all times and given very little space.

The opening goal just after the break was a thing of beauty, Kevin O’Hara passed inside to Adam Brown who advanced towards the Dunfermline goal before sending an unstoppable shot into the top right hand corner of the net which set the Alloa Athletic supports into a sea of celebration.

Eight minutes later however the home side grabbed a contentious equaliser after striker Kevin Nisbet had handled the ball before it broke to Kyle Turner, whose shot ended in the back of the net for a cruel equaliser.

After the equaliser the home side looked to grab a winner but apart from a header from Kevin Nisbet which went close neither manager could say they had worked the opposition keeper enough to claim three points. Alloa can still take positives from a match which saw Iain Flannigan make his 200th appearance for the club, along with club captain Andy Graham who made his 150th appearance for the club. Robbie Deas was outstanding in defence throwing himself to block efforts from the Dunfermline Athletic players and looking solid throughout. Iain Flannigan and Stevie Hetherington provided the perfect midfield shield in front of the defence and looked to break when ever the occasion presented with Kevin O’Hara doing some tireless front running to stretch the home defence.

peter grant after draw at east end park

Today I was really pleased with the boys and certainly a lot different from last week, it didn’t help today having to make changes after the warm up, Liam Dick just not feeling quite ready after the pre match warm up and Adam Brown was put into the starting eleven and Jon Robertson took over at left back having impressed after coming on last week and of course Adam Brown took the opportunity by putting us ahead with a wonder goal, I was delighted for him but that is what you expect from your team, but I’m disappointed, coming away from the game not to collect the three points. When you go one in front and knock the ball about really well, we created opportunities and had good possession. When we go in front I expect us to stay in front, but we were to lose a bad goal, however I thought there was a hand ball in the lead up to the Dunfermline Athletic equaliser.

We get criticised for criticising referee’s, I know their job is hard, but our job is hard as well, these two points we feel we dropped could be massive for us come the end of the season. I don’t want to be “Poor old Alloa”, you can give a decision against them and it doesn’t matter. I don’t want to take it away from the players, you would normally come here and be delighted with a point, I’m disappointed because I’m greedy, I thought we deserved all three points, once we went in front we should have stayed in front.

Adam Brown has all the talent, there is no doubt of that and he can hit the ball like a bomb, he does it week after week at training but it is just for him to make the right choices, he is a young man still learning his trade and as I have said there is no doubt he is a talented boy and I am delighted for him today because I was critical of him in the dressing room last week after he came on in the game because there were certain things he did which were not what we asked him to do and he has responded in the best possible manner today, his work ethic for not playing for weeks and then produce the performance he did today, he is learning on his feet and then to go and score a wonder goal it is just a pity is was not to be the winner.


28 September 2019 1 - 1 Full Time

Alloa Athletic v Ayr United

Ayr United produced one of the best 45 minutes of football that has been seen by any side at the Indodrill Stadium, after three straight wins in the SPFL Championship against Queen of the South, Partick Thistle and league leaders Dundee United, this was always going to be a tough game for Peter Grant’s side. Prior to the game Alloa Athletic suffered another blow with Alan Trouten being unfit to take his place in “The Wasps” line up.

Alan Forrest put the visitors ahead as early as the 10th minute from the penalty spot and when ex Wasp, Sam Roscoe who had been on loan last season at Alloa, rose to head in number two after only 13minutes in looked like a long way back.

Luke McCowan made it 3-0 after twenty minutes and Alan Forrest completed his double after 41 minutes to put “The Honest Men” well in control and it could have been more.

To Alloa’s credit they never gave in and the manager made two substitutions at the break to try and get back into the game and in fairness they worked with both Jon Robertson, who was involved in all Alloa’s best moves of the second period and Adam Brown who looked to get at the Ayr United defence.

“The Wasps” pulled a goal back just after the hour mark, Jon Robertson’s cross into the box caused Aaron Muirhead under pressure from Kevin O’Hara to get a goal back.

“The Wasps” needed to get another goal shortly after getting their breakthrough but it was not to be. The game marked Stevie Hetherington’s 150th first team appearances for “The Wasps” but it will not be a game like any of the Alloa players they will want to look back at.

The Ayr fans in the crowd would have been pleased with the result and play but the headlines soon changed to the fact their manager was soon to be heading to take the Partick Thistle manager job.

peter grant after home defeat to ayr

A terrible first half which I didn’t see coming, with this group of boys because they are a fantastic group of players. I said to them at half-time it doesn’t matter what level you are playing at you have to compete, we know we are a good football side but you have to compete, the last home game here against Arbroath was similar, I thought we were playing in a testimonial match, I thought Ayr United were very good, I thought we started the first ten minutes ok, but then after the roof caved in and it was damage limitation, to be perfectly honest there could have been more goals for Ayr United.

In the second half I had said to the players they needed to compete and look to win the second half, we did manage to score one goal but we needed another quickly after our goal to have an opportunity to really have a go at it. The players were hurting as I was at half-time watching it, I made a couple of changes, we had to do something to try and freshen it up. I thought changing the right back was the move that changed the game for us, I have left Jon Robertson out a few weeks and he showed the character that you need to try and win games of football, he was competitive, he set up about five or six goal opportunities including the one Kevin O’Hara scored, but all in all Ayr United thoroughly deserved their victory.

Losing Alan Trouten prior to the game was a blow, he hasn’t been feeling great this week and we hope it is only a viral infection he has, so that was a late blow to us but we have to try and adjust, the young players on the bench have earned their place the way they have played and earned that right, there are no excuses we didn’t deserve to win the game and it was nothing to do with anything else other than the guys on the pitch didn’t do enough in the first half, Ayr United won the first-half comfortably, we tried to win the second half but we needed that right from the start, my only concern is that is now the last two home games we haven’t competed especially the Arbroath game which was for the full game I felt and today was the first half, much better in the second half but Ayr United thoroughly deserved their victory.


21 September 2019 1 - 4 Full Time

Dundee v Alloa Athletic

“The Wasps” will look back at this game knowing they had a great opportunity to win at Dens Park and will feel aggrieved that they left empty handed. Fine margins can decide the destiny of victory and on this occasion the opportunity to draw level after 51 minutes with the penalty kick which was saved was to be crucial.

Losing an early goal in the opening minute was not ideal but the response from the players was immense, playing the better football in the first half. After ten minutes Liam Dick was to score his first competitive goal for the club, initally heading the ball before it broke lose and he shot low into the bottom corner of the net.

Eleven minutes prior to half time Dundee took the lead for the second time in the match when Jordan McGhee scored at the back post. The relief was seen all round Dens Park, coming off the back of a couple of defeats the home side managed to edge in front.

Alloa played some fantastic football but the bottom line is they need to stop giving away cheap goals. The players character can never be questioned but in this game Dundee at times were holding on and can count themselves fortunate to collect the three points.

Alloa were given a great opportunity to equalise in the 51st minute after Kevin Cawley had been fouled in the box, the ever relable Alan Trouten on this occasion had to watch as home keeper Jack Hamilton saved his effort.

Alloa’s new emergency loan keeper Jamie MacDonald did well on a couple of occasions with brilliant reaction saves. Alloa were still creating chances, Liam Buchanan passed inside to Alan Trouten who tried to set up the on rushing Kevin O’Hara but he was blocked out. The final chance in the closing minutes fell to Robert Thomson but he dragged his shot wide of the target.

This is a game Alloa will look back on knowing they didn’t deserve to lose but must be more clinical when the opportunites arise.

peter grant at dens park

It’s great when you come to somewhere like Dens Park and are disappointed, certainly Jamie MacDonald has made a couple of great saves but I thought we played a lot of good stuff. We are obviously disappointed in the goals we conceded, the second one was a bit dubious because I thought Andy Graham cleared it really well and I thought we could have had a free kick for it, but I don’t like to complain about that, when we have lost a game, that is alright to complain about when you win, so I don’t want to go down that road.

I am very proud of the boys, I was just saying I am more disappointed for them because coming to places like Dens Park I thought we showed how good a team we can be, we had a good chance to equalise with the penalty, but Alan Trouten, who has been outstanding for us and has scored some magnificent goals throughout his period with Alloa Athletic, he is more disappointed than anyone, but I genuinely believe if we had scored at that time we would have went on and won the game that’s how fine the lines are in this league.

We knew Dundee are a good side with good players and can hurt you and we weathered a wee bit of a storm at the start of the second half. The weather was a bit indifferent for both teams, in the first half with the wind either for you or against you, I am always not sure which is the best thing for you at times, the ball was running away from us at the start of the second half but once we got a grip of it we showed a lot of good stuff and character coming away from here and being disappointed really sums it up.


14 September 2019 2 - 1 Full Time

Dunfermline Athletic v Inverness CT

“The Wasps” for the second year running have knocked out “The Pars” at East End Park in the Challenge Cup, last season Irn-Bru Cup, this season renamed The Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer Challenge Cup.

Alloa started the game brightly and looked to take the game to Dunfermline Athletic but could not find the final ball inside the eighteen yard box. On 28 minutes Alan Trouten was unfortunate not to get on the scoresheet but Cammy Gill in the home goal pushed his effort over the bar for a corner. From the corner which was headed clear Dunfermline broke at pace and outnumbered the Alloa defence, and when Greg Kiltie was released on goal he took the opportunity to open the scoring on his debut since signing on loan.

Worse was to follow as goalkeeper Neil Parry suffered a suspected hamstring injury at the same time which could keep him sidelined for a while. Chris Henry came on and played his part in the victory.

Five minutes before half-time “The Wasps” scored an equaliser through Robert Thomson who had been troubling the home defence, Liam Dick’s shot from left of box was partily cleared but the alert and brave Robert Thomson headed home at the back post.

Just prior to half-time substitute goalkeeper Chris Henry made an important save from Lee Ashcroft’s header to keep the score level at half-time.

The winning goal came after 53 minutes and it was that man Alan Trouten who again was on target at East End Park, ghosting into the box to score with low shot into the corner which went in off the post.
At this stage Alloa were on the ascendancy and Robert Thomson was unlucky not to add to his earlier strike, this time with an overhead kick which just cleared the crossbar.

Dunfermline athletic manager Stevie Crawford introduced twin strikers Andy Ryan and Kevin Nisbet just on the hour mark in an effort to get back into the game. Dunfermline certainly had to bulk of the possession in the latter stage of the match but the Alloa defence looked solid as they withstood the home attacks.

Alloa were then to suffer another blow when Blair Malcolm who had only been on the pitch for some five minutes pulled up when chased down the left wing and had to leave the field, with “The Wasps” now down to ten men.
The Alloa players battled till the end and Chris Henry would have been delighted to keep a clean sheet.

The Wasps can now look forward to the 4th Round Draw on Tuesday at 12.30 Live on SPFL You tube channel.

Peter grant after a good day at east end park

Well chuffed again to-day, a couple of weeks ago when we played Arbroath I said we played it like a testimonial game, certainly not looking competitive but I think we have been excellent in our last two games both with the ball and against the ball, so I have been really pleased with that. I have said from the start we have a goal threat along with one of the best defenders in the league in Andy Graham, along with some of the best leaders, if we get it right at the back and make sure we defend well against the ball we know we have players who can win games and that proved to be the case again today with Alan Trouten getting the winner.

I can’t fault these guys, from day one since I came in their effort has been phenomenal and today we picked up a couple of injuries, players and been working and travelling to their work there is not much we can do about that, that’s the way life is when you are part time, but the one thing I can give them great credit for is every time they train they give it their maximum effort and maximum commitment and you can see that the way we had to dig in at the end. It’s not just a team this, it is a group of players who somebody described as a gang and that’s the way I would describe them because they dig in for each other, they fill in for each other and that’s what it takes to win games of football.

The pitch was magnificent today, but all of a sudden we were taking too many touches it was that good, we like to move the ball quick and I thought we took too many touches on it, but once we got playing that wee bit quicker and mixed the game up a little bit more I thought there was nothing I could complain about. In Alan Trouten we have one of the best players at arriving in the box and getting these crucial goals with a phenomenal finish. I think at the death I was more pleased being down to ten men and having bodies on the line to stop crosses, they were heading balls clear in the box with midfield players who are probably not used to it at times and having to head balls away. These are the things which make you successful, there is no easy route in football and these boys have proven it, they work their socks off every time they train and they are getting their just rewards just now, but we know it is in every game they have to do the exact same thing due to the standard we have set from our first game of the season against Partick Thistle, probably about 80% of the game we were excellent but they have to play like that week in week out and against the ball they are getting better.

Neil Parry felt something pop in his hamstring and it’s a bit unfortunate because Neil has been working away this week and missed training on Thursday, there is no luxury of rest periods as full team players can get, gutted for him because he has been outstanding for us we will just have to wait and assess it and wait for the scan results, it was similar for Blair he was just on, you can warm up as much as you can but it is very difficult at the side of a pitch to be prepared for a match, yet again he is a young man who has not played a lot of football recently, played very well last week in a difficult pitch at Dumfries, but this week he came on and possibly a stiffness in his game legs he has not got yet and I think that is the issue, he has a tight hamstring, he felt it and I am always concerned when it is a hamstring, hopefully that is not the cause and he will be available next week because it would leave us short but you have to deal with those things, we knew that prior to the window closing, so we will work something out.


7 September 2019 1 - 3 Full Time

Queen of the South v Alloa Athletic

Peter Grant’s side gained their first three points of the season after a 1-0 victory at Palmerston Park, Dumfries. This was everything we weren’t against Arbroath the previous week. Last season we had a great record against Queen of the South having collected 10 points out a possible 12.

The first half passed without either sides tested the goalkeepers, Alloa’s best opportunity was when Darren Brownlee appeared to pull Robert Thomson down in the box.

Queen’s best chance fell to prolific goalscorer Stephen Doobie who on this occasion fired over in a crowded box.

In the first half Alloa Athletic had showed great diligence and fight but always were looking for that chance to break on the home defence. It was important to get the first goal and in a counter attack Robert Thomson broke down the left wing and crossed for Alan Trouten to score such a landmark goal, not just the winning goal but Alloa athletic’s 1000’s landmark league goal of the 21st century.
It was a good team performance and showed again what we are capable of doing in this division, on our day we can beat anybody.

Indeed substitute Liam Buchanan could have scored with his first touch of the ball, Adam Brown playing back the pass for Liam Buchanan to shoot on goals only to be denied by a great save by Robbie McCrobbie.

It was a good team performance and showed what we are capable of doing moving up to 7th in the league.

peter grant after win at dumfries

Delighted to get the three points, today’s performance was a different type of performance we showed that diligence to go and fight for everything and I think that’s what won it in the end, we know we have goal scorers in the team, you can see that when Buchanan came on and Robbie McCrorie had to pull off a wonderful save. But you also have to show that diligence to defend well and I thought the boys did that fantastically well. Completely different from last week, I thought we were very tentative against Arbroath, this week we showed a diligence to work hard without the ball, to get behind the ball and work hard and we showed quality at times and got the balance about right, it’s great to get the three points.

Although Queen of the South had some pressure, I can’t recall our goalkeeper, Neil Parry having a save to make, yes we defended really well, from the front guys right through and your best defenders have to be your forwards and I thought they did that exceptionally well. We could have scored more goals had we had taken more care on the breaks we could definitely done that, that’s the both sides of the game, you have to defend exceptionally well if you want to take points, I think we deserved them, nobody could argue about that and our keeper has not had a save to make in the full game.

The goal was a superb bit of quality great counter attacking move, cross and great finish. We know we are capable of that we have the players but the biggest thing is when we have the ball we are always very open cause we want to go and play an expansive game, the central midfield players making runs beyond the ball even when we were 1-0 up, that is something we need to organise a bit better to do that and get better at it. People say to me what is the difference going part time probably that might be it, just not having the time to work with the players, limited to two nights a week to go through these strategic things on the pitch but I know these boys are intelligent to take these things on board but the first thing is to learn how to win games of football and I thought we did that exceptionally well today as I said our keeper never had a safe to make and their keeper had a World class save from Liam Buchanan, so we could have ended winning the game by more but QOS were always a threat cause a one goal lead is a precarious lead.

The most important thing today was to win the football game, people do it in different ways, there is no set way to do it, we have to win games of football that is what we are paid to do and our players are more than capable of winning games of football as is everyone in this division. I was at a game last night in Dundee and Dundee unbelievable got beat 6-2 and I thought Dundee played very well, it just shows you what the league is like there are no easy games. Arbroath having defeated us last week have again won again today defeating a Dunfermline Athletic side again showing there are no easy games. We are no different from anybody else in this league we will look to win every game we play in, we are capable of winning the games we will be playing but to do that we have to play exceptionally well both with the ball and without the ball.

Blair Malcolm made his debut today and I was delighted with him, he is a young man who has not played many games and I thought he gave us a little bit of balance on the left hand side of the pitch, he has good energy I thought his quality on the ball was good, he did get caught a couple of times but he did everything that was asked of him.


31 August 2019 0 - 1 Full Time

Alloa Athletic v Arbroath

Alloa Athletic looked to bounce back after the defeat at Cappielow a fortnight ago against an Arbroath side whom we had beaten earlier in the season in the Betfred Cup. However on this occasion Arbroath had certainly learned from that game and were worthy winners in such an important SPFL Championship fixture, gaining three very valuable league points.

Arbroath closed “The Wasps” down at every opportunity in a game Peter Grant’s side struggled to find any creativity, they looked disjointed with passes going astray. Arbroath seemed more hungry on the day and we were second all over the park.

We are a far better side than we displayed on Saturday, however we needed to ask questions of the opposition as we didn’t seriously test their keeper on the day.

Liam buchanan had Alloa’s best effort on goal but his shot went into the side netting much to the relief of the travelling Arbroath fans. Stevie Hetherington became the second Alloa athletic player to see red this season after picking up his second booking after 77 minutes, last season we had only one red card all season.

In a game of few chances for “The Wasps” they might have had a late penalty when substitute Robert Thomson appeared to be pulled down inside the box but the referee was no convinced.

peter grant after home defeat to arbroath

It was disappointing, Arbroath have come and done their job well and we have to give them credit for that but we know we are much better than that, once we lost the goal it gave Arbroath something to hold on to and I just thought the game was too bitty. We lost the ball to many times under no real pressure, sometimes you get that you get caught up in the atmosphere round about you but losing the goal the way we did from our throw in and all of a sudden we conceded a goal which has happened to often already this season. We were in good possession in the opposition half and we concede a goal!

The sending off didn’t help, I understand the frustration from players at times because there are some decisions for both teams, it is very difficult for referees and linesmen because we now have guys in the stand mark you down if they don’t give a decision, it makes it a very difficult job and one I wouldn’t like to do. However it becomes a frustration when you are trying to play the game quick and the other team are just trying to stop the game being played. That becomes a frustration and players and supporters get frustrated at it. I don’t want my Alloa team picking up bookings for their mouth I want this to be a team to compete and not sitting on needless bookings for your mouth, it then puts you in the situation you can mistime a tackle and lose players. We don’t have a big squad, we done without our captain today and now will miss another influential player in Stevie, who has been excellent for us, so that is a massive blow for us. So the discipline has to be right I understand the frustration but I also have sympathy for the officials.

We stopped trusting ourselves today, taking an extra touch and we are a team who like to play quick, Kevin Cawley who has been excellent for us was taking that extra touch today, but Kevin didn’t return back to training until Thursday after his head knock at Cappielow, he has been outstanding for us, he is a big player for us in the way he plays. Taking that extra touch allowed Arbroath to get into position. When we move the ball quick we look a good side but when we take too many touches we become an ordinary side.


24 August 2019 0 - 1 Full Time

Morton v Alloa Athletic

Saturday’s defeat at Cappielow was a sore one to take, given how well we had played against Partick Thistle the previous week and being disappointed with a point. The manager put it down to a bad day at the office for the players whom he reminds everyone just how well they have done in his short time at the club.

For Scott Taggart making his 150th first team appearance for the club it might not be a game he will want to look back on against one of his previous clubs.

Bob McHugh put Greenock Morton ahead after only five minutes as “The Wasps” started slowly and looking very passive. The injury to Kevin Cawley even although he took his goal well, not that he could remember much about it was another blow just as we were looking to start to play a bit.

We got back into the game and that allowed us to make some passes and created a couple of chances which would have made a difference before half-time.

Indeed Greenock Morton’s second goal came again the run of play in a breakaway after we lost possession and the home side were clinical in their finish. In fairness that changed the game and the third goal along with Andy Graham’s red card killed any hope of a comeback. Anybody who has now had opportunity to see why Andy Graham was complaining about the third goal standing cannot fail to see the foul by Bob McHugh on Robbie Deas.

Football always gives teams a chance to bounce back and we have that opportunity against Arbroath on Saturday 24th August when we meet at the Indodrill stadium in a SPFL Championship fixture, we must make sure we take it.

peter grant after defeat at cappielow

I thought we started the game very slow which wasn’t like us but the boys have been magnificent since I have come in the door, I just thought there was a wee edge of them today, at simple things – a throw in against not getting across to stop it and I thought that set the tone for the game. We know we are much better than that these boys have been magnificent they way they have been schooled by Jim Goodwin and prior, the way they work their socks off in every training session and in every game we have played and for me I think it is the first time they have not turned up for their work, so hopefully we can put it to bed and move on to the next game which is what we have to do.

The sending off was a strange one, Andy said that the linesman had said something to the referee that he should get a booking, but Andy said he had not shouted at the linesman and that’s when he gave him a second yellow which I found incredible which the referee has not explained, because if he had said something or swore, because at first I thought he had swore at the referee but he said he had done nothing, it was the linesman who had told the referee and Andy said “ I haven’t shouted nothing to the linesman” but the referee gave him a second booking but the game was gone by then.

Morton thoroughly deserved the victory, I didn’t think we turned up today, we had nice patches and could have scored a couple of goals in the first half but we were never in control as we were last week and teams are going to make it difficult for us to play. So we need to be the hardest team to play without the ball and the best team to watch with it, but today we didn’t move the ball quick enough and never stopped the opposition playing and with that combination there is only going to be one winner.

Kevin Cawley has got concussion, he can’t even remember being hurt, he remembers hitting the ball for the goal but can’t remember it hitting the net when he landed and hit his head off the ground, he wanted to carry on but unfortunately nowadays although he felt good but then came to side of park and we had no choice to take him off, because he has been excellent for us and a catalyst in how we play and we missed him today. So we must dust ourselves down and go and make sure it doesn’t happen again, but we didn’t make it hard for the opposition to day.


10 August 2019 4 - 1 Full Time

Alloa Athletic v Partick Thistle

This was a game Alloa Athletic once again thrived on being the underdogs, “The Wasps” began the game the better side and took the game to Partick Thistle, restoring the pitch to it’s widest dimensions and once again proving our players can play and took the game to their full-time opponents.

Alloa dominated the ball and possession and controlled the tempo of the ball, the most surprising statistic is it took until the 33rd minute for the home side to go ahead, Steven Hetherington long range effort deflected by striker Alan Trouten for his fourth goal of the season.

The Wasps surged in confidence but didn’t do enough in the final third, some of the football was a joy to watch but needed a bit more composure and quality, Jamie Sneddon not being troubled enough.

Partick Thistle started the second half in a more positive manner and for the first time in the match started to trouble the home defence. Thistle were to be rewarded on the hour mark, Neil Parry who had had to look lively in the Alloa goal saved well but knocked the ball onto the far post and Joe Cardle scored the equalising goal netting the rebound.

Peter Grant’s side can take great credit in how bravely the fought in the game and can be aggrieved at not collecting all three points. However our goalkeeper Neil Parry once again had to put off a World Class save to deny Thistle stealing all three points.

peter grant after opening day draw

I thought we were very good at certain periods of the game but you know you will be under pressure at some time when you are against some very good players, it’s a tough league as people say you are never out of it and I said that to the boys at half-time, they had dominated so much with the ball, without really creating as many chances as we probably wanted or taken many of the chances we created, but then it takes two world class saves from Neil Parry not to lose the game. He is a fantastic goalkeeper but I think the players deserved more out of the game there is no doubt in my mind, but that’s the way the league is. I was at a game last night and I saw the exact same thing for Dunfermline Athletic, they dominated, got a bad decision against them and all of the sudden they were on the back foot a little. However I have to say I was really pleased with a hell of a lot of the game and I would be picking at things to say anything else, it’s a start for us and hopefully people have seen how this group of players, which Jim Goodwin assembled and have done exceptionally well, with a fantastic work ethic and we are now just looking to add wee bits and bobs to it to make them better and hopefully people see some of the things that we were trying to do today.

The players are comfortable on the ball and I think that is important in how we want to play, we have to trust ourselves, I have never went to a game and worried about anybody we will be facing and I am not going to start now, I have to worry about our players being brave enough to take the ball and they have done that and shown that, in every game they have tried exactly that, yes we have had errors, getting caught in possession and giving chances away but that is my problem to sort, that’s down to me. I want them to take the ball and be brave in possession because I think you can create chances it’s just a matter of taking them. When you don’t have the ball we are a very hard working team and I am sure you have seen that today, the work ethic of the players is phenomenal, it they can add their football talent and how they were knocking the ball around, especially in the first half and we knew it would be tougher in the second half, with a bit of a wind up against you and Partick asking more questions of us playing more balls into our box, but I thought we were composed and created chances but in the end still felt we had dropped two points.

The Robbie Deas deal is one I had looked at right from the start, I understand Celtic’s problem in the fact Robbie currently has a slight strain and has missed a couple of weeks in pre season So I think he will be important for us, I saw quite a bit of him last season when on loan to Cowdenbeath and I thought he did exceptionally well, I know he has been schooled the proper way in how he would play and that is important for any of the boys we bring in here and how they will have an effect on the group because this is a very tight knit group, it’s not just the playing side, I have to look at the character of them as well, because what has been built here over all the managers is a fantastic group of players and I do not want anybody coming in here who could be a bad egg and upset them, because it is so important in how we are trying to play and I have no doubt if it happens with Robbie he would be a big asset for us and it is something I look forward to him coming through the door.

I am still looking to bring in another one or two, but the most important thing for me at this time, I have taken in a lot of games since I have come up, I have seen a lot of players but the pleasing thing for me is, the boys I have went to see are not any better than the boys I have here and that’s the pleasing thing for me and the only guys who would be coming in here are guys who I feel can make an impact on this team, wither that is from the bench or starting a match, there will be nobody coming in here just to sit about and not raise the bar. The group we have earned their place by staying in the league last year, now we want to improve on that, up there challenging, we have started the race we want to go and give everybody a game and make sure when they come here they know they have been in a game and I think Thistle will go away and say that today.

Next week we face Greenock Morton and a possible family feud, it’s the first time I will have played against Peter, I have played against Raymond quite a few times at Fulham and Norwich, so it is never easy for them and it is never easy for me, I think he will put his phone off because I might try and phone him at four in the morning to wake him up or find out where he is staying and throw stones at his window! No I am looking forward to the game, he has done fantastically well albeit unfortunate with injuries but he is now back fully fit so God willing he has a good season but only if it starts after next week.

Changing the size of the pitch was proven today, we are comfortable in possession of the ball, I don’t want the opposition thinking they are comfortable on the ball and I found at every set play against us in the final third, its ended being a corner against us and I believe it was so important to the way we want to play. All the top managers tell you, that you need space to play in and I think with the players we have we need the space to play in because we have some special players at the club who are comfortable in possession of the ball, so it was a no brainer for me to go and make the pitch as big as we can, because we are very good on the ball and very fit which is again great credit to the previous managers, especially Jim Goodwin last year who assembled this group of players.


3 August 2019 1 - 1 Full Time

Arbroath v Alloa Athletic

“The Wasps” ended their Betfred Cup Group C matches with a victory over Arbroath at Gayfield in a match they deserved to win by a more handsome margin than the 3-2 victory in a match they thoroughly deserved to win.

Peter Grant’s team played really well enjoying large spells of possession and looking to get onto the ball at every occasion with the diamond shape in midfield making sure everybody was involved in the slick passing game which Arbroath had no answer. The only criticism was the fact we weren’t more clinical in front of goal and should have scored more goals.

The opening goal came completely against the run of play when ex Wasp Greig Spence was fouled on the edge of the box and Bobby Linn drilled home the resultant free kick.
It was no surprise when Alloa took the lead after 51 minutes when Alan Trouten netted after Kevin O’Hara’s initial effort had been blocked.

At this stage of the game Alloa were dominant and should have been more dominant in front of goal as a one goal margin can be dangerous. Out of the blue Jason Thomson threw a ball into the box and aided by the wind it went straight over Chris Henry’s head and dropped in at the back post for a fortuitous equaliser. Arbroath then had their best spell in the game and threatened to turn the game on its head but Chris Henry saved well from Greig Spence in a frantic period.

The manager introduced both Robert Thomson and Andy Stirling who had both had a part to play in the winning goal, scored again by Alan Trouten. it was a great move and a goal fitting to win any game.

There were lots of positives to be taken from this display, no more so than putting a marker down to Arbroath how competitive the Championship will be. We now look forward to the opening league game of the season at home to Partick Thistle who will be looking to start this season far better than last.

peter grant at gayfield

I was pleased with an awful lot of today’s game but naturally disappointed at the goals we lost, the first one was another free kick, from a similar area to Tuesday’s nights free kick against Stirling Albion, that’s three goals we have lost from the exact same area giving silly free kick’s away, so that is disappointing and the second goal was a bit of a fluke with the wind assisting, but we made it hard for our selves, I thought we played a lot of good stuff but need to be more clinical and take care of the ball in certain areas, Arbroath is not an easy venue to come and I thought we played very well.

I want our wide players to be involved in the game as a team we need to attack together and not being out on the line not being involved, Kevin Cawley has too much ability to be out just on the wing and has been brought more into the middle to be involved more and I think he has had a big effect in every game we have played and is getting better and better, he is a great team player and talented individual.

We again go into this season the same as every other team, we are there to challenge, we want to win the league or qualify and aim for the promotion play-off’s, it is not all about survival, we have players who can play and we have to be brave enough to play, of course there are things we need to iron out but Jim Goodwin left a very good side here and hopefully we can build on that and be better, I am still trying to bring three or four players in to make the group stronger. We have Robbie Thomson coming back now from injury, we have not seen much of him that’s his first 30 minutes of competitive football this season and he is a different type of player as we also have with Kevin O’Hara as well, so we now have different types of strikers we can call upon, Andy Stirling came on today and did well but he has to be more consistent because he has the talent.

The players from day one when I joined the club have been fantastic, that’s great credit to the past managers who have went before me, they have set that standard and we now look to build on it and get better on the football pitch and the only way to do that is by the players learning, and bringing quality football players to the club to play along with them in that affordable market we are in.


27 July 2019 2 - 3 Full Time

Pos	Club	P	GD	Pts
1	Alloa Athletic	0	0	0
1	Ayr United	0	0	0
1	Edinburgh City	0	0	0
1	Falkirk	0	0	0
1	Stranraer	0	0	0

Alloa Athletic FC

peter grant after victory over leaders dundee united

1 - 0

peter grant after draw at east end park

1 - 1

peter grant after home defeat to ayr

1 - 4

peter grant at dens park

2 - 1

Peter grant after a good day at east end park

1 - 3