Manager Jim Goodwin was disappointed to lose 3-2 to Peterhead at Balmoor Stadium on Saturday in a game the home side had to win to have a chance of retaining their league one status by relegating Stenhousemuir and now being involved in the League One Play-Off games featuring Forfar Athletic, Annan Athletic and Montrose.

“The Wasps” now know who they will face in their Championship Play-off Semi-final, meeting Airdrieonians over the two legs. The 1st leg at the Excelsior Stadium on Wednesday night, Kick-Off 7.45pm & the 2nd leg at the Indodrill Stadium, next saturday 13th May, Kick-Off 3pm. This will be the sixth time “The Wasps” have taken part in the end of season Play-Off’s since their conception at the end of Season 2005/06, reaching the final on three occasions and winning on each occasion. 2005/06 defeating Berwick Rangers 5-2, 2012/13 defeating Dunfermline Athletic 3-1 and most recently last season 2014/15 defeating Forfar Athletic 4-3.

jim goodwin after peterhead game

It’s always disappointing to lose a game, I thought the boys did well, lots of positives we can take from the game, disappointed with the goals we conceded but a great effort from all the lads, it was a good opportunity to give one or two of the lads a run, I thought Adam Martin was excellent, he was a real positive on the day, took his goal really well and probably could have had another one as well but their keeper “Smudger” makes a great save. It was a good game especially from a neutral point of view, it was quite end to end and fair play to Peterhead they had to go and get the result to stay in the league and I’m sure Jim and all his staff and players will be delighted and breathe a huge sigh of relief I would imagine.

We have made changes in our last two or three games so don’t read anything into the fact we played a weakened team, we haven’t we made a number of changes in our last two games against Stranraer and Airdrie, but we go into every game looking to win, I have a very good squad so the changes I make don’t really effect the overall performance of the team, but we are disappointed today not come away with at least a point to be honest with you, when I look at the manner of the goals, I look at the free kick which was given at the third goal, it was a strange decision. Sometimes you get them and sometimes you don’t and thankfully today wasn’t a day when the result was hugely significant for us because if it was I would possibly have a little bit more to say on one or two of the decisions which went against us.

We are looking forward to the Play-Off Semi-finals now, the boys are really excited and I am delighted now to know who we are finally to meet, Airdrie are a great side a really good team a good attacking team, we know where their dangers are the threat that they have going forward, but we are very confident, we have great belief among the team and the players and we have beaten them a couple of times this season, so we now look forward to Wednesday. Having known we were in the play-off’s three games ago, it has been my job to keep them motivated and make sure the standards don’t drop and gladly they haven’t, they are a great bunch of players and I can’t speak more highly of them, but disappointed to lose the last league game of the season because I don’t think we deserved to lose it but we will pick ourselves up because next week will be all important with two huge games coming up and it’s important that we are in the final.

For the second time in a fortnight “The Wasps” travelled to Balmoor Stadium to face Jim McInally’s Peterhead side. It proved to be another difficult game with the home side looking to take the honours on this ocassion after narrowly losing 1-0 in the Cup tie. The match preview in the press focused on the seagull incident at the last game with Alloa keeper Neil Parry more focused on another clean sheet.

Manager Jim Goodwin made three changes to his starting eleven in the cup tie, out went – Jim Goodwin, Kevin Cawley & Jordan Kirkpatrick and in came – Jason Marr, Graeme Holmes & Jamie Longworth.

Both teams had chances in the first half, but the home side with the wind behind them would have been disappointed not going in at the break ahead.

Again in the second half both sides had chances before the home side scored after 66 minutes when defender Fiacre Kelleher managed to knock the ball home in a goalmouth scramble. Manager Jim Goodwin introduced Jordan Kirkpatrick in an effort to get something out of the game and with 14 minutes left it was Jordan who scored the important equalising goal to give “The Wasps” a draw and move them to third in the Ladbrokes League One table.

jim goodwin after draw at peterhead

I am happy with a point, over the whole piece I thought Peterhead were the better team in the first half, you have to give them credit, they played really well. We changed our shape a little bit half way into the first half and played a little bit better after that. The second half there was no a great deal in it, both teams had chances, delighted with the boys character again after going a goal down. We were disappointed with the goal, I felt we dealt with the first part of the free kick ok, but then there was a bit of a stramash in the box and their boy managed to toe poke the ball home.

I am proud of the boys again, they just never throw in the towel, it will be an important point I think. We have come back on a numerous occasions this year, the lads are fantastic they have a great attitude and spirit , they stick together and drive each other on, away from home at Peterhead is a difficult place to come, they are a good side and have some good players throughout their team, I expect them to climb the table in the second half of the season.

We came up here to try and win the game, but we didn’t have one of our best days, however on a day we were not at our best, we dug in and came away with a valuable point, I think a point was a fair result.

We have a busy week coming up so I changed it up a bit, I want to use the whole squad, Jordan Kirkpatrick certainly made an impact when he came on and that is what I would expect, Jamie Longworth did the same a fortnight ago up here in the Scottish Cup when he came off the bench and scored the winner and Jordan came off the bench today and scored a very valuable equaliser. As a manager you get judged on these type of decisions and thankfully those two have paid off.

Ryan Hoggan started again after doing so well up here a fortnight ago, I thought he did great again today, I took him off because he was on a booking, he had a great hour but it is a big ask, the step up in pace between the Development League and first team football and I couldn’t afford the possibility of going down to ten men. Ryan has all the attributes to go on and be a great player and there have been clubs already sniffing about, he can play so many positions and has a great physique about him, a natural fitness and a fantastic attitude, so he is certainly one we are delighted to have but we expect him in the next couple of years to kick on and we might struggle to hold on to him at that point.

We have now been on the road since the 5^th of November and we are looking forward to a run of home matches, we are looking forward to a Christmas period nearer home and I’m sure all our loyal supporters in Alloa will be pleased to get behind the team again at Alloa.

Alloa Athletic put an end to another statistic in the fact they had not won at Peterhead since August, 2007 by ending this bogey after Stevie May securred the points with his 12th goal of the season. At this stage of the season it is results that count – on another day Peterhead could have shared the points but the Alloa players did not want to surrender their lead which they had lost so cruelly in the final minute of our last visit to Balmoor Stadium in November, 2011. This was another huge step in the season and next Saturday look forward to a on form Queen’s Park side who have been unbeaten since our visit to Hampden at start of February, 2012.

paul hartley after peterhead win

We know we can play a lot better than that but the players energy levels and will to win, not to get a defeat is fantastic, it has been like that since the first game of pre season, they are a terrific bunch of guys to work with they give me everything every week, you cannot ask for any more than that – it is a great three points today, we have certainly struggled in the past at Peterhead, going back to before my time at the club, so it is another monkey of our back, we had the same poor record down at Annan and we won there. I know we are resilient when we get ahead we are difficult to break down. It was a team performance today, the full squad, the guys that came on were just as important, I have used the squad all season and that’s what it is about it is not just about eleven guys, or Stevie May or Kevin Cawley it is about everyone, we dug in today, it’s a hard place to come but the players were terrific. At half-time I said to the players if we need to win the game 1-0 just do it, we have had to see out games at 1-0 already this season and we did it again today, I’m proud of my players, they have been absolutely wonderful – twenty nine games and only four defeats, I can’t ask any more from them they give me everything each week and as a manager it is so pleasing on the eye – I’m delighted, great three points, hard place to come , doesn’t matter how you win, it was about getting another three points on the board. Our record this season is testament to the players and coaching staff, everybody is in it together here – it is not just about the players and myself but my assistant, fitness coach, physio, kit men – but there is still a long way to go, its hard work, it is game by game we will certainly not get carried away with ourselves that is for sure. Next week against Queen’s Park is what my minds on now, we look forward to it, the Peterhead game is finished a great three points but we must move on to next week

Its been a great week for the club picking up seven league points, however it looked like being a maxium nine points until late own goal denied “The Wasps” the chance of closing gap on Annan Athletic at top of table. Alloa were looking for their first victory at Balmoor Stadium since August, 2007 when they won 4-1 thanks to a Graeme Brown hat-trick and Stephen McKeown penalty, in the first half they played some good football and were unfortnate to see Ryan McCord’s effort come back off the cross bar. The home side did come more into things in the second half but substitute Armand One scored with a header from a Ryan McCord cross but three minutes from time Craig McDowall under pressure at a corner kick unfortunately punched the ball into his own net to deny “The Wasps” victory.

paul hartley after draw with peterhead

I thought we deserved to win the game as we were terrific today, in the first half we passed the ball well and created chances but just couldn’t score, i was disappointed going in at half time at 0-0, there was always a danger that Peterhead would come back into the game in the second half and they did but our overall play away from home was great, the team effort, the work rate, passing, I was pleased with the team performance.
Armand has had to wait a while for his first competitive goal for us, but he has been patient, it has not quite worked out for him yet, but he is off and running now, he scored 23 goals last season and that’s the reason I brought him to the club, the goal will help his confidence, but our overall play today – the way we passed the ball was outstanding, its been a great week for us, the players have been absolutely terrific their attitude was first class and I’m proud of them again today.
Craig is obviously disappointed at losing the goal we lost, I don’t need to tell him, it was just a bad mistake from him but he has kept us in games last Saturday and again on Tuesday night and had a good save today again near the end , it’s one of those things which happens, he has to pick himself up again, his confidence will be fine – It’s been a good week for us.

After starting Saturday’s game against Peterhead in very positive fashion and taking a deserved lead, the team were to regret squandering other great opportunities when the home side, Peterhead struck back with two goals before half-time. The Wasps battled back into the game in the second half and were given a great chance to equalise when David McClune was fouled in the box and Alloa were awarded a penalty. Unfortunately for the second time this season Kevin McDonald was to miss from the spot against Jon Bateman in the Peterhead goal. That was the turning point in the game with Dennis Wyness increasing the home sides advantage five minutes later. As much as Alloa tried to get a goal back they were again caught out in the final minute when substitute Conor Gethins scored with his first kick of the ball after poor defending at a throw in.

allan maitland after peterhead defeat

Unfortunately it is something we have already seen this season, at times in the game we played really well, created nine chances in the game, Jim Lister was right through, Stuart Noble was right through, there was the missed penalty kick, but again after creating so many chances in the game we have scored one. But defensively we have been an absolute shambles – Martin Bavidge in my opinion has bullied us, after twenty minutes, because in the first twenty minutes we were so far on top in the game I don’t think that Bavidge or Wyness had any opportunities, we knew if Dennis Wyness is kept out your box he can’t cause you a problem – we had four defenders all marking Martin Bavidge at the third goal, Dennis was in the penalty box and scores a header from six yards with nobody near him, it can’t happen, certainly if we want to win games of football. The first goal was a corner kick and Dennis Wyness is standing there six yards out but we didn’t attack the ball, scores – again can’t happen if we want to win football matches, so that was a mistake, the second goal Mark Brown lunges into a tackle he didn’t need to make, allows Martin Bavidge to turn on to his good foot – another goal, it is a great finish from Martin but for our point of view it is a defensive mistake again, as for the last goal – in was a throw in down the line and Billy Gibson claimed it was a foul, but whiter it was a foul or not it was another goal created by defenders not doing their job properly, so we can not expect to score three or four goals every game just to get a point in a game and at the moment that is what we need to do – we lost 4-1 at Dumbarton, we lost 4-1 against East Fife and we have again lost 4-1 today, as I said earlier there were times today when I thought we played well, created chances, but defensively we were miles off the pace and no where near good enough. Peterhead will probably feel that it has been a great day for them , which it has, but it could have been so much different, in view of our opening twenty minutes we should have been three goals up but the way we are defending, would that have been enough, who knows, so there is not much more I can add but thank the supporters who made the long journey and gave the team their backing, but should be doing so much better, when we scored the first goal it should have galvanised us to go on and win the game, but to be going in at half-time 2-1 down having created all these chances tells you exactly where we are at the moment, we are playing with a lack of confidence defensively and we are making individual mistakes which are costing us dear.

Alloa Athletic had a long journey back from Peterhead, reflecting on what might have been, after losing a late goal and picking up no points. The Wasps choose to play with the wind behind them in the first half but never took any real advantage, indeed they might have been 1-0 down but Conor Gethins sent his penalty effort wide. David Gormley again looked like the most likely player to score for the visitors but the wind was not to help any of his efforts, Billy Gibson did have an effort come off the crossbar but it was not a great first half. Peterhead always looked a threat but  Stephen Robertson was in good form saving from Wyness and substitute Sharp. Jim Lister might have done better on the hour mark from around the penalty spot but just as it looked to be The Wasps second 0-0 draw in successive weeks, Peterhead scored the killer goal with four minutes left, Neil McVitie crossing for Stuart Anderson to head home and give Peterhead their 1st league victory of the season.

allan maitland after balmoor defeat

Let’s start by saying I’m not happy to get beat, not at all happy! We have players at the moment who are feeling really aggrieved, aggrieved about the referee I must say, the referee has not had a terrible game but we have a situation when we have had players booked today and Peterhead have had none.We were not any worse than the opposition today in that our tackles during the game, there was a deliberate handball at the edge of the box, no booking? They were going through our players on the far side, don’t get booked, we foul, it’s a booking. The goal comes from a foul on the halfway line, there is no doubt that David Gormley gets fouled on the halfway line but the referee allows the play to carry on, they go up the park and score. I think the referee got the penalty correct, although our guys are aggrieved, we had players booked for dissent, because they are saying to the referee “What’s going on ref,

Everyone at the club was disappointed we didn’t get any reward at Peterhead in a game the team needed to win to maintain their position at the top of the league, we have played a lot worse this season and got a result but in the end their goalkeeper on the day was to be their hero. The Wasps created good chances but could not find a way past Paul Jarvie, it certainly wasn’t for the lack of effort or tiredness, we just didn’t take our chances in front of goal. We now need to pick ourselves up and look to end the season with a victory against Cowdenbeath next Saturday, regardless of it being to win the Championship or get back on winning ways if we are to be involved in the play-offs.

allan maitland after peterhead game

I think if we had played as well today as we had in the last two weeks, then I thought we would get something from the game. However having played really well at times today at Peterhead and having plenty of chances to score, it was a game where it was important to score the first goal just to give us a lift, Stuart Noble had a wonderful opportunity to open the scoring but unfortunately today he came up against a goalkeeper in Paul Jarvie, who was later to be named “Man of the match” such was his display and array of top class stops keeping shots out from angles at times it looked as if we had scored. Even after Peterhead went ahead with their first real chance in the game, scoring from a dangerous cross into the box, using the wind, in another game played in very blustery conditions, Bryan Prunty had an even better chance to draw us level just after they scored but again Jarvie was the home teams hero again and in the second half he again denied Noble with two point blank saves. I was bitterly disappointed to loose today, especially having such a good support there to back us. We had hoped today would take us on a final showdown but we missed chances when we were on top. Ultimately we lacked a bit of innovation and creative play on the day and we did not defend their goals well. We have now lost 7 goals in our last three games and it has cost us dearly. If it is to be the play offs we are involved in then we have to get ourselves up – it is disappointing how we have lost in the last three games. We had great support today and it has still been a great season and whilst disappointed with the last two weeks, whatever happens the season is not over and we need to get ourselves back to winning games.