East End Park
 
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Dunfermline Athletic v Alloa Athletic
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Dunfermline v Alloa Athletic
Brian Rice, Alloa Athletic manager:
I thought we were the better team by 100 miles, better chances and it’s a fluke goal. It’s a cross, the wind’s caught it. I can’t ask any more of my players. Part-time team coming here, again, against Dunfermline, great crowd in, great atmosphere, fantastic pitch. I thought my boys put everything into the game.
I keep saying to them, ‘give me everything you’ve got and we can go home happy.’ They gave me that and more and I’m aggrieved we didn’t take anything away from the game, and that’s taking nothing away from Dunfermline. I’m talking about my own team.
the goal’s a freak goal, that’s what beat us.
I don’t think it was a penalty but I’m lead to believe the header was over the line early on. I can’t tell from where I am, and we’ve not got VAR, it’s just the big boys that get VAR. We’re not part of Scottish football. I’m a wee bit aggrieved at that. I don’t know if it was a goal or not, it wasn’t a penalty, the ref made a good call. And the goal’s a freak goal, that’s what beat us.
I don’t think Jay had a lot to do. I know he had one or two. What about their goalkeeper’s saves? What about the one that hit the bar? What about the one that’s went over the line? I concentrate on my own team. We competed really well, we had a few call offs: Jon Robertson called off ill, big Andy was suspended so we’re light at centre half. Big Vinnie has just come back, he’s only trained for two nights in six weeks threw him straight in there. Everybody played their part.
I’m really disappointed because I think we done enough to win the game, never mind draw it. On our strikers, they’re a handful. I thought first half they could have done a wee bit more, spoke to them at half-time and second half they were really at it. You can see why we signed Scougall for another year. When he gets on the ball he makes things happen.
He’s an integral part of what I’m trying to do here. I need him to get a couple of more goals and he had a couple of efforts which was encouraging and I think on another day it could have been a different outcome but it wasn’t and we are disappointed.
I’m disappointed with the result, I’m not disappointed with the performance. If we perform like that we’ll be okay.
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Dunfermline v Alloa Athletic
Brian Rice, Alloa Athletic Manager
We deserved to get the extra point with our performance. I thought Dunfermline had a couple of chances to put the game to bed but the longer the game went on, especially in the second half, I thought we were outstanding. Some of our play was sensational.
For a part-time team what a week we’ve had. Long journey up to Buckie and back and then playing a Premier League top six team on Tuesday night and pushing them to the last minute and then coming here. The effort has been unbelievable from the boys, they’ve gave me every ounce of effort and sweat that they’ve got. I need to look after them now because we’re back here next week.
the longer the game went I think there was only going to be one winner.
We work hard. We know what we’re trying to achieve. I expect effort, I expect commitment, I expect them to be proud of the jersey they’re wearing. Some of the football we played, it’s right up there. I’m absolutely delighted with them.
That’s how we want to play. We’ve got the big boys up top but we’ve got the boys that can play. Look at Scougall in the second half. He was unplayable. Dunfermline are a good team, they’re a strong team and they had chances to go 2-0 up, my keeper was brilliant at the beginning of the second half, he kept us in it.
But the longer the game went I think there was only going to be one winner. That’s the end of the cup run for us, we’re disappointed at that but we’ve held our head high in it, we’ve put in good performances so it’s onto league business. Every game’s different. The formations might be different, big Andy is suspended next week. One door closes and one door opens.
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Dunfermline Athletic v Alloa Athletic
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Dunfermline Athletic v Alloa Athletic
“The Wasps” ended the decade with an impressive victory over Dunfermline Athletic at East End Park, a venue which “The Wasps” have been unbeaten on their last six visits.
However, the Alloa Athletic supporters suffered a double shock prior to the kick-off with both captain Andy Graham and top goalscorer, Alan Trouten not fit and unable to feature in the game, Alan Trouten having scored six goals against “The Pars” in past two seasons.
Dunfermline would have noticed the omissions and were putting the Alloa defence under early pressure. Kevin Nisbet had to watch as Jamie MacDonald pulled off a fantastic double save to deny the striker who is on a rich vein off form, scoring nine goals in the past six games. Eventually the home side took the lead through that man Nisbet with a header across the goal.
The reaction of “the Wasps” was instant with Adam Brown scoring after the home keeper could only push out a cross ball, this is Adam’s second senior goal and both against Dunfermline Athletic.
Five minutes later things got worse for the home side, Joshua Edward’s clearance was charged down by Kevin Cawley into the path of Kevin O’Hara, who lashed home the opportunity to give “The Wasps” the lead.
In the second half Dunfermline had the bulk of the possession but it was Alloa who looked the more likely to score on the break. Sixty six minutes into the game they got their reward when Jon Robertson made a fantastic run into the Dunfermline box only for Kevin Nisbet to make a forward’s challenge in the box for a definate penalty, Iain Flannigan stepped forward to score with ease and composure, remarkably his first goal of the season.
We know we will lose games, but it was important to end the run of games without victory before the end of the year and decade. If the players show this level of concentration, work rate and endeavour in the second half of the season , we will be able to start looking up the table and remove any fears of relegation.
peter grant after victory at east end park
Delighted, I can’t think of a prouder performance as a coach, not just because of the result but considering I was actually picking and organising the team only an hour before the game due to injuries and giving the players the best chance possible to try and see if they were fit and then move the positions around depending who we could put out on the park.
It is fantastic credit to the boys, some played not fully fit and I think the guts and determination showed won the game. We weren’t brilliant on the ball today but against the ball we were brilliant to a man, but we cannot forget in the first half Jamie MacDonald had a wonderful double save at an important time in the game for us but I think we deserved that due to the work ethic we put in.
Every manager has a game plan but is about the players carrying it out and I think they deserve great credit for that. People will say to me about the squad being small, the reason it is small and I have said this many times, because there are not many guys who can come into this squad, which might sound crazy when we are bottom of the league, but they would need to come in and improve this group, which will take a special type of character. We had Alan Trouten and Andy Graham coming in today and trying to get themselves fit, we had Kevin O’Hara putting himself fit because they all want to play, Jon Robertson in recent weeks has moved from position to position and Scott Taggart having to cover at centre back today, so you have to give them unbelievable credit for that. Managers all have a plan sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t but it is the diligence of the players and their will to put the work in. It is easy when you are at the top of the league, but when you are at the bottom of the league and trying to do as we trying to do and play the way we do and show that type of performance at a very difficult venue I can’t be any prouder.
Kevin O’Hara has been sensational for me although I’ve had to play him in different positions but I have always said I want to play him as a striker because having watched him as a young boy and he was moved from left to right and I understand why people put him out wide because of his pace but credit to him he worked his socks off, considering he only trained on Thursday for twenty minutes, delighted with him and that’s seven goals already this season, but to man I was delighted with all my players today and I am really proud of them.
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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.
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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.
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Dunfermline Athletic v Alloa Athletic
Alloa Athletic manager Jim Goodwin once again highlighted the fact that his team never give in as they came back from a 2-0 deficit at half-time to clinch a merited draw having dominating the play in the second half, when remarkably Alloa keeper Neil Parry had not a save to make.
“The Wasps” for the ninth time this season came back from behind to clinch a draw or victory having been behind now 4 times v. Dundee United, 2 times v. Dunfermline Athletic and on 1 occasion against Inverness CT, Falkirk and Partick Thistle.
Alan Trouten was once again the man to turn the game back in Alloa’s favour, scoring the crucial first goal in the second half to give “The Wasps” a fighting chance. The game then turned on its head with the Dunfermline players looking visibly shaken and their fans starting to turn against them and their manager.
Alloa pushed for an equaliser as the home team tried to run down the clock, Alloa substitute played through the vital pass to put Alan Trouten though on goal and “Trouts” scored his 14th goal of the season.
jim goodwin after 2-2 draw at east end park
It was a game of two halves, it definitely was, I thought Dunfermline were excellent in the first half, we were off it there was no doubt about that, we didn’t compete well enough, we didn’t show enough composure on the ball and it was just wave after wave of Dunfermline attacks, so we were delighted to get in at half-time at 2-0, albeit the two goals the first a great strike from Aidan Keena from twenty five yards out there was not a lot Neil Parry could do about it and for the second goal Iain Flannigan was very unfortunate, Neil made a good save and Iain following in, the ball hits him and goes in as an own goal.
We got in at half-time 2-0 down and changed the shape a wee bit and stressed the importance of the next goal and I really did feel if we got the next goal I felt the home fans would get a bit nervy and this would get the Dunfermline players nervy and that definitely seemed to be the case, we were much better in the second half and it was more like us in possession and out of possession, we competed a lot better and picked up far more second balls and I don’t think Neil Parry had a save to make in the second half, it was just fantastic.
I think that is now fourteen occasions they have come back during 2018 till now in 2019, that they have come back from a losing position being behind to pick up a point or three, I have just said to the players “You can be the best manager in the World, with the best group of players technically in the World, talk formations and tactics all you want, but the team spirit and the character and togetherness of the players we have at present you cannot buy that, you can’t coach that, that is something that comes from within”, they can be so proud of their effort in the second half, they never know when they are beat and never give in and that’s what I have been saying every week. We know we will come to some difficult places, we know we are playing against some very good teams but all I ask for is 100% commitment and that we never give in and you can see that from the players they just never give up which is fantastic.
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Dunfermline Athletic v Alloa Athletic
In cup competitions it is all about being in the next round and at East End Park on Saturday Jim Goodwin’s showed great character and will to win, in a game which was a far better spectacle than the 0-0 draw only four weeks ago in the league. Like last Saturday at Dumfries Alloa came out fast and were on top in the opening twenty minutes. Alan Trouten opened the scoring for “The Wasps” after only 8 minutes after Jon Robertson picked him out in the box and the experienced striker drove the ball high into the net with the aid of a slight deflection.
The early goal was no more than “The Wasps” deserved and it might have been 2-0 after 27 minutes but Kevin Cawley’s netbound shot was turned round the post. A minute later the home side drew level with a Louis Longridge equaliser and the home side finally had a foot in the game. Indeed on 35 minutes Andy ryan’s header looked to be heading for the top corner of the net before Neil Parry pulled out a fantastic save.
The second half was barely underway with people still getting back to their seats when Dunfermline Athletic were awarded a penalty when Andy Graham was adjudged to have pushed Louis Longridge in the box?
Dunfermline then had a period of domination of possession but not really troubling Neil Parry. Alloa kept looking for that opportunity and Kevin Cawley had a sot blocked after 68 minutes then two minutes later a long ball out of defence was missed by Danny Devine and Dario Zanatta got in behing the home defence and his cross in front of goal was bundled home by Alan Trouten for his second goal of the match and his sixth in cup competitions this season.
The Wasps then managed the final twenty minutes bringing on Adam Brown in midfield and withdrawing striker Connor Shields but at all times looking to hit on the break. This was the “Wasps” third penaly shoot-out of the season and they looked very confident as they stepped forward.
With the score on penalties 5-4 in Alloa’s favour and heading for sudden death, Aidan Connolly saw his penalty saved by Neil Parrry his 8th penalty save and the continuation of Alloa’s 100% record from penalty kicks this season.
The draw for the next round will take place on Tuesday 16th October with Quarter-Final ties to be played on weekend of Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th November, 2018.
jim goodwin after penalties progression vs pars
We’re delighted to be in the next round of the cup, when the draw was made and we looked at some of the teams that were left, we were unfortunate enough to draw one of the tougher teams without being disrespectful of anyone else, we knew today was going to be a difficult game we started the game really well and in the opening ten minutes we were on top, but Dunfermline are a good side and they came into the game and after they got their equaliser they dominated the rest of the first half. We had strong words at half-time and asked for a bit of a reaction in the second half and unfortunately within 60 seconds Dunfermline got their penalty and we were then 2-1 behind. The players character can never be questioned which is great credit to them, at 2-1 you are always in the game and we fancied ourselves to get another chance. Dario Zanatta did fantastically well down the left hand side put a great ball across the face and Alan Trouten was in the right place where you would hope he was going to be. I was always confident when it went to penalties, the quality of the penalties was absolutely frightening with us scoring something like our last 20 in a row, Big Neilly does what he does best, he always comes out with at least one save in penalty shoot outs.
We were pleased to take the game to penalties, it was a bit of a strange second half with Dunfermline on top for the opening ten minutes then we had a wee spell around the hour mark before Dunfermline again finished the game strongly as you would expect, making decent changes by bringing on a bit of pace and energy, at that stage in the game we were probably thinking let’s just get to penalties so we changed our formation and sat a bit deeper and managed to see the game out, but as has been said it is a bit of a lottery but we are delighted to be in the hat. In a cup competition you have to look for a way to win and the lads did that.
Every game at this level is difficult and next week we return to the League where we are a due a victory, our opponents Partick Thistle are without a manager but this may change before kick-off next Saturday, but we need to concentrate on what we can control and I will have a fully fit group of players next week, Stevie Hetherington will come back into group and we will get all the loan players back who were cup tied for today which creates great competition for places again.
Today showed once again to win our third penalty shoot out of the season just what great bottle the players have with tons of self belief and as a group they are a very confident bunch and that’s what’s going to keep us up this season.
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