Indodrill Stadium

Alloa Athletic WFC v Dunfermline AGLFC
0 - 8
Full Time

Alloa Athletic v Clyde
1 - 0
Full Time

Alloa Athletic WFC v Dryburgh Athletic
0 - 6
Full Time

Alloa Athletic v Dumbarton
2 - 3
Full Time
1 - 0
Full Time
0 - 2
Full Time

Alloa Athletic v Cove Rangers

In an impressive start to Brian Rice’s Alloa career, the Wasps held the league leaders at home.

Alloa set up in a 3-4-1-2 with Scougall coming in from last week’s win at Dumbarton for Jon Robertson in the only change.

The home side started like a house on fire. After only 5 minutes Alloa had taken the lead through captain Andy Graham as he rolled a close range effort under McKenzie. Alloa continued to pick holes in the Cove defence and it was like the Wasps had the extra man.

After finding that expanse of space on the right Scougall ghosted past Reynolds to create an overload, squared to Sammon who slotted in the free Steven Boyd and the former Hamilton forward slotted a composed finish past McKenzie to double the lead.

Again Alloa would have their moments for a third only being thwarted by perhaps the wrong decision making in the final third. Former boss Paul Hartley now in charge of Cove Rangers quickly shuffled his formation though and Cove almost brought themselves back into the game. Masson rose highest to head a sublime Milne delivery on the outside of the post and later had another header smartly saved by Hutton at the back post in Cove’s only dangerous moments of the first half.

Although the Wasps started tentatively in the second half they were first to call either keeper into action with McKenzie making a desperate palm away before Steven Boyd’s cross reached Cawley.

The tables would soon be weighted against the Wasps when Robertson, who had just come on the park, raised a high foot. Despite swiping away the ball, he caught Vigurs high and the referee charged over to show the straight red card. A real blow for Alloa.

Cove would have the advantage of numbers but Alloa remained resolute. They were in fact unlucky not to have reduced Cove down to 10 themselves as Morgyn Neill chopped down Sammon from behind while the striker’s footwork sent him through on goal. A clear denial of an obvious goal scoring opportunity but a yellow was deemed fit by the referee.

Alloa would hold out to 81 minutes when Milne whipped in another special cross. Ola Adeyemo headed home from 7 yards and the pressure was on to hold the lead.]

But goal machine Rory McAllister was also on the park and after 85 minutes was freed by Kai Fotheringham to dink high over Hutton and break Alloa hearts.

A strong performance considering the calibre of the league leaders but their 17 game unbeaten run deserved to come to an end against the Wasps.
2 - 2
Full Time

Alloa Athletic v East Fife

East Fife hadn’t won since October and were without a goal since the turn of the year so Alloa’s sights were clearly set on picking up a home win against the League 1’s bottom side.

‘The Wasps’ got off to a flyer as Mark Durnan converted an in-swinging corner courtesy of Stefan Scougall. But the goal in the second minute proved to be the high point for Alloa.

East Fife should have been down to ten men after Millar missed the ball and connected a lunge on Mohamed Niang’s ankle.

Despite the advantageous position they found themselves in Alloa failed to push it. East Fife grew into the game and while they demonstrated poor finishing, were finding the openings. Kyle Connell’s miss from six yards a particularly apt example as it looked easier to score.

The Wasps misery were just getting started as a lofted free kick passed over everyone. Connell folded after running into Durnan’s outstretched forearm and the referee pointed to the spot for what looked a flimsy award. Ryan Wallace stepped up to convert and equalise.

Alloa raggedly gave away possession in the middle of the park and Kyle Connell would have been in on goal but for a quick turn of pace by the captain to pass back to his goalkeeper. Inexplicably, Hutton picked up the pass-back. The only excuse was possibly expecting a whistle after a clear tug on Andy Graham launched Connell toward the Alloa goalkeeper.

Alloa set up basically on their line for the indirect free-kick. Mercer layed off to Wallace but instead of smashing it into the charging Alloa waall he passed to Connell who had been left at the back post to slot home.

Alloa were still slow and workmanlike in their approach and set pieces seemed to be the main threat and Durnan most of all. He was hauled to the ground from one corner to the ignorance of the officials and later managed a diving header into Jude Smith. That opening was despite the East Fife defender trying to take the shirt from his back.

In the second half again it was Durnan dominant in the air as he knocked a header from a deep free kick across the box. Euan Henderson and Jude Smith raced towards it, Smith won but was caught in the face by Henderson’s boot. The referee sprung to action fishing out a red card for Alloa’s top scorer. Alloa protested mainly based on the fact Henderson was grappled from behind as he raced in but to no avail.

Alloa pressed for opportunities but struggled to create anything golden with East Fife’s numerical advantage telling. They crafted a quick break and isolated the Alloa defence until Wallace squared to a free Danny Denholm to slot under Hutton.

In the end despite the contentious refereeing the Wasps were well beaten to mark the lowest point of the season. A relegation dogfight awaits.
1 - 3
Full Time

Alloa Athletic v Falkirk

Alloa were made to rue missed chances as they failed to make the first half dominance count.

Falkirk carved the first opening as Anton Dowds was released by Telfer and he smashed low at goal but Hutton was quick and managed a strong hand before collecting.

After a quarter of an hour it was Conor Sammon, who almost made it two in three appearances against his former club but his neat outside of the foot flick rolled wide after a lovely ball in by Scott Taggart.

Henderson was next to ask the question of Mutch as he made a typical off the shoulder run in behind the Falkirk defence and saw his snapshot from outside the saved from just inside the box.

Blaise Riley-Snow almost opened another glorious opportunity for Sammon as he launched a trademarked 40 yard pass into the box, but Sammon who’d expertly peeled away could only tamely flick it in to the Falkirk keepers waiting arms.

Steven Boyd tried his arm from range as he sent a free-kick narrowly wide and minutes later the diminutive forward should have tested the keeper as he chested down a deep ball from left-back Church, and blazed a shot into the side netting with only the keeper to beat.

Falkirk were playing themselves into all kinds of trouble as Mouhamed ‘Sena’ Niang and Steven Boyd pressed into the Falkirk box and the Senegalese midfielder drilled a low effort that Mutch had to be smart to save.

In the second half Henderson almost launched a rocket from 35 yards but it ended narrowly wide but soon Falkirk would take control of the game.

After a patient buildup, McGuffie squared to Jaze Kabia and from the edge of the box curled a beauty into the bottom corner. The visitors were ahead in the 50th minute.

On the 58th minute, Falkirk won a free-kick from 20 yards out and McGuffie expertly directed it into the bottom corner round the wall to beat Hutton.

Twelve minutes from time Paul Watson, ever the threat in the air beat Durnan to the header, beat the keeper but smacked post and bar, but Anton Dowds was there on the line to poach the rebound and give Falkirk the unassailable lead.

Despite Alloa bringing on Kevin Cawley for a 400th appearance chances were at a premium for the Wasps, and it was the marquee signing, Leigh Griffiths who was guilty of passing up the opportunities. A neat move ended in a skied attempt over the bar and when lined up for a trademark free kick from 30 yards sent it narrowly wide for a Bairns win.
0 - 3
Full Time

Alloa Athletic v Celtic

Alloa and Celtic played in a rare meeting of the sides at a capacity Indodrill Stadium.

Alloa selected a pretty much unchanged side to the one who drew to Queen’s Park but for the forced change of Sammon for Euan Henderson, whose loan agreement expired on Sunday, while Celtic made 5 changes to the side that comfortably saw off Hibs on Monday. It remained a strong side with Liam Scales, Stephen Welsh, Tony Ralston, Yosuke Ideguchi and Giorgos Giakoumakis coming in.

It was almost Alloa who instantly put their stamp on the game though with Conor Sammon attempting an audacious lob from the half-way line after some typically vigorous closing down by Mouhamed ‘Sena’ Niang robbed Ideguchi.

But Celtic would only be contained so long as Liam Scales whipped in a magnificent cross and Giakoumakis’ clever front-post run and deft touch sent it into the roof of the net.

Celtic almost instantly found a second as Andy Graham glanced a header into the path of Giakoumakis. Durnan lost his footing and the Greek was bearing down on the Alloa goal. Hutton to his credit was a daunting figure off his line but the cheeky dink brushed past the post.

Hutton was equal to Liel Abada’s effort another minute later with a sharp dive to the bottom left corner. Rogic and Maeda would also be denied by the Alloa goallie as Celtic patiently looked to extend their lead.

But, Celtic’s captain of all people put his side into all kinds of trouble as he played in Conor Sammon who 8 yards out smashed a powerful effort on target. It smacked Joe Hart’s thigh but it showed the vulnerabilities of this Celtic team.

McGregor was soon off the park as he went face first in an aerial battle with Adam King and collided with the Alloa midfielder’s shoulder. The Celtic captain was notably dazed and soon departed for James McCarthy.

While Alloa had looked to have silenced the Hoops until the break. Liel Abada drifted in off the wing and the top corner with a superb curling effort.

Abada almost found the spectacular, but not on purpose as Hutton had to be alert to tip a cross away from his front post and again on the 57th minute the veteran stopper denied the Japanese international Daizen Maeda as he produced a fingertip save to deny a diving header from finding the bottom corner.

Perhaps the most talked about incident of the game was ‘Sena’s’ follow through on Ideguchi. The Senegalese midfielder was combative and aggressive and a thorn in the side of Celtic’s playmakers and showcased another full-blooded challenge on ‘Guchi. However with his momentum he took another step onto the Japanese’ ankle and it was a strong impact. The Celtic man, who sheepishly went into the challenge could no longer continue and Niang received a yellow.

Celtic after this did look notably shaken and Alloa were sometimes guilty of committing 7 men to an attacking line. Although the visitors missed some gilt edged chances in this period it was Alloa who clawed themselves back into contention.

Barry Ferguson completed the final of his 3 substitutions with the introduction of Scougall and Trouten for the final 15 minutes and the changes instantly contributed. A fine passing move found an unmarked and unchallenged Jon Robertson and he dinked the most inviting ball into the Celtic box. Conor Sammon rose well and directed the ball into the bottom corner and Alloa dreamed of writing another reverse like the Petrofac Cup against Rangers in 2014.

Andy Graham saved a certain goal up the other end, as Maeda inexplicably squared when he should have tried a solo effort but in truth the momentum was towards the Celtic goal.

Alloa just couldn’t carve the clear chance for the equaliser as they were let down by the technique of tiring legs. First, Niang threatened to embed himself in Celtic nightmares as he blazed a shot high over the bar and late into the game Alan Trouten failed to set himself and again sent an effort flying over the bar.

The perfect smash and grab wasn’t to be and Alloa exit the cup at the Fourth Round to the hands of Celtic with their heads held high and certainly a glimmer of hope that they can recreate some of the discipline and hard work to begin climbing the League 1 table.
1 - 2
Full Time