Reaction

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.