Reaction

A late wonder strike denied “The Wasps” at least a share of the points against Falkirk at their Westfield Stadium – Barry Smith can be delighted at the performance from his side yesterday in a game the squad was down to the bare bones with top scorer Greig Spence missing after suffering a hamstring problem the previous week at Dumbarton, keeper John Gibson was then injured in the warm up and had to be withdrawn, along with Iain Flannigan, Jason Marr, Daryll Meggatt & David Weatherspon all out through injury.

The team on the day deserved something from the game having battled back into the game after going behind after only 16 minutes. The players were not lacking in effort or desire to show what they can do and deservedly got back level three minutes before half – time when Falkirk captain David McCracken pulled down Graeme Holmes inside the box, although a penalty was given on another day the Falkirk defender would have had no complaint had he also been shown a red card. Liam Buchanan expertly scored the penalty to put “The Wasps” level. The Falkirk fans were sounding their displeasure at their teams display and at this stage in the game Alloa Athletic were looking to go on and win the game.

Early in the 2nd half Alloa Athletic still looked the more likely side to take the lead, a Stephen Simmons header went close followed by a Mark Docherty shot which Jamie McDonald was glad to parry, but the ball broke kindly for the home side. In an effort to get back into the game Falkirk manager Peter Houston introduced Alex Cooper and Rory Boulding early in the 2nd half and eventually the home started to at least get back into the game. With twenty minutes left a Rory Loy shot was blocked but fell kindly for full back Luke Leahy, who from around 25 yards unleashed a shot which flew into the top corner of the net behind Craig McDowall who had come into the game and looked untroubled. In the end the defeat was cruel on “The Wasps” , everybody knew this was going to be a difficult season but a lot of the games have been very close run affairs and not much between the sides.

barry smith at falkirk

I thought we were the stronger team at the end of the first half and the beginning of the second half at that stage there looked as if there was only one team which was going on to win the game – so I don’t think we deserved to get beat today. I think on the basis of play we created chances and as always worked our socks off, the players have done ever so well but a couple of wee minor mistakes and we have been punished for that at this level, but I don’t think we deserved to get beat. The winning goal was a great finish from their full back Luke Leahy, sometimes you cannot stop shots like that, but in the lead up to it we maybe could have defended better and not takes chances we don’t need to, as I have said I don’t think we deserved to get beat today. There is great disappointment in the dressing room, and I’m sure when the players reflect tomorrow they will think they didn’t deserve to lose today. They put so much energy into the game and created chances, we limited Falkirk to very few chances and we will look at the positives and if we just cut out these mistakes that are costing us at the moment, then we will be ok. The referee had a decision to make at the penalty, is it a goal scoring opportunity? We think our player is obviously going to try and score, so that’s a goal scoring opportunity – so the referee has made his decision and we move on.