Reaction

Paul Hartley’s team extended their current unbeaten run to five games after a 1-1 draw at the Bet Fred Stadium, Dumbarton in a game rescheduled from 23rd November after the original fell foul to frost. This time the game went ahead in a gale force wind and driving rain which made the game at times a bit of a lottery. Dumbarton included five ex Wasps players in their team line up – Jamie Ewings, Mark Gilhaney, Bryan Prunty, Mitch Megginson and Colin Nish, managed by another ex player, Ian Murray who also had a short spell on loan from Hibernian at Recreation Park. Alloa had the benefit of the strong wind in the first half and took the lead after 24 minutes when Kevin Cawley expertly curled his shot into the top right hand corner of the net. In the second half Dumbarton had the bulk of possesion, but “The Wasps” still had opportunities to extend their lead. Andy Kirk did have the ball in the net but Graeme Holmes was flagged offside and then Stephen Simmons watched as his 20 yard shot rebounded to safety off the post. In the end it took a special goal from ex Wasp Bryan Prunty to earn his side a draw, scoring with an overhead kick and celebrating with his son, who was a ballboy behind the goals.

paul hartley after draw at dumbarton

I thought we defended well in tough conditions tonight, it was not a game for the faint hearted in terms of the wind and the rain, however I thought we stuck at our task and took the lead with a really good goal from Kevin Cawley and defended really well as a team with good shape about us, we could have nicked the three points but we lost a goal after a mistake from our goalkeeper’s bad kick out, but there was still a lot of work to do for them to score– but on the evening we will take a point. In the first half we might have been more ahead we had a couple of chances, hit the post also in the second half before Dumbarton scored which would have made it 2-0, we soaked up pressure and hit them on the counter attack, that was the plan we had – but in terms of how the players performed, their work ethic and their attitude to the game, we did well, but again on Saturday will have another tough game when we face league leaders Hamilton Accies in a run of difficult games coming up for us. It was another point tonight which moved us towards safety, although we are one point of the play off positions our remit at the start of the season was to stay in the league first and foremost and we have done ok so far but there is a long way to go, we are only 14 games into a long season, however we know we are a match for anybody on our day.

The Scottish Cup tie against Dumbarton in February will be a totally different game, it is a one off game,we are hoping the weather will be a bit better cause that spoiled things a bit tonight, the pitch was good it was in great condition but the wind and rain at times didn’t help both teams play football. Kevin Cawley has been good all season in his work ethic, it was a good goal this evening a great finish, I’m pleased for the wee fella, he has some attitude to the game and maybe doesn’t get 15-20 goals a season but he has everything else in his locker and is still improving. He was a kid a Celtic when I was there but his game is still getting better and better, each time we have moved up a division, Kevin has handled the step up and I definitely think he can handle the step up again.