Reaction

This was the cup tie the fans had wanted, renewing a rivalry with local neighbours Stirling Albion, indeed it was the visitors who opened brightest and their top scorer Jordan White rose to head them in front. Ten minutes later their young 18 year old forward Sandy Cunningham kicked out at Michael Doyle and was shown a straight red card, this changed the flow of the game with Alloa now having much more of the ball. However it was five minutes into the second half before “The Wasps” would draw level, ex Wasp Kieran McAnespie bringing down Jonathan Tiffoney in the box and Ryan McCord coolly scored past another ex Wasp in goal David Crawford. Eight minutes later Graeme Holmes rose majestically to head Paul Hartley’s team in front. David Crawford then was busy somehow keeping his goal intact, he pulling off a brilliant save to deny Kevin Cawley. In the final minute of the game Jason Marr fired home to make the tie look safe at 3-1 but substitute Graham Weir in time added on fired home the goal of the game from 25 yards, 3-2, a good old fashioned cup tie with “The Wasps” going through to the next round and last 16 of the cup.

paul hartley after cup tie

It is good to be in the next round, we didn’t start the game particularly well, we gave them to many free kicks which lead to the opening goal, the sending off changed the game with us having much more of the ball but we weren’t at our best today but we showed real character in the second half to come through and win the game. Playing again ten men is never easy but our decision making has got to be better in terms of when we get the ball, what do we do with it, we were too slack at times, there were players who had an off day but what they did show was tremendous character and a will to win, I told them at half-time they would need to improve if not they would be out of the cup – and we wanted to be in that draw on Monday, so we are in the next round and I look forward to see who we will get. Not quite sure what we are wishing for this time, a big tie but hopefully another home draw and with some of the teams which are left in the draw we might get another tie which would favour us and who knows from there