Reaction

The hype pre-match was all about the calibre of signing Stefan Scougall but Alloa showed there’s plenty of quality already present in the squad. As Alloa controlled the opening stages, their pressure told as, former Diamond, Adam Brown’s cross struck McKay’s arm. Maybe a fortuitous decision, but Alan Trouten stepped up and customarily sent the keeper the wrong way while dispatching the spot kick into the bottom left corner of the Airdrie goal.

The hosts tried to rally but struggled to create clear cut chances on Neil Parry’s goal. Not so for Alloa. Taggart sent a weighted lob over the Airdrieonians back line. Trouten seemed to be the only man in the stadium to react. Amidst shouts of offside the Alloa hitman dragged a hastily-taken shot wide of the goal when he could have driven into the 18 yd box for a certain strike. The Wasps soon calmed the game with some dazzling quick passing, which was a joy to watch, or a nightmare for the trailing hosts, although, they proved hard to break down in open play.

Roy almost equalised by firing narrowly wide from an incisive breakaway. Jon Robertson almost forged a rare goal for Alloa, but dragged his half volley to the right side of the Airdrie goal. Callum Fordyce would header straight into Neil Parry’s arms as the hosts set up their best opportunity of the half. Alloa would again spurn a golden opportunity as Liam Dick controlled inside 12 yards and rolled his shot into the keeper’s waiting hands.

HT 0-1

The Wasps almost shot themselves in the foot to start the second half. A wayward pass by Neil Parry could only find Dale Carrick. He instantly pulled the trigger on a goal-bound effort superbly tipped over by the Alloa number one. Substitute Calum Gallagher would rue a missed free header by sending it across the face of goal and minutes later curse Neil Parry for saving a spectacular 35 yard drive.

Alloa soon would substitute the entirety of their front three. Brown, Buchanan and Cawley making way for Connelly, Thomson and for his debut, Stefan Scougall. The changes returned the pendulum to the Wasps’ favour as Connelly and Thomson almost unlocked the Airdrieonians defence. Thomson would put the game to bed in the 69th minute as he converted a sublime deep cross from Jon Robertson despite the best efforts of Steven Hetherington to poke it over the line himself. Hetherington would go close himself with a freekick on 77 minutes but it barely flew over the concerned Max Currie’s goal. With the two-nil cushion Alloa went on to bring on youngsters Cammy O’Donnell and Liam Evans for Alan Trouten and Ray Grant.

Neil Parry gained a deserved clean sheet and with the opening win, Alloa join Livingston on three points ahead of Saturday’s clash.

ALLOA HIGHLIGHTS

AIRDRIE HIGHLIGHTS

PREVIEW

Alloa could be without Andy Graham, Nicky Jamieson, Innes Murray, Liam Dick and Kevin Cawley as they face Airdrieonians in the 2020/21 Betfred Cup curtain raiser. Kevin and Liam could feature but the match is likely to come too soon for the other trio of Wasps.

Alloa’s pre-season form has seen a comfortable 3-1 victory over Stranraer and a narrow 3-2 defeat to a mixed Kilmarnock XI.

Our opponents, Airdrieonians, have had a comparatively busy build up with 5 friendlies since the 19th September. The Diamonds remain unbeaten.

Kelty Hearts 1-1 Airdrieonians
Airdrieonians 3-2 Albion Rovers
Airdrieonians 1-0 Queen of the South
Airdrieonians 1-1 Albion Rovers
Airdrieonians 1-0 Queen’s Park

Referee: Steven Reid
Assistants: Graham McNeillie, Elliot Husband Powton