Reaction

Alloa Athletic fought back at Station Park to earn a point in a 1-1 draw in a game the team showed great fighting spirit. This was a game in which the Alloa players stood up and showed they have great fighting spirit and the least they derserved was a draw in a game which they created enough chances to have the game wrapped up by half-time, however after losing a second half penalty after Scott Walker had handled in the penalty box, Ross Campbell fired the home side ahead which was harsh given the Wasps performance. However to their credit the team fought back and substitute Jim Lister scored a great equalising goal and caused problems for the home defence, indeed he had a later chance but fired narrowly over the bar.

allan maitland after draw at station park

It would be fair to say we could have been 4-0 ahead at half-time with the chances we created in the first half – we had Bryan Prunty right through, he also tried to chip the goalkeeper, while Stuart Noble missed with a free header in the six yard box and later he tried to round the keeper and put his shot wide, if the chances had been the other way round we wound certainly have been behind at half-time the way our season has been going, but the most important thing for us tonight was to show everybody that despite the run of results we have been on, despite losing against Forfar on Saturday we were never for giving up, we were working hard and I thought the team fought magnificently played really well in the first half stuck to their task and the big thing tonight was their workrate. I felt on Saturday when we played big Jim from the start it almost played into Bolo and Bishop’s hands so we decided to bring him on later in the game tonight when they were maybe a wee bit tired and he gave us a real spark. He scored a fantastic goal, great finish, also great composure from Kevin when we needed it and at that stage in the game it was great to see our midfield pushing so far up the park. Delighted not to lose the game tonight, which looked as though we might do after the penalty kick went in, but I think a point was the absolute very least we deserved. We are in a dreadful run of form but it is important for the players in these situations to show not chucked it, it is important for the supporters to see that we are still here, still fighting and still working really hard and I think we did that tonight – we had David McClune out, Mark Brown out, I thought young Ross Philp tonight was outstanding for a young boy making his league debut he was outstanding and he and Michael McGowan on that side of the park played really well for us, but it is unfair to single them out Jamie Ewings had a great save in the game as well but overall the team were excellent and Forfar is never an easy place to come and I thing when it went 1-0 everybody assumed that would be it, here we go again, but I am pleased to say the players had different thoughts on that and did exactly what I would expect them to do – keep playing, keep working and they would get another chance and we did that, it was a bit unfortunate just after we equalised when Jim volleyed one just over the bar, we are disappointed not to win the game, delighted to draw – no, delighted with the performance – yes.