Reaction

This was another game where we had the chance to secure our Division Two status for next season, but again were found lacking in firepower, confidence and still conceeded another three goals. Jim Lister missed the game through suspension and he was a big miss up front to hold the ball and the team had no areial threat with the ball never being held up at any time. East Fife who are in a rich vein of form started brightly and static defending saw Ryan Wallace nip in, not for the only time, to score the opening goal. Indeed if it had not been for Jamie Ewings it could have been so much worse before half-time, saving a Bobby Linn free kick, a Ryan Wallace penalty and another when Ryan Wallace was through one on one with the keeper. Our best chance in the first half came to ex East Fife player Kurtis Byrne but he shot straight into keepers arms. Darren Smith also had to go off after only 32 minutes when he was concussed in a challenge which went unpunished. In the second half Alloa got into the game and had a great chance to equalise when Mike Dunlop had a great opportunity a the back post, only four yards out but his shot hit the keeper and again we had thrown away a good chance to get back into the game. Two minutes later we found ourselves paying for the missed opportunity when East Fife increased their lead in their 1st attack of the 2nd half. Kevin Motion did pull a goal back for The Wasps as they regained control and looked for an equiliser. However cruel it might be East Fife again broke forward in the closing minutes and increased their lead which was typical of our season. We now go into a final game of the season still requiring a victory at home to secure promotion, when League champions Livingston will be our visitors.

ALLAN MAITLAND AFTER EAST FIFE DEFEAT TIGHTENS THE RELEGATION RACE

I can’t even start to tell you how I feel about all that today, this will sound like a long playing record to those who are old enough to understand what a long playing record is. We have had a day again where I think there has been a number of players playing well, I think the effort of the team is good, I think the spirit of the team is good and we have lost three goals again and by the way if it wasn’t for our goal keeper at 1-0 it could have been 2 or 3-0 very quickly, he had a good save with the penalty kick and a good save from the free kick from Bobby Linn and then a great save when Ryan Wallace went right through with just the goalie to beat, so, these things didn’t go very well in the 1st half but we managed to dig ourselves back in to the game. I don’t know how many times I am going to say this, but we just can’t score goals when we get the opportunities and we only have ourselves to blame, Kurtis Byrne missed the best opportunity in the first half. In the second half we were playing a lot better and I think started the second half really well, we were taking control of the game, passing the ball well and were creating half chances across the box – we then created a magnificent opportunity when Mike Dunlop is one on one with the goal keeper at the back post and Michael Brown saves it and everyone is saying a great save – Michael Brown should have had no chance of saving that we are only four yards out all he had to do is put it into the net and he can’t do it. Two or three minutes after that East Fife break to the other end and we can’t defend it, the same player didn’t defend it properly and before you know it has gone from a score that should have been 1-1 to 2-0 to East Fife. That is the thin line we are in, especially when you are at the bottom end of the league and things are not going for you – we have no one to blame, we can’t blame the referee – people are talking about the referee – but you can’t blame the referee for our inadequacies. We cannot finish when we get the opportunities and at the other end we are incapable of defending properly, that was probably highlighted even at the end when we lost the third goal when we were chasing the game but we still have to defend properly, however it is probably typical of what has been a hugely disappointing season but victory next week would still secure our division two status which is still in our hands. I don’t expect anything from Livingston – I expect Livingston to be as professional as they always are, I think the three games we have played them this season despite the third score line the first two were draws and they have been interesting games and we have been in the games for long periods but in the third game we conceded four goals and it is due to us losing goals at such an alarming rate we are in the position we are come the final game of the season. I think we need to focus on ourselves and try to ensure we win the game of football and if that comes with a last minute goal by hitting someone on the back side then I would take that right now. Unfortunately, missing for next Saturday will be Darren Smith who was concussed and had to leave the field of play today and David McClune who will serve a one match suspension which will rule him out of the Livingston game.