Reaction

Two goals at the start of each half helped “The Wasps” record a vital victory over Arbroath at Recreation Park. This was a vital game for the club and one in which the players showed a determination to win in a professional manner and by the end of the game could have extended the margin of the victory. The goalscorers on the day were Iain Campbell and David McClune, who both played exceptionally well getting forward from their wing back roles, indeed Alloa have now had nineteen different players who have scored for the first team this season. This was a great team performance with Stuart Noble picking up the sponsors “Man of the match” award. Prior to the game manager Allan Maitland signed youngster Gary Carroll, a nineteen year old midfield player who had been with Aberdeen since 2004 and stays locally in Sauchie, Gary is the nephew of ex Hibernian player Pat Carroll. Gary has joined the club initially until the end of the season.

allan maitland after arbroath victory

Normally we expect the wind, to be strong at Gayfield and our last game there was probably the windiest day of the season but today it couldn’t have been far away either. The first half in particular it was very poor but the important thing when it is poor is that you keep doing the basic things right and we scored a really good goal, which the referee deserves great credit allowing play to continue after Andy Scott had been fouled, allowing the advantage, it was a really good goal which involved both wing backs, one getting to the touchline and the other scoring at the near post is fantastic. At half time I was stressing the simple thing is, it doesn’t matter how good it is or how pretty it is, if we do the basics, we stop having holding midfield players getting caught on the ball and centre backs taking throw ins too far up the park, keep our shape, however it did help in the fact we scored so early in the second period, but we were very professional today, played the game out and in many ways, without being disrespectful of Arbroath, it was the most comfortable win we have had this season, I thought we did the professional things, getting them all right today and had enough threat up front to cause them problems, I thought Stuart Noble was great, and for him to win “Man of the Match” when David McClune set up the first goal and scored the second, took a bit of doing. We thought today was our most important game of the season and it was vital for us to go on and win it, this victory and Stranraer scoring late at Stair Park to draw with Queen’s Park helps and all in all its been a great day for us.

Hopefully this result will give us confidence going in to our next game which is away to Brechin City, for that game we have John Grant suspended, John has been playing a holding role in the middle of the park but he starts a three match suspension next Saturday and he will be missed, it will be disappointing that he will miss the game. We have improved our record away from home recently, winning two and drawing one in our last three games so we can go to Brechin with a bit of confidence and see if we can win, another couple of wins would do the team the world of good and hopefully we can relax and enjoy the rest of the season.