Category: News

Annan 2 – 3 Alloa

23
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KO KO 4 16 17 46 46 58 62 69 73 75 76 80 82 88 89 95 95 FT

Highlights

Sutherland signs from Saints

We’re pleased to confirm the loan signing of St Mirren youngster Ethan Sutherland. The 17 year old shone in the Buddies pre-season fixtures terrorising from the left flank and was awarded his first senior appearances against Montrose and Arbroath in the Viaplay Cup group stage. The youth prospect will continue his development with the Wasps for the remainder of the season starting with Saturday’s game against Annan.

We’re delighted to have Ethan in to help the group. With the departure of Josh Debayo and a bad injury to Euan Deveney we felt we had to strengthen the squad options on that left side and Ethan will provide that.

Andy Graham, Alloa Athletic Manager

Debayo departs

We have agreed to release Josh Debayo from his contract with Alloa Athletic. Josh is returning to England to be closer to his family.

The defender has made 11 appearances for the Wasps since signing in the summer. We would like to thank him for his hard work for Alloa Athletic and wish him the best of luck in the future.

Wales returns on loan

We’re pleased to welcome the return of Kilmarnock loanee Bobby Wales until the end of the season. The Scotland youth striker has appeared 11 times for the Wasps leading the line impressively and had just found his scoring rhythm with 3 consecutive goals in his last 3 matches. A run he will be hoping to extend as he joins the squad for today’s game against Falkirk

Motherwell 3-1 Alloa

31
Full Time

KO KO 1 27 45 45 55 60 66 66 79 79 81 88 88 FT

Highlights

Reaction

Motherwell

1Liam Kelly Goalkeeper
2Stephen O’Donnell Defender
16Paul McGinn Defender
5Bevis Mugabi 38 Defender
66Calum Butcher Defender
3George Gent Midfielder 60′
17Davor Zdravkovski Midfielder
12Harry Paton 11 Midfielder
22Adam Montgomery 37 Defender
14Theo Bair Forward
7Blair Spittal Midfielder 1′, 88′
11Andy Halliday 12 Midfielder
37Dylan Wells 22 Midfielder
38Lennon Miller 5 Midfielder
6Barry Maguire Midfielder
13Ashton Jay Oxborough Goalkeeper
35Brannan McDermott Defender
39Luca Ross Forward
42Max Ross Defender
46Scott Williamson Defender

Alloa Athletic

1PJ Morrison Goalkeeper
2Scott Taggart 7 Defender
6Morgyn Neill Defender 81′
15David McKay Defender
20Cameron O’Donnell 3 Midfielder
4Steven Hetherington 14 Midfielder
8Kurtis Roberts Midfielder
11Taylor Steven 16 Forward
12Stefan Scougall Midfielder
26Quinn Coulson 9 Forward
18Conor Sammon Forward 27′
21Keir Burt Goalkeeper
3Euan Deveney 20 Defender
27Josh Debayo Defender
14Miko Virtanen 4 Midfielder
25Jon Robertson Midfielder
19Steven Buchanan Midfielder
7Kevin Cawley 2 Midfielder
9Luke Donnelly 26 Forward
16Alistair Roy 11 Forward

Ground

Fir Park
Fir Park, Fir Park Street, Knowetop, Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, Scotland, ML1 2QN, United Kingdom

Previous Meetings with Motherwell

Older supporters will have fond memories of Alloa’s last visit to Fir Park—a record-breaking cup upset. On August 13th, 1996, Alloa traveled to Motherwell for a 2nd Round League Cup encounter. In the club’s first competitive match of the season, Alloa had overcome East Stirlingshire 3-1 at Firs Park in round 1—with goals from Neil McAvoy, Willie Irvine, and Peter Dwyer against his former club. Managed by Alex McLeish, Motherwell was a fairly formidable force, with a squad containing players such as Tommy Coyne, Owen Coyle, Willie Falconer, Billy Davies, and John Philliben (Philiben was to be involved in another memorable Alloa match two years later—sent off for Stirling Albion as Alloa were 7-0 victors).

Alloa was a Third Division club at the time and was given next to no chance against their Premier League opposition. However, after 120 goal-less minutes of football, Alloa triumphed in the penalty shoot-out—with Jimmy Gilmour scoring the decisive spot-kick and goalkeeper Robert Balfour being something of an unlikely hero.

We played well and I thought we competed remarkably well over the 120 minutes – especially after playing extra-time on Saturday. You cannot be a manager of a third-division club and expect to beat a side from the premier division but I felt if there was to be a shock it could be tonight with Motherwell reeling after losing a couple of their players

Tom Hendrie, Alloa Manager

This was the first time in Scottish football history that a Third Division club defeated a team from the Premier League in a competitive match, with the Third Division newly formed just a few years earlier. Alloa were rewarded with a “home” tie against Celtic in the 3rd Round—the tie was played at Firhill to ensure a larger crowd. Alloa supporters experienced another memorable moment—getting back on level terms early in the second half when Paul McAneny scrambled home an equalizer to Andreas Thom’s first-half opener. But sadly and perhaps understandably, Celtic’s firepower of Jorge Cadete, Pierre Van Hooijdonk, and Paulo Di Canio eventually did their damage, and Alloa was beaten 5-1.

Historically, Alloa and Motherwell have sparsely met through the years—only facing each other on 12 occasions spanning over 100 years. This will be only their fourth Scottish Cup meeting—the others came in the season 1921/22, a memorable season for the Wasps where they were edged out of the cup by a single goal. Then in the 1953 Scottish Cup, Motherwell was 2-0 victors at Recreation Park. And finally, in 1986, a Dom Sullivan goal was not enough as Alloa lost again at home 2-1. Motherwell Manager Tommy McLean would be generous in praise and said, to Jimmy Thomson his Alloa Athletic counterpart, “You deserved a draw, but the Alloa boss quickly replied, The reality is its goals that count”.

The clubs have plied their trade in the same league on only three occasions—Division 1 in 1922/23 (a season covered brilliantly by fellow columnist Donald Pollock) and Division 2 in 1953/54 and 1968/69. Finally, in League Cup Group Sections in 1983/84, Motherwell repeated their 2-1 scoreline with Lennie McComb scoring for the Wasps. But Alloa did pick up a memorable 2-2 draw at Fir Park in the return game with goals from Davie Houston and Frankie Cole. That result, combined with the aforementioned 1996 upset, means that Alloa is unbeaten at Fir Park since 1969—54 years. Alloa only managed one more draw in the 12 fixtures, though, with Motherwell picking up 9 wins. But Alloa will be looking to achieve that first victory over Stuart Kettlewell’s men. They will be underdogs, of course, but they might just be able to channel some of that character from the 1996 and 1983 visits. One to look forward to in the New Year.

Thanks as always to “The History of Alloa Athletic” book by John Glencross and Stuart Latham for some of the statistics used in this article.

by Brian Roach

Motherwell Tickets

3:00 pm
Preview

Preview

Alloa fans can hit the image above to link to the Motherwell Ticket Portal where you need to create an account or log in if you have previously created an account with Motherwell. This will show as an away fan and show the north section, Phil O’Donnell stand only. Accessing through Motherwell’s website will not be able to purchase away section tickets.

Ambulant and wheelchair supporters can contact Motherwell’s ticket office on 01698 333333.

Bars Open to Home and Away supporters

Motherwell have also informed us the Cooper Bar and Centenary Bars are open to both home and away fans pre-match and full-time.

Cooper Suite opens from 12 noon serving food and drink and the Centenary Suite opens form 1pm selling drinks only.

Also small detail: We’re sure everyone will be glad to hear there won’t be any VAR in this Scottish Cup 4th Round!

Streaming outside the UK & Ireland

Subscribers can watch live as always on Wasp TV outside the UK & Ireland.

Ground

Fir Park
Fir Park, Fir Park Street, Knowetop, Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, Scotland, ML1 2QN, United Kingdom

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Queen of the South 1-1 Alloa

11
Full Time

KO KO 25 31 43 47 64 66 74 75 76 86 90 92 FT

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Queen of the South

31Harry Stone Goalkeeper
7Kieran McKechnie 25 Midfielder
8Josh Todd Midfielder 47′
10Lee Connelly Forward 43′
11Craig McGuffie 27 Midfielder
15Jacob Hutchinson 30 Forward
15Kyle McClelland Defender
17Alexander Ferguson Midfielder 86′
19Oscar MacIntyre Defender
23Cameron Logan 5 Defender
24Efe Ambrose Defender
1Gordon Botterill Goalkeeper
5Paul McKay 23 Defender
20Ross Irving Forward
25Kyle Docherty 7 Midfielder
27Lewis Gibson 11 Midfielder
28Ben Johnstone
30Harvey Walker 15
33Finlay Kennedy
34Niall Rogerson

Alloa Athletic

1PJ Morrison Goalkeeper
2Scott Taggart Defender
15David McKay Defender
6Morgyn Neill Defender
20Cameron O’Donnell Midfielder
4Steven Hetherington Midfielder 90′
8Kurtis Roberts Midfielder
7Kevin Cawley 12 Midfielder 31′
26Quinn Coulson 16 Forward
11Taylor Steven Forward
28Bobby Wales Forward 25′
21Keir Burt Goalkeeper
3Euan Deveney Defender
27Josh Debayo Defender
14Miko Virtanen Midfielder
12Stefan Scougall 7 Midfielder
9Luke Donnelly Forward
25Jon Robertson Midfielder
16Alistair Roy 26 Forward
18Conor Sammon Forward

Past Meetings

Ground

Palmerston Park
Palmerston Park, Palmerston Drive, Maxwelltown, Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, DG2 9DP, United Kingdom

Alloa 3-1 Edinburgh

31
Full Time

KO KO 37 44 45 45 51 61 67 67 76 80 80 89 90 91 92 FT

Highlights

Reaction

Alloa Athletic

1PJ Morrison Goalkeeper
2Scott Taggart Defender
15David McKay Defender
6Morgyn Neill Defender
20Cameron O’Donnell Midfielder
4Steven Hetherington Midfielder
8Kurtis Roberts Midfielder
19Steven Buchanan 16 Midfielder
26Quinn Coulson 11 Forward
7Kevin Cawley 14 Midfielder 89′
28Bobby Wales Forward 37′
21Keir Burt Goalkeeper
27Josh Debayo Defender
3Euan Deveney Defender
14Miko Virtanen 7 Midfielder
11Taylor Steven 26 Forward 92′
16Alistair Roy 19 Forward 90′
17Nathan Cannon Forward
5Andy Graham Defender

Edinburgh City

25Ruairidh Adams Goalkeeper
3Quinn Mitchell Defender
4Kelsey Ewen Defender
5Scott Mercer Defender
6Struan Mair Defender
7Malik Zaid 18 Midfielder
8Findlay Marshall 24 Midfielder
9Ouzy See 14 Forward 45′
10Frankie Deane 20 Midfielder 61′
11Elijah Anukam 22 Forward
17Liam Fontaine Defender
21Cameron Quate Goalkeeper
14Kenny Fisher 9
16Callum Pitt
18Brodie Devine 7 Midfielder
20Cai MacNamara 10 Midfielder
22Momodou Sambou 11 Forward 51′
24Daniel Conafrey 8

Past Meetings

Ground

Indodrill Stadium
Indodrill Stadium, Alloa