Reaction

Yesterdays 1-0 victory at Station Park against Forfar Athletic means our Play-Off spot is now virtually sealed, with an eighteen goal diffence and six points between ourself and Stranraer with only two matches left.

The game itself was all about getting the correct result at this stage in the season, and credit to the players after the disappointment of losing at home the previous week to Stranraer, they competed very well, scored the important opening goal, Callum Crane starting the move on the left side of the park before running on to Jordan Kirkpatrick’s pass inside the box to volley high over keeper Marc McCallum. Indeed Ross Stewart might have scored earlier in the game when he latched on to a mistake by Jamie Bain but Darren Whyte cleared off the line.

The game marked the 100th first team appearance for Stevie Hetherington who has been in great form this season. Alloa had the better of the first half but neither goalkeeper in truth had to much to do.

Forfar never gave in and in a late rally finally put pressure on the Alloa defence but Alloa keeper Neil Parry was not troubled and he recorded his 10th clean sheet of this season. However five minutes into time added on Jamie McCart was red carded by referee Colin Steven after a clash on the bye line with Dylan Easton. The game was not a great spectacle but the team got the required victory which was all important.

jim goodwin at station park

The Play Off spot is now virtually sealed, there would need to be an eighteen goal swing in the goal difference and the only way that is going to happen is if I play myself in the next couple of weeks in place of Jamie McCart who will now be suspended – but no we will need to be professional and try and win the next two games but they are very difficult games obviously with Ayr United next Sunday and Raith Rovers the following Saturday, but as far as I’m concerned its job done to be realistic.

The boys were great today I was really pleased, I said before the game I would take a scrappy 1-0 victory, and I think that is what we got, it just shows you the importance of the performance and result with Stranraer going to Somerset Park against Ayr United and winning.

Delighted with the players overall, I thought we competed really well, we were aggressive when we needed to be and in the end of the day it was a very professional performance, we managed the game really well. The winning goal was a good goal by the way, it was a really decent build up to it and Callum Crane struck it really well. Other than that I don’t think either team had too many clear cut opportunities, to be honest I don’t think either keeper was worked much, we had  to work hard in the final five minutes when Forfar threw everything at us but overall really pleased.