Reaction

Victory at Cappielow against Greenock Morton was our first away victory this season and remarkably Alloa Athletic’s first victory in the league against Greenock Morton at Cappielow since 17th November, 1928, when “The Wasps” won 4-3, which was to be the Greenock sides only defeat at home that season. Paul Hartley’s side probably played their best football of the season and the scoreline could have been far more emphatic than the 2 – 0 scoreline but it was great to see the team creating so many chances, but another three vital league points gathered, now giving us 13 points from the first eight games, next Saturday will will face local neighbours Falkirk, the last team we still have to face in the first quarter.

paul hartley after victory at cappielow

It was a fantastic performance today, at a tough place to come to, I know Morton are at the wrong end of the table and we always knew it would be a tough game, but I thought the players were excellent, they controlled the game and could have scored more goals, if we had a better bit of composure in the final third of the park.  It was also another clean sheet, that’s four out of the eight games that we have had clean sheets.  It’s about that mentality that we try and install in the players.  I thought we deserved the three points today.  It is important to try and pick up points away from home, our home form has been excellent and that will be the key this season, but we were worthy winners today to pick up our first away victory of the season.  It was good for Andy Kirk to get back on the score sheet, strikers strive on goals, and it was a great goal made by a great ball in from the right from Michael Doyle, who played very well today.  Andy’s experience took him across the defender and it was a glancing header which was a fantastic finish.  However we should have scored more goals today – we wasted chances at times – we knew going in 1-0 at half time that Morton would come out at us – however, I thought we controlled the game from start to finish.  Some of our play was excellent today, their goal keeper kept them in the match with great saves but it was good for us to create so many opportunities, but coming away from home it was a brilliant result and I am very proud of them.

In terms of possession and chances that was probably the best we have played this season.  We haven’t always created as many chances and at times have starved our strikers,  today we created good opportunities, coming here we had a game plan – I had already watched Morton and I thought that our game plan worked.  It was important to try and stretch their back four and I thought we did that but our overall performance as a team was excellent.  The back four did well but our keeper did not have a lot to do.  Kevin Cawley was excellent in his work ethic in getting forward.   I am really pleased for the team.  Declan McManus is a little bit frustrated for not scoring his first goal for the club since coming on loan from Aberdeen, he went so close today when he rounded their keeper but went a little wide and his shot struck the post,  he is still young – he is a kid who has scored a lot of goals for Aberdeen at Under 20 level but it is a different step up in senior football – he will get his goals and needs to be patient – he is a bit down but we will pick him up again.  Our ambition is still to stay in the league at the end of the season – can we stay in the league – we are new to it – we are up against seven full time clubs – but who knows were football can take you – if we can keep playing like that every week – we keep attacking and even at 2-0 we were looking to increase our lead. Who knows what can happen in football.