Reaction

A draw was a fair result against Dumbarton on Saturday but had The Wasps converted at least three gilt edged chances in the first half the result could have been so different. Jim Lister passed a last minute fitness test and Allan Maitland gave a debut to on loan striker Kurtis Byrne from Hibernian both players had excellent games but both players will look back on what might have been early in this match. Not for the first time this season Alloa’s failure in front of goal has come back to haunt them by then losing cheap goals and again that could be said this weekend, however the spirit to get back into the game having been twice behind away from home could not be faulted. he players must no0w take this spirit into Saturday’s game at home against Airdrie United, who are still pushing for a promotional play off spot.

ALLAN MAITLAND AFTER DUMBARTON DRAW

it was a good point gained having been behind twice, it was important to get ourselves back into the game and get something from the game. The first half very much summed up our season the very fact we had three one on ones with the goalkeeper and couldn’t score with any of them. They have a shot which hit someone on the backside and spins and before you know it you are 1-0 down. I thought we were fortunate to get to half time only 1-0 behind, they had a chance with a header just after it. We came out and scored a great early goal in the second half. Then before we know it we lose another sloppy goal and then for the next 20 minutes Dumbarton were the best side and we could have went 3-1 behind rather than 2-1. We brought fresh legs on in Stuart Noble and Nathan Taggart, who I thought was excellent and that made a massive difference for us. At that stage of the game we were really open in mid-field, having a mid field of Michael McGowan, Andy Scott , Nathan Taggart and Stuart Noble there is nobody going to tackle a fish supper in there. It was important that we got the ball into their end of the park and Michael’s finish for the goal I thought was excellent and just after that Kurtis had an effort which they managed to block. They had a chance at the end so a draw seems a fair result for both teams. It was an open game, I was relieved that we showed the character and got back into the game and made sure we didn’t come away from here on the wrong side of another defeat. We have managed to avoid any fresh injuries which is a good thing and I thought the other thing today was the form of Jim Lister – he was struggling to play from the start but he was excellent and a constant thorn in their side at the back. I thought that was important for us. It is strange that we had Mark Gilhaney for a season and he must have played around 5 games and since he has came to Dumbarton he has been excellent and again he was a threat today but James Bloom as the game went on got a hold of him and when he changed wings to the right hand side Billy Gibson also negated that threat. It is a point gained when you are 1-0 and 2-1 down away from home in the way we have been it has to be a point gained. In the first half Michael McGowan was too deep and I asked him at half time to push forward and he did that really well in the second half and he drove us on and scored two wonderful goals. He has been a great addition to us and I am hoping that will continue. I agree with the supporters at the club we have hugely under achieved this season and we shouldn’t be in this situation but I am hoping they will recognise the effort the players are putting in – we have huge injuries at this stage of the season with five or six players who if fit would be first team starters. Supporters anywhere regardless of the team you support all want to see a winning team , and it is only natural that they get frustrated – the first target will be the manager, and I have no problem with that because it means that they are not giving the players abuse.