Reaction

Alloa lost a last minute goal against Cowdenbeath in the First Division Play Off Semi Final tonight at Central Park, although the goal was credited to John Dempster, who had just came on the field of play as last minute substitute, David McClune actuallu scored an own goal, heading the ball past David Crawford under pressure from Dempster. However this was a creditable result for “The Wasps” who once again were without seven first team regulars. David Gormley had put the visitors ahead but there were not many clear cut chances in the game, although Cowdenbeath did have the better of the second half, neither keeper was called to make any serious saves. The second leg will take place at Recreation Park, Alloa on Saturday 8th May, kick-off 3.00pm

allan maitland after playoff semi 1st leg

This seems to be a season littered with last minute goals – Whether its Stirling Albion’s last minute goal here last week to snatch a draw, Cowdenbeath’s goal tonight or our last minute goal when we beat them in the Scottish Cup , there has been a lot of late goals this season, but tonight for my point of view on the back of the disappointment of not having won promotion as champions I thought we were excellent tonight, we had seven players out through injury and I thought our attitude was great, we controlled long spells of the game without making too much of a threat, Cowdenbeath might have felt we might be feeling sorry for ourselves but there was no sign of that, we were first to the ball, aggressive in the middle of the park, got the ball to the front two who were really good tonight, David Gormley scored a great goal and as the game went on I thought we maybe didn’t create chances when we had the opportunity, we defended resolutely our two centre backs were top drawer tonight. There might of being a worry going into this game we might not be up for the game but from the first minute to the last we were up for it, even to the extent we scored both goals in the game – David McClune got in front of John Dempster to score an own goal but Dempster’s presence caused the goal, before “mini” dived in to header it in to his own net. So we live to fight another day, we have been to Central Park on four occasions this season and drawn every game, while we have met at Recreation Park and we have won three, so we hope that form continues on Saturday in the second leg of this tie. Cowdenbeath have been excellent all season and had a strong side on the park this evening so every credit to them. Saturday will be our eighth game against Cowdenbeath this season and we will look forward to that and hopefully progress into next weeks final.