Reaction

Saturday’s Play off Semi Final 2nd Leg was just a step too far as the team struggled to maintain their unbeaten run against Cowdenbeath this season. Even prior to the kick off Allan Maitland was dealt a blow as Declan McAvoy was injured in the warm up and had to be withdrawn, then ten minutes into the came, Andy Scott who had scored a double last Saturday in the 3-1 victory over Cowdenbeath had to be replaced. In front of the biggest crowd this season at Recreation Park – 1,234 the team were desperate to win but in the end were found to be running empty. In the first half Alloa had the best opportunities but credit to Cowdenbeath who in the second half stepped up a gear and scored the crucial first goal and deservedly won after Paul McQuade clinched the game with eight minutes left. Although disappointed that the club missed out on promotion, this has been a great season for the club and a year of great progression on and off the park, disappointed yes, despondent not and we will look to build on this season’s displays and look to strengthen in the summer.

allan maitland congratulates cowdenbeath

First and foremost it is only fitting to congratulate Cowdenbeath who were excellent today, they played really well – I thought in the first half they passed the ball well but we had the best chances. Unfortunately, David Hay had a great save in that spell from Bryan Prunty and we missed a couple of chances. In the second half I thought they were the better side and deserved to win it. At the end of the game I was listing the players who were not available today, Mark Gilhaney, Stuart Noble, Scot Buist, Tony Stevenson, Declan McAvoy who was injured in the warm up, Dougie Wilson and Brown Ferguson. I then had Andy Scott being injured after only ten minutes and Bryan Prunty having to leave the game with knocks, along with David McClune & Gary Carroll who were injured but still on the park. In fairness to the players they have been magnificent this year – our season ended today, if it wasn’t today it would have ended Wednesday or Sunday but you cannot go with that list of players out and expect to win the play offs. I have nothing but admiration for the team and wish Cowdenbeath every success – I hope they go on and manage to win the Play Off final now, we have come on leaps and strides this year and what we will try and do is build on that for next year. I have nothing but pride for all the players who have been involved at this club this season, but by the end of this game it was boys against men and unfortunately for us the men were just that bit stronger that us. We will just utilise that and make ourselves stronger and better for next year, I think in fairness if we look at our team we would openly admit we are nowhere near ready to go and compete in the First Division and we will look to address it during the summer and look to go and win it next year – and get ourselves over that finishing line and be better prepared for it. The main thing today is to concentrate on Cowdenbeath and well done to them.