Published: Wednesday, 19th March, 2008 12:00
Wasps move a step nearer the play-offs
By John Simpson
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Alloa players celebrate their second goal against Peterhead on Saturday.
Pic by: Jan van der Merwe
Alloa Athletic 2 v 0 Peterhead
ANOTHER great effort from Alloa on Saturday has moved them to fourth position in Division Two and closer to a play-off spot.
Their two goals, which arrived early in the second half came from two of the club’s most promising youngsters – John Grant and Kyle MacAulay – which augurs well for the future.
These boys, and others like them, will be given their chance with the Wasps as manager Allan Maitland thinks about his plans for next season.
Saturday’s win was pleasing for other reasons. The Wasps have not lost to Peterhead in their previous four outings and this result stretches their unbeaten run to six games – well done indeed to them.
Speaking immediately after the match the manager said, “We may not have played particularly well for the first 45 minutes but have now stopped losing goals.
“I told our players at the interval that they are still in the game and to take the game to Peterhead. We were certainly in it after the interval!
“John Grant did very well to score our opening goal with other players pouring into the box looking for scoring chances which was credit to them.”
Maitland added, “We could easily have scored a third goal when Michal Kula made that fantastic save from Kyle. There was not one failure in our side, so it was a great day for us.”
In the opening minutes the visitors pushed forward with Graeme Sharp powering a shot past the left post then Martin Bavidge stopped just inside the area by Scot Buist.
With eight minutes on the clock Alloa were relieved to see Ray Jellema pull off a great save from Donnie Munro followed a minute later by an excellent free kick by Stuart Smith which struck the top of the bar.
Then Alloa settled with Scott Agnew’s shot saved by Polish keeper Kula after young MacAulay had set up the chance.
The roles were reversed in 13 minutes, Agnew crossing into t he box but MacAulay clipped this one wide from 10 yards.
Alloa were moving sweetly now but Grant twice drove wide before Brown Ferguson’s strong 22 yard shot was smothered by Kula in 24 minutes and a good effort from Andy Scott was blocked inside the box.
The Blue Toon came back but Jellema saved from Stuart McKay and Adam Coakley swept Bavidge’s shot off the goal-line three minutes before the break.
The second half was more productive for the Wasps. Two minutes into the restart came the opening goal when Grant headed into the net following Agnew’s right wing corner-kick.
Before the vistors could reorganise themselves they were 2-0 down in 48 minutes. This time Adam Coakley managed to help on Grant’s cross, leaving MacaAulay to pounce in the box to drive past the helpless keeper Kula.
The Blue Toon tried to force their way back into things but Bavidge’s shot in 54 minutes was saved by Jellema before Chris Townsley – back in the side after injury – made two first class clearances inside the box.
But the visitors were fortunate not to lose a third goal in 62 minutes. From a perfect Agnew cross, MacAulay’s header from six yards was heading to the top left corner but up popped Kula to stretch and push the ball round the post – the save of the afternoon.
Neale Cooper the Peterhead manager said, “Two mistakes in two minutes cost us the game.
“There was not a lot between the teams – we were killed by these two defensive errors. But although I am disasppointed, I am confident we will now battle and bounce back.”
ALLOA. – Jellema, McClune, Buist, Hodge, Townsley, Grant, Scott, Ferguson (McKeown 25), Coakley (Clark 82), Agnew, MacAulay (Andrew 79). Subs. not used: Hay, Bruce.
PETERHEAD. – Kula, Donald, Smith, Good, MacDonald, McVitie, Sharp, Munro (Bagshaw 68), Bavidge, Ross, McKay (Istead 75). Subs. not used: Cowie, Soane, Bremner).
Referee. – Steven McLean.
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Five will go for next season