Published: Wednesday, 23rd April, 2008 12:00
Rallying call to loyal fans
By John Simpson
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Wasps manager Allan Maitland has urged fans to "Come and support us".
ALLOA manager Allan Maitland (above) is well aware of the value of his supporters not only at Recreation Park but at away fixtures too.
That is why he is asking them to turn out in numbers at the Recs on Saturday for the crunch fixture with relegated Berwick Rangers.
The manager who has been instrumentaal in turning the fortunes of the Wasps from a mediocre side into the promotion chasing combine they now are.
He said this week, “I am asking the local people to come on Saturday and help us defeat Berwick.
“I know we have a good support but we have let them down in the past. Against Airdrie earlier in tihe season when they were right behind us we fell 6-0 at home .
“This Saturday sees a great opportunity for us to have the support of the town with us as they have been so often in the past. Even against Airdrie last weekend there may not have been many of them, but I could hear them encouraging our players. That is what we would love this Saturday.”
Alloa will want no slip-ups in their last match when a win over Berwick Rangers will guarantee them a play-off position.
If the Wasps lose or draw to the bottom side, who are already relegated, and Peterhead defeat Raith Rovers at Kirkcaldy, then Alloa’s hopes of Division One football next season are over.
It has been a brave finish from Maitland’s boys as they battled through a spell fraught with injury, to be within a last attempt this weekend of managing to break into the play-off group.
At the moment if they beat Berwick, the Wasps would face First Division strugglers Clyde or Morton over two games in the play-offs. The other two meeting are Airdrie v Raith Rovers.
But even yet nothing is certain, although Alloa will feel confident about outpointing the Borders side. On form the Wasps know they will go into the match favourites, but they have to play well to win.
Three victories over Berwick earlier in the season should put the Alloa players in the right mood to book their place in the final stage.
It should be remembered that Berwick may mount a last ditch effort before they head into Division 3 next season.
Last Saturday they were leading Raith Rovers 2-0 after 27 minutes at Shielfield, only to lose 5-2. Unfortunately for Michael Renwick this defeat cost him his job.
So Alloa should be prepared to perhaps face a Berwick team battling to retain some of their pride. Included in their squad are David Greenhill, Stuart Callaghan, Brian Fairbairn and Ian Little, all former Alloa players.
Allan Maitland is quietly confident. He said, “We did well on Saturday to draw at Airdrie when we stuck to our task. I was so happy to see our keeper Raymond Jellema pull off some massive saves but we came back after their good spell.
“Derek Fleming’s suspension is over so he will definitely be in the squad. Brown Ferguson picked up an injury so I will see how he is this week. We will be in decent shape for Saturday.
If Alloa win they will play the first leg of their semi-final at the Recs on Wednesday 30 April against Morton or Clyde.
More updates next week.
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Five will go for next season