Published: Wednesday, 7th May, 2008 12:00
Wasps were well and truly stung.
By John Simpson
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Hopes of Alloa reaching Division One sink after Clyde score in Extra Time.
Pic by: Jan van der Merwe
Clyde 5 v 3 Alloa
THE reality of Alloa’s failure to finish off Clyde in Saturday’s second leg of the semi-final playoff hadn’t quite sunk in at the final whistle.
The Wasps took a 2-1 advantage to Broadwood from the first leg, then built up a 3-1 lead (5-2 on aggregate) only to allow John Brown’s side to battle back for an extra time victory.
Clyde will now meet Airdrie on Wednesday of this week and again on Saturday in the 2-leg final to decide which club plays in Division 1 next season.
As the Alloa players and management team stood stunned on the pitch after 120 minutes of fast moving football, Wasps keeper Ray Jellema summed up the feelings of everyone. He said, “We are just gutted – it was not good enough because we pulled up short today.
“I just cannot believe we lost five goals but Clyde were the stronger team. Although we came away with nothing, we have progressed this season, finishing with 56 points which is better than last season.
“We can now go and enjoy our holidays then get our chins up for the new season.”
With a big noisy support behind them from the kick-off Alloa found themselves conceding three early corners, the third pushed over the top by keeper Jellema and then cleared by David McClune
The pressure continued with Alloa fortunate in 21 minutes when Jim Gibson got to a Kevin Bradley left wing cross to head against the bar. Nine minutes later Ruari McLennan drove over the top from 25 yards as Alloa were hemmed back.
But the host side took the lead in 29 minutes, Jimmy Gibson heading a Steven Masterton corner past Jellema at the right corner.
Off the bar
Two minutes later the Wasps could have been level when John Grant reached a Derek Fleming free-kick but his header struck the bar. The Alloa keeper then stretched to push a header by Dusan Bestvina over the top.
Five minutes before the break Brown Ferguson brought Alloa level, his strong drive from 20 yards striking the underside of the bar and bouncing just over the line.
Clyde were stunned again two minutes later, Fraser Forrest flicking in a Fleming free-kick from five yards, but more drama followed early in the second half.
Home defender Masterton tried to find his keeper David Hutton but his header fell short, allowing Kyle MacAulay to run in unchallenged. His shot looked like missing the target but Bestvina deflected the ball into his own net to give Alloa a 3-1 lead.
That should have been suficient (5-2 on average) but Clyde were far from finished.
Chris Townsley and Fraser Forrest cleared desperately before Jellema stretched to push out a scoring header from Willie Gibson.
The home fans were shouting in anticipaton when busy striker Gary Arbuckle collected a fine pass from substitute Gary McSwegan in 64 minutes to grab the home second past the advancing Jellema.
More trouble for Alloa four minutes later when Willie Gibson’s header made it 3-3.
Graeme Brown shot over the home bar from 25 yards in a rare effort
Alloa were in trouble in 84 minutes when McSwegan headed the home fourth under Jellema from a Masterton corner which levelled the scores on aggregate.
Clyde were giving everything now with McSwegan heading past the left post then he was denied when Jellema dived to parry his shot with Arbuckle shooting over from the rebound.
On to extra time when Arbuckle’s close ranger was pushed out by the star Alloa keeper followed by Willie Gibson’s 25 yard drive which slide dangerously past the right post.
MacAulay, Grant and substitute Andy Ferguson linked up in the final quarter but the latter blazed well over the top.
With 111 minutes gone Pat Clarke accepted McSwegan’s square pass to drive in the winner to the right corner with Jellema again doing well to save a long well-hit drive from Marvyn Wilson at the second attempt.
CLYDE. – Hutton, Masterton, W. Gibson, Higgins, Bestvina (McGowan 48), Wilson, J. Gibson (McKay 72), MacLennan, Arbuckle,Clarke, Bradley (McSwegan 46). Subs. not used: Fagan, Cherrie.
ALLOA. – Jellema,McClune, Fleming, Townsley, Forrest, Grant, B. Ferguson (Scott 55), McKeown, G. Brown (A. Ferguson 76), Agnew (Hodge 30), MacAulay. Subs. not used: Coakley, Bruce.
Referee. – M. Tumilty.
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