SPFL League One

Stenhousemuir...2

Alloa Athletic...4

THE WASPS stormed to a 4-2 victory against Stenhousemuir with an enthralling display of counter-attacking football in blustery conditions at Ochilview Park.

The match kicked off at a frenetic pace and Greig Spence almost caught Colin McCabe off guard with a curling effort from the left but the goalkeeper reacted well to push the ball over the bar.

Stenhousemuir responded with an attack of their own and Colin McMenamin had his head in his hands after spurning a free header inside the area.

It took the Warriors just nine minutes to break the deadlock. Kieran Millar played an exquisite pass in field to Alan Cook, who received the ball in his stride to weave past two players and drill a low effort into the bottom left corner.

Spence had a glorious opportunity to level proceedings in the 14th minute after getting on the end of a Kevin Cawley cutback, but the striker’s placed effort was denied by the outstretched legs of McCabe.

Waves of the Alloa players descended on the Stenhousemuir goal as they sought a way back into the game. Cawley displayed a fantastic piece of individual skill to swivel on the edge of the area and bend an effort just beyond the left post.

They would get their equaliser on 24 minutes. Spence intercepted a poor back pass, only to be thwarted by the onrushing McCable. However, Cawley was on hand to pick up the loose ball, round the goalkeeper and drive the ball into the net from outside the area.

Just six minutes later, the Wasps edged their noses in front. Cawley whipped in a deadly ball from the left and Spence glanced a neat header beyond McCabe.

The match continued at a high intensity until the break. Minutes before the break, the Warriors missed a chance to level. Alan Cook fizzed a ball in from the left but McMenamin failed to connect at the back post.

Stenhousemuir were left to regret their hesitation in front of goal on 44 minutes. Jordan Kirkpatrick combined expertly with Spence before lashing the ball beyond the goalkeeper to make it 3-1 at the break.

The opening period of the second half was quiet in comparison with Cook and Andrew Graham missing chances for their sides. Cook’s long range effort with the inside of his foot whistled wide of the post, before Graham cracked the junction of the crossbar and post with a bullet header at the other end.

On the hour mark, substitute Jamie Longworth read another slack back pass but failed to capitalise.

A minute later, however, Alloa had their fourth. Cawley threaded an inch-perfect through ball for Kirkpatrick to roll the ball under McCabe, securing his second of the game in the process.

The Wasps were in control but a momentary lapse in concentration created the circumstances for a nasty collision between substitute Alistair Roy and Alloa goalkeeper Neil Parry. Both players went up to challenge a long ball before clashing and landing awkwardly.

Alloa and Stenhousemuir had used all of their substitutions meaning that the players left the field without replacement. Graham donned the goalkeeping gloves and jersey for the remainder of the match leading to a slight reshuffling of the away side’s shape.

Alloa continued to push forward at pace and Iain Flannigan delivered a teasing ball from the left, which Kirkpatrick failed to make contact with at the back post.

The desire from both teams to continue attacking until the final whistle was clear but ultimately left space in both halves.

In the sixth minute of added time, Oliver Shaw secured a consolation goal for the home side. The substitute unleashed a speculative strike from range, which cracked in off the bar beyond the despairing emergency goalkeeper.

Player-manager Jim Goodwin told Advertiser Sport that he was delighted with the result but primarily concerned with the health of the players.

“I’m over the moon to finish 2016 with a win but it’s one of those ones where you can’t help but think about the two boys,” he said.

“It’s great to get back to winning ways. I thought the conditions were shocking for both teams, with the wind and rain, but I thought we managed the conditions really well.”

Alloa Athletic: Parry, Taggart, Waters, Marr, Graham, Goodwin, Cawley (Flannigan), Robertson, Spence (Longworth), Kirkpatrick, Hetherington (Holmes). Subs not used: Hoggan, Hynd, Martin, McDowall.