Published: Wednesday, 6th May, 2009 1:10pm

Maitland praises his young guns

by Jamie MacDonald

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AFTER 35 games in the Second Division Alloa confirmed their safety for next season at Somerset Park on Saturday.

Their closest rivals fighting to avoid the drop - Queen"s Park - fell 1-0 to champions Raith Rovers at Hampden, which means the Spiders are now into the relegation play-offs.

This means whatever kind of result the Wasps come up with in their final fixture at home to Brechin City on Saturday, Queens cannot match the 38 points Alloa have accumulated.

Yes, there was a huge sigh of relief at Ayr, but not for the home side - they were pipped by Rovers for the championship title after Graham Weir netted the only goal at Hampden to hail the Kirkcaldy boys as champs.

The reief for Alloa showed at the final whistle when chairman Bobby Hopkins raced from the directors" box on to the field to congratulate his players. He just could not hide his joy at knowing the Wasps have cast aside the threat of playing Division 3 football next season.

Manager Allan Maitland praised his Alloa troops, in particular the young boys in the squad. He aaid, 'Ayr had everything to play for today so it was important we were able to stand up to them.

'We did just that with our young boys Greig Spence, Gary Carroll and Marc McCafferty all showing up well on this important day.

'I feel a bit for Ayr but they will go into the play-offs and could still be promoted.'

Looking at the overall performance from his side Maitland said, 'We were excellent today and i am so pleased we scored. Our goalkeeper Ray Jellema who may not have been so good as last season made two magnificent saves and put another shot on to the bar.

'What is important is we have stayed in this Division in what has been a disappointing season for us. I am also pleased with the decent support we have been having all season. And finally, good luck to Ayr United.'

The manager"s thoughts are now on preparing for next season and that means which players are in the plans and who are not.

But first he will decide this week which kind of team to put out against Brechin City on Saturday. It seems reasonable to assume he will give the nod again to his promising youth boys. Marc McCafferty played his third first team game at Ayr where he once again did very well in the left back berth so deserves to continue there.

Gary Carroll, the Sauchie youngster who had a spell with Aberdeen also showed some excellent touches to put himself in the side to face Brechin.

Other youngster Greig Spence was of course the hero by scoring the equalising goal at Somerset Park but will be an automatic choice anyway.

He has pleased manager Maitland in all his outings and is undoubtedly one for the future.

It is possible Brown Ferguson - out injured at Somerset Park because of an ankle knock - could return.

Previously this season City defeated Alloa 3-1 at Glebe Park on 4 October but the Wasps took their revenge on 20 December with an odd goal in three victory at Recreation Park.

On 21 March in a tight affair at Glebe Park City managed a 1-0 win but the Wasps are hoping to round off their season with three points this weekend.

The club are hoping their supporters will come along and enjoy the match. Kick-off is 3pm.