Scott Walker Column

Published 27 Jan 2010 10:10 0 Comments

IT proved to be third time lucky on Saturday as we picked up our first league win of the season against Stenhousemuir.

The Warriors must have got a shock at the way Alloa came out of the blocks after our lacklustre performances in the two previous meetings between the sides this season.

It really was a great to win on Saturday - the lads were so focused.

They were quiet in the dressing room before kick-off as they got themselves mentally prepared for it.

We started the game brilliantly and deserved to go ahead when we did.

The team performed well and we played solidly as a unit. And despite the long gap without any league games, due to the constant postponement, the team looked sharp - there were no signs of rustiness. The intensive training we had has certainly paid off.

We've got a great chance this Saturday to make a mark by beating Arbroath. Winning games will make Cowdenbeath and Stirling sit up and take notice.

There is no doubt the recent signings made by Allan Maitland have given the club a real boost as we go into the second half of the campaign. It is good when new players are brought in - I always feel it enhances everyone's performance.

The players that have been brought in show the ambition of everyone at Alloa. Bryan Prunty, David Gormley and James Bllom are all excellent acquisitions. Prunty in particular will add so much to our play. A proven goal scorer, he holds the ball up well and is an intelligent player. He combined well with Stuart Noble at Ochilview Park.

Gormely is a power house who is strong and quick. Once he gets his match sharpness back he will be an asset for us. And Bloom did well once he was up to the pace of the game on Saturday - he can be an accomplished player for Alloa.

It is important we now carry on the winning form when Arbroath visit Recreation Park this weekend. They are fighting to avoid relegation and will come to our patch aiming to frustrate us - we need to be ready for that.

I also think Scotland needs to be ready and willing to take advantage of new rules which state people who have schooled in the country for five years or more can be selected for the national team.

There has been some debate on the rights and wrongs of whether people in this position should be allowed to represent the Scotland national team. For me it's a no-brainer: if they are good enough, get them in. Craig Levein should take full advantage.

If someone from Ghana - for example - becomes eligible and has the ability then why not select them? It would be fantastic if it helped the country qualify for a major tournament again, and that is what we all want after all.

The new legislation will help us, and it is vitally important that we maximise its potential. The SFA should have people on a part-time basis working to find out who meets the criteria to pull on the dark blue.

Next week, I will give my reaction to the Arbroath game and share my views on whether clubs amalgamating or ground sharing would improve or diminish our game.

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