Wasps are determined not to get carried away
Hamish Hutchinson • Published 9 Feb 2012 08:00
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ALLOA duo Graeme Holmes (left) and Kevin Cawley combine to keep possession during their 2-1 victory over Queen's Park at Hampden Park on Saturday - a result which puts the Wasps nine points clear at the top of the table.
FOR Alloa Athletic FC chairman Mike Mulraney, the football season is a marathon not a sprint.
The local businessman was happy with another win on Saturday for the Recs side against promotion chasing Queen's Park.
The Wasps are now on a fifteen game unbeaten run in the league and nine points clear at the top of the table.
While it is a fantastic run for the Alloa squad, Mulraney is cautious about the road ahead.
He told Advertiser Sport, "It's very pleasing but very early doors. We are experienced enough to realise that we are only half-way there. I'd say we are leading the marathon at the halfway point."
It comes on the back of a tumultuous two years in which the Wasps looked to be taking the Second Division title before a stuttering close in which Stirling Albion leap-frogged them on goal difference.
Then the following year Alloa slumped to the bottom of the table and were relegated to the Third Division.
Manager Allan Maitland was given the boot and Mulraney brought in former Scotland international Paul Hartley.
Mulraney is full of high praise for Hartley who is only in his debut season as manager.
He said, "He has got to be commended on what he has done. It's an amazing job."
Hartley, who built a whole new team from scratch, has so far turned the fortunes of the club round.
Within the last three weeks the Wasps have beaten all three league title challengers - Stranraer, Annan Athletic and Saturday's 2-1 win against Queen's Park.
Hartley said, "I am really proud of my players the way they perform week in week out for me because that is three tough games we have had and we have come out of it with flying colours.
"But we know there is a long, long, way to go, we don't get carried away, it's an old cliché but it's one game at a time for us.
"We have got good footballers at this club, but there is no point in having that alone, you need to have the other side - you need the work ethic as well and we have all of that in abundance.
"We have instilled it in the players that we expect high standards, expect them to work hard, expect them to enjoy it and they are doing that just now, they are playing at the top of their game and long may it continue."
Now with 13 games to go, including this Saturday's clash at the Recs against Berwick Rangers, all eyes will be on whether Alloa can sustain their good form.
This article appeared in Alloa & Hillfoots Advertiser 08 Feb 12
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