It's Homer time
Graeme Lafferty • Published 16 Nov 2012 09:00
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Graeme Holmes sets himself before lashing home the winner for Alloa during their 1-0 win at Bayview on Saturday
Midfield ace dedicates his winner to the Wasps fans
ALLOA's match-winning hero Graeme Holmes has revealed that taking stick from his manager Paul Hartley helped inspire him to find his shooting boots at the weekend in the 1-0 win over East Fife at Bayview.
Holmes' 32nd-minute strike helped secure all three points for the Wasps as they closed the gap on league leaders Queen of the South at the top of the Second Division and for Holmes the whole squad have the management team to thank for lifting them off the floor.
Holmes told Advertiser Sport, "It was great to get the winner and just to get my name on the scoresheet to be honest. "The gaffer has given me a bit of stick in the past telling me to shoot more often but then I think i shot a couple of times that i should have in the game. It is always nice to score and hopefully I can chip in with a few more goals but it doesn't matter to me as long as someone scores. Obviously after last week all the boys were hurting but to be fair the gaffer and the rest of the staff got our spirits up the minute we got back to training on the Tuesday.
"Although you don't forget the result because of all our fans who came out to see us, and we were disappointed for them more than anything, it was important for us to move on quickly and we managed to do that with the win."
The former Dundee United midfielder put in a man of the match performance for the Wasps as they secured a vital win and Holmes felt that the back four played a vital role in what was a real team performance to secure the win.
Holmes said, "I thought the first half we were excellent to be honest but then in the second half they obviously came out and put us under a bit of pressure. We managed to stand up to it and it's a massive three points for us.
"The game went quite scrappy in the second half but the back four defended brilliantly where as in the first half like the rest of us they actually played better football especially Stephen Simmons. It was a bit of a struggle but we are just delighted to get out of it with the victory."
The midfield maestro is now hoping that this latest win has got rid of any Ibrox hangover and that his side can kick on in the race for promotion starting with a tough test at home to Brechin this weekend.
Holmes added, "It was obviously such an important win for us especially after the manner of the defeat at Ibrox - we needed to bounce back. We had to put the Rangers game to one side and looking at our league form we have done quite well and I think we are progressing nicely.
"We've had a decent start and a good first quarter of the campaign. We now have to kick on and pick up more points this quarter and then just see where that gets us. Our aim is to at least be in the playoffs at the end of the season.
"Brechin will now be a tough test for us but then they are all difficult games as was clear from the East Fife game. In the first half we could and should have scored a few more goals and then in the second half we find ourselves digging deep so I am sure Brechin will be no different but we will look for three points again."
This article appeared in Alloa & Hillfoots Advertiser 14 Nov 12
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