Wasps extend lead with another fine victory
Published 1 Feb 2012 09:30
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Mark Docherty netted Alloa's second goal to restore their lead, just a couple of minutes after Peterhead had equalised.
Alloa Athletic 3 Peterhead 1
ALLOA ATHLETIC moved seven points clear at the top of the table after defeating Peterhead at Recreation Park on Tuesday night.
There's a real buzz of excitement about the club at the moment - and that's hardly surprising as this victory extended their unbeaten run to 14 and also maintained their unbeaten home record this season.
Peterhead have been showing improved form recently, so this fixture looked like being a tricky one for the Wasps, but Paul Hartley's side continued to adopt their now recognised passing style which carved out the result they wanted.
When the north side fought back to cancel out Alloa's 12th minute lead, the Wasps quickly restored their advantage, and moved on to wrap things up nicely with a third goal from top scorer Stevie May.
After the match, manager Hartley told Advertiser Sport, "Our boys were terrific and once again they showed a fantastic workrate.
"But I reminded them they must be able to keep this run going because there is a long way to go and we are not round the corner yet.
"There were times tonight when I thought we were absolutely brilliant. They are a great group to work with, all showing great fighting spirit - they just don't want to get beat."
Hartley decided to field the same side which had defeated Montrose three days earlier - and it proved to be the right decision.
Alloa took the lead on 12 minutes when Graeme Holmes sent in a ball into the box following a corner, and there was central defender Ben Gordon waiting to finish from five yards out.
Bavidge crashed a strong shot off Gordon's legs before home keeper Scott Bain did well to parry a well-hit Ryan Strachan shot in 32 minutes.
Two minutes later the visitors were level, McAllister beating Bain with a strong right foot drive to the right corner of the net.
But it only took Alloa another couple of minutes to restore their lead.
Mark Docherty was loudly cheered for this strike following a corner kick. The former Brechin City defender, now a stalwart in the Alloa midfield, sent an unstoppable shot past Jarvie and high into the net.
Alloa started the second half determined to score again. On-loan Motherwell defender Ross McKinnon's shot was blocked, with May following in smartly but shooting over the bar.
At the other end, Bain had to be alert to turn over a strong shot from David Ross.
Peterhead had another chance to level - Callum McDonald headed a corner past the left post from close range - before Alloa increased their lead in 64 minutes, thanks to the ever-reliable May.
Visiting keeper Jarvie could only punch out a Masterton corner, but alert May pounced to drive in low from five yards.
Peterhead refused to give up, though, and Bain was forced to save well from Ryan Strachan and Dennis Wyness.
David Donald shot over the home bar three minutes from the end, but it was Alloa who finished on the attack when May cut in from the right to drive narrowly over the bar at the right corner.
Alloa: Bain, Doyle, McKinnon, Gordon (McCullagh 48), Harding, Young, Docherty, Masterton (Ross McCord 80), May, Holmes, Cawley. Subs not used - One, Winters, McDowall.
Peterhead: Jarvie, McDonald, McBain, S. Ross (Tully 78), McDonald, Strachan, Sharp (Wyness 67), Redman, McAllister, Bavidge, D. Ross (Deasley 54). Subs not used - Davidson, Jellema.
Referee: Bobby Madden.
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