Wilting - a poor Arbroath performance leaves us bottom

Last updated : 19 October 2008 By Fargone
Alloa came back from a goal behind to claim victory over Arbroath at Recreation Park.

David McGowan drove a Scott Gates cross into the net to give the visitors the lead after 22 minutes. In defensive mode second half, Arbroath eventually crumbled. The Wasps equalised 13 minutes into the second half when James Scullion crossed for Kyle MacAulay to head home Substitute Fraser Forrest secured Alloa's win seven minutes from time with a close-range volley from Andy Scott's cross. Penalty claims for an assault on Raesdie were turned down

VIEW FROM THE Fans (from P&B)

Mel Hutchright (Arbroath) That really wasn't good. We started brightly enough and took a deserved lead through a nicely worked goal from new boy McGowan. However from about the half hour mark onwards we began to fall badly out of the game.

JMcG sent us out far too ultra cautious in the second half and invited Alloa to come at us and come at us, with almost inevitable results. I really don't understand his logic in this, as Alloa really didn't look particularly great shakes either. That said, in our very occasional sightings as an attacking threat, we didn't look too impressive to put it kindly. We were frankly terrible for the most part. It's understandable that we'd attempt to close the game down a bit to try and maintain our lead, but surely not to the extent that we just sit back and allow teams to attack us like this.

That early season optimism seems a bit of a distant memory now

He did alright and took his goal well. He did fall out of the game a bit, but it was a thankless task playing up front for us in that second half as we sat far too deep and offered very little as an attacking threat.

Thought he showed enough to demonstrate that he could be a decent loan for us.

Blazes Boylan Arbroath: Absolutely no idea. I was astonished when that apparent stone-waller (even from my vantage point behind the other goal with the sun in my eyes) was not awarded. The referee seemed to be - and this is all too familiar a story in this league certainly - completely incompetent: fouls that weren't being awarded, fouls that were being ignored, and the usual litany of apparently arbitrary decisions. No excuses, mind you, in terms of decisions Alloa seemed more hard-done-by than us and we were simply awful for the concluding hour of that match. They did not look to be much of a team but they still deserved their victory over us. I fear a serious humping is looming for our team if we continue to treat games like the last stand at the Alamo.

Gaviano (Alloa Ath)

Best thing about today's game was we showed a bit of fight and spirit to come back from a goal down. Maybe a little concerning that everyone saw the Arbroath opener coming except the Alloa defense. Scott Gates was unlucky to be called offside about five or six times so it was only a matter of time before he sprung the trap and got a decent cross in and when he did, he didn't waste it. For a stocky wee player, he had great pace. At least we did something about it and made a change and Gates, even after switching sides in the second half, lost his threat.

Scullion's work for the equaliser -- and actually for most of the game -- was excellent. I've a lot of time for Kyle McAulay so I was pleased he got his goal. Fraser's winner was worthy of the three points and over the course of the game, I think we did about enough to earn them. The penalty claim(s), for what it's worth, I thought were 50/50 at best.

So far this season, we've beaten 10 man Stranraer and Arbroath so to say we've turned a corner or started our season is a little premature. If we do the business against Peterhead then maybe I'll start believing that we can be competing for the good sort of playoff this season, which on paper is exactly what we should be doing.

Alloaafletic: It was not pretty to watch but this could be the start of our season. I know we had players injured but there were a few strange selections today, i also think Kyle is a better midfeilder than a striker and young Jamie Hay was seriously exposed at right back but to be fair to the kid he gave it a go considering our injury situation, the youths must have a right back they could have used surely. Last comment it was also painful to watch young Francis Kelly come on then being substituted he looked more able to me than Andy Scott.