Alloa Athletic v Clyde

Recap

With Potter in their team Clyde finally broke the spell that Alloa have held over them in an emphatic style. In fact if Clyde had been a bit more ruthless in the finishing department then the margin of victory could easily have been doubled. The Manager failed to make the team with a back problem and Bossy took his place. Otherwise it was the same team that performed so well at Love Street.

The game started very scrappily with neither side able to keep the ball and build. Alloa played their usual style with at least 5 men behind the ball at all times. Clyde made the breakthrough after 12 minutes through Simon Mensing. A corner was cleared out to Hagen and his cross was met by Mensing from about 6 yards out. You could see the confidence flood through the team and everybody began to surge forward. A few minutes later Nish scored the second. Clyde won a free kick on the edge of the box. Nish fired the ball into the wall and promptly smashed the rebound into the net. Fraser then was put clear in the box but pulled his shot wide. Millen was put in the clear and did exactly the same but it was great to see Clyde making so many chances. Kane sustained an injury and was replaced by Cosgrove. The Referee then got in on the act with a weird sending off. Clyde were breaking forward and with the ball in mid-air the Referee blew and pulled up Max Christie. We can only assume that he said something of a very personal nature as he was shown the red card. Clyde received absolutely no advantage from the drop ball as Alloa were allowed to clear the ball uncontested into touch. Clyde were swarming all over Alloa with Hinds, Hagen and Ross all having numerous attempts that were either blocked or flew wide. As Clyde passed up chance after chance you began to worry if they might regret it. Just before half time they did. Alloa were awarded a free kick just inside the Clyde half and pushed the big men forward. The ball was floated to the far post and Cowan looped the ball over Halliwell with the defence nowhere to be seen. Despite Clyde’s overwhelming superiority at half time there was only one goal in it.

Fortunately as the second half began it was obvious that this Clyde team hadn’t read the old script. Fraser broke forward and scored only 2 minutes into the half. Clyde broke forward and Fraser charged into the box. He checked his marker, switched onto his left foot and swept the ball beyond the keeper. Clyde then continued to pass up numerous other chances with Hinds trying to prove that he’s not anything like a goal machine. Alloa came more into the game and Hutchison had a couple of attempts on goal. John Potter then put the icing on the cake when he scrambled home a corner from about 10 yards. Clyde brought on Convery for Hagen and at the end gave Falconer a run out. Leading 4-1 with 20 minutes to go Clyde should really have been a bit more ruthless but back-to-back away victories by that margin is not to be sniffed at.

Confidence is there in abundance and it sets up the Falkirk game nicely. Clyde will no doubt be cast as the villains but this league needs somebody to stop Falkirk running away with things. Hinds is due a couple of goals and they may come next Saturday.

REACTION

Alan Kernaghan – I was play today because I was injured. Really, since Monday I did not think I could play. My back has been killing me during the last few weeks but I have been able to get through it. This week has certainly not helped.

But, it doesn’t matter about me when we play like that. The first half especially we could have scored a dozen and we really just carried on from where we left off last week. It was nice to come out and score early in the second half and it allowed us to relax a little. But I can’t fault the players at all as their efforts were superb. They passed the ball well, caused them problems and at times really tore them to bits.

I’m very disappointed Leigh Hinds didn’t score. He played really well as he did last week. and had a few chances especially toward the end. You just wanted him to have a lash at one rather than have a touch and set it up. Paul Kane got a twinge in his calf so it was really a precaution to take him off. John Fraser was not feeling his best and he was sick during the game. John Potter went to head the ball and it caught him on the nose, but he played really well.

In training the players have been chomping at the bit and been really bubbly and full of enthusiasm. It is great to see. It’s also nice to see we have gone 3rd with St.Johnstone losing. We are doing our bit but we can’t legislate for what others are doing. The next 3 weeks will have a big bearing on things.

Colin Nish – I enjoyed it today and it was great to score early. I was disappointed I only scored one today as we created a vast amount of chances. Leigh played really well and I’m amazed he did not score today. It was just was not his day.

Terry Christie teaches my sister Louise and he had been giving her a bit of stick telling her they would be kicking me about the park. But I knew that before he told her anyway!

Falkirk next week is a big game, and I felt we could have beaten them at Brockville. We missed a penalty and a few other chances. But, with the form we are in now and with the game being at home we certainly have a chance.

Hopefully we will keep wining and climb the table if Inverness and Falkirk drop some points. That’s all we can do and see what happens.

John Potter – I’ve been hopeful of getting a goal and I found myself in the box and just hit it. It was a good result for us today. We could have hit double figures today as I thought we were brilliant, apart from the stupid goal we gave away. We had two or three one on ones with the keeper and even when Alloa had eleven men I felt we dictated the game. We are creating chances and, in fact, have only failed to score against Alloa at Broadwood this season.