Accies 0 Alloa Athletic 0: Saturday, 25 March 2000

Accies manager Ally Dawson introduced a new signing in this game, teenage striker James Coubrough. He's been signed on loan from Sheffield Wednesday until the end of the season. He came into the team to replace the injured Ian Ferguson. Elsewhere, Gordon Hunter returned to the heart of the defence with Bill Davidson missing. Alloa lined up with the dangerous trio of Ian Little, Martin Cameron and Willie Irvine up front.

Alloa's tactics became apparent early on, with their midfield closing down Accies very quickly. However, Accies very nearly took the lead after about 15 minutes. Jose Quitongo picked the ball up well within his own half and went on one of his trademark mazy runs right through the Alloa midfield. He slipped the ball onto Darren Henderson, but his low shot was blocked by the Alloa 'keeper. The ball came back to Darren, but his right foot shot was headed off the line. The ball was cleared to the right and Martin Bonnar sent in a great cross to new signing James Coubrough, whose header hit the bar with the goalie nowhere.

The game took a twist after 31 minutes. Ian McAuley and an Alloa player collided when chasing a ball towards the touchline and the referee awarded a free kick to Accies. There was a little bit of head to head stupidity, playground style, with the Alloa player the aggressor. But it didn't amount to anything and the referee calmed things down with a chat to the players. As the players resumed their positions for the free kick, the linesman raised his flag to attract the referee's attention. The two spoke for an eternity, with the result that the ref called over the Alloa player and sent him off. I've no idea if he said something or if the referee had missed the head to head stuff. The ball boy behind the goal didn't care though and his cartwheel and celebration were perhaps the highlight of the day. The other highlight of the first half was another great chance for Coubrough. He took a long high ball on the volley but placed it just wide of the post. At this point, it seemed that a goal for Accies was inevitable.

Alloa began the second half with old Accies favourite Gary Clark replacing the ineffective Martin Cameron. But, it's got to be said that the sending off of their left back made Alloa's defensive style of play even more apparent. Accies spent practically all of the second half in attack, with only the occasional breakaway from the visitors. They actually did manage to carve a couple of decent chances out of this, but their finishing was totally inept. None of their shots could be classed as more than a passback.

As for Accies, they were denied twice in the second half by excellent saves by the Alloa goalkeeper. One was from a great volley by Coubrough (again) and the other from a good shot by Gordon Hunter. But they really struggled to break down the massed ranks of the Alloa defence. (At one point in the first half, nine Alloa players were inside their 6 yard box to defend a corner.) Jose Quitongo did look dangerous whenever he got the ball, but that didn't happen very often today as the wee guy just wasn't in the mood. Darren Henderson did well up front and Ian McAuley did the "wee hard guy in midfield" job pretty well. James Coubrough up front was very promising and I'm sure he'll score a few goals before the end of the season. With any luck today, he'd have had a hat trick.

So it's another two points dropped at home, which seems to sum up this season. If the games which have been drawn at home had been converted into wins we'd be in a really strong position.

Accies : Reid, Bonnar (Crossley), Cunnington, Hunter, Gaughan, Thomson, Quitongo, McAulay (Lynn), McCormick , Coubrough, and Henderson.

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