Accies 1 Alloa Athletic 2: Tuesday, 16 November 1999

This was another in the continuing series of matches which Accies could easily have won but in which they failed to collect full points.

On a bitterly cold night at Firhill, it was clear from the start that the visitors were well organised and capable of playing some neat football. (Presumably the legacy of the work carried out by Tom Hendrie, now doing a great job at St Mirren.) However, despite a succession of fruitless corners, it took Alloa until just before half time before they broke the deadlock, with Ian Little thumping home from an acute angle after some scrappy play in the penalty area.

Good football in the first half had been in short supply - the best Accies chance fell to David McFarlane after good work by Nicky Henderson but he scooped the ball over the bar. It was noticeable that the under strength Accies team were not playing well, particularly at the back where Paul Gaughan (replacing the injured Gordon Hunter) and Michael Martin struggled. Only Steven Thomson looked good in defence as Ross McLaren was guilty of giving the ball away on several occasions.

It was no great surprise, therefore, that Steven Renicks replaced Martin at half time. Accies did play a bit better in the second half and Eddie Cunnington scorned a great chance when he shot straight at the keeper when clean through on goal. Accies finally scored an equaliser when Gerry Crossley ran onto a great through ball and slipped the ball past the Alloa goalie. David McFarlane then tapped it into the empty net. Just as Accies looked to have the upper hand, they were caught a couple of minutes later with a classic breakaway goal. Steven Renicks was left upfield following a fruitless attack and Alloa attacked the exposed Ross McLaren on the right side of the defence. Unfortunately, Ross made no tackle on the Alloa player and his cross was gleefully thumped home by Willie Irvine. Comically, Ian McFarlane only dived to try to save after the ball had hit the net.

For all their neat play and corners etc, I can't remember Alloa forcing any saves out of McFarlane (apart from the goals, obviously). Accies really didn't deserve to lose but some of the players had complete nightmares. We really missed Iain Ferguson, Gordon Hunter, Chris Hillcoat and all the players who've been sold cheaply over the last couple of years. We can still be one of the three teams to be promoted, but we'd better start to win some games very soon or it just won't happen.

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