Thanks to Lewis Russell and Alloa Athletic FC for the match highlights.https://youtu.be/GIAzpGhEOn8

The Lichties went down 2-0 to Alloa Athletic on Tuesday evening thanks to a quick fire double by Alloa’s Kevin O’Hara.

Dale Hilson was given his Arbroath debut whilst James Murphy also came into the side with Luke Donnelly and Mark Whatley dropping to the bench.

Alloa made a strong start with a series of corners and Kevin O’Hara opened the scoring in the 24th minute as he found himself unmarked in the middle of the 6 yard box.

Arbroath almost equalised immediately but his shot from outside the box smashed back off the crossbar.

Alloa broke again and Kevin O’Hara hit the ball perfectly to beat Gaston on the angle in the 27th minute.

Dale Hilson came close with a spectacular 30 yard lob but his shot landed on the roof of the net before Colin Hamilton hit a cross which Jamie MacDonald had to push away.

Just before half time O’Hara should have had his hat-trick but Derek Gaston pulled off a stunning save to deny the Alloa striker.

Arbroath definitely had a much improved second half but the Alloa defence did well to frustrate not giving Arbroath any space to get in behind.

MacDonald made a stunning save from an O’Brien rocket before Michael McKenna volleyed at goal but it was just the wrong side of the post.

Logan Chalmers, Luke Donnelly and Omar Kader replaced Bobby Linn, James Murphy and Scott Stewart in the 75th minute and the substitutes made a positive impact.

Omar Kader was denied by MacDonald in the 91st minute after good build up play with Gaston making another crucial save in the 94th minute to deny substitute Liam Buchanan.

It was a disappointing result in the end, with Alloa pulling themselves back into the pack with only 10 points separating 3rd to 10th.

We have another huge game in the Championship at Gayfield on Saturday when we welcome Partick Thistle and we hope you will join us.

C’mon the Lichties

Half Time Stats

Possession – Alloa Athletic 58% – 42% Arbroath
Total Shots – Alloa Athletic 5 – 5 Arbroath
On Target – Alloa Athletic 3 – 1 Arbroath
Off Target – Alloa Athletic 1 – 4 Arbroath
Blocked – Alloa Athletic 1 – 0 Arbroath
Corners – Alloa Athletic 8 – 0 Arbroath
Fouls Committed – Alloa Athletic 4 – 5 Arbroath

Full Time Stats

Possession – Alloa Athletic 56% – 44% Arbroath
Total Shots – Alloa Athletic 9 – 12 Arbroath
On Target – Alloa Athletic 5 – 3 Arbroath
Off Target – Alloa Athletic 3 – 9 Arbroath
Blocked – Alloa Athletic 1 – 0 Arbroath
Corners – Alloa Athletic 10 – 6 Arbroath
Fouls Committed – Alloa Athletic 6 – 18 Arbroath

Alloa Athletic

41 – Jamie MacDonald
8 – Jon Robertson
2 – Scott Taggart
4 – Robbie Deas
3 – Liam Dick
7 – Kevin Cawley
6 – Steven Hetherington
11 – Iain Flannigan ©
18 – Blair Malcolm (Connelly 82)
19 – Robert Thomson (Buchanan 80)
17 – Kevin O’Hara

Substitutes

9 – Liam Buchanan – 19; 80th
10 – Alan Trouten
15 – Lee Connelly – 18; 82nd
16 – Nathan Gilhooley
20 – Cameron O’Donnell
21 – Andrew Wilson (GK)

Goals – O’Hara 24, 27

Arbroath

21 – Derek Gaston
2 – Jason Thomson
3 – Colin Hamilton
4 – Ricky Little
5 – Thomas O’Brien ©
18 – James Murphy (Donnelly 75)
9 – Dale Hilson
8 – Michael McKenna
16 – Scott Stewart (Kader 75)
22 – Miko Virtanen
11 – Bobby Linn (Chalmers 75)

Substitutes

6 – Mark Whatley
7 – David Gold
10 – Gavin Swankie
12 – Omar Kader – 16; 75th
15 – Luke Donnelly – 18; 75th
23 – Logan Chalmers – 11; 75th
1 – Darren Jamieson (GK)

Officials

Referee; Craig Napier
Assistant Referee 1; Andrew McWilliam
Assistant Referee 2; Chris Raw

Attendance: 765