Arbroath suffered their first defeat of 2018 this evening at a bitterly cold Indodrill Stadium.
It was a nightmare start for the Lichties as they found themselves 3-0 down after 15 minutes.
An Alloa corner was swung high into the Arbroath box and as it came down Leighton McIntosh jumped to clear but missed but his arm was left hanging high in the air and the ball bounced off it with referee David Lowe pointing to the spot. Gary Fleming stepped up and fired Alloa into the lead after only 6 minutes.
A great run and interchange of play by Bobby Linn just seconds later almost seen the Lichties pull level but his shot was just over.
Alloa’s second corner of the game provided their second goal after only 9 minutes when the imposing striker Ross Stewart was left unmarked and able to power a header past David Hutton.
Another error in defence as Kevin Cawley rolled a ball into the Arbroath box and despite 4 maroon shirts in the box, Stewart accepted the gift and ran in and poked the ball into the corner of the net.
Alloa were sitting high up the pitch and Stewart on-loan from St Mirren was creating real problems every time he got on the ball.
Gavin Swankie had a header saved and Omar Kader should have scored at the back post but he pulled his shot wide of the post.
Alloa should have added a 4th when Taggart seem to have the entire Arbroath goal to head into but Hutton made a great save.
The Lichties finally did get a goal back when Bobby Linn found Michael McKenna at the back post and he headed in for his second Arbroath goal.
It looked like Arbroath were going to hold on to the 3-1 scoreline until half time, but an innocuous high ball from the half way line was headed back to Hutton by Thomas O’Brien but it was too short and Stewart again was on hand to get to the ball before Hutton and score an impressive 33 minute hat-trick.
Half Time – Alloa Athletic 4 – 1 Arbroath
Half Time Stats
Possession – Alloa Athletic 52% – 48% Arbroath
Total Shots – Alloa Athletic 8 – 8 Arbroath
On Target – Alloa Athletic 6 – 4 Arbroath
Off Target – Alloa Athletic 0 – 3 Arbroath
Blocked – Alloa Athletic 2 – 1 Arbroath
Corners – Alloa Athletic 5 – 3 Arbroath
Fouls Committed – Alloa Athletic 4 – 2 Arbroath
Arbroath brought on Scott Martin and David Gold for Blair Yule and Leighton McIntosh with Gavin Swankie playing as a striker with the impressive McKenna playing just behind him.
The opening 20 minutes of the first half was more like the Arbroath team that we have grown so accustomed to cheering on with Alloa unable to get near the ball and Bobby Linn in particular dangerous every time he got on the ball.
Linn was rewarded with a deserved goal in the 55th minute when he struck a dipping shot from 18 yards which Alloa keeper Neil Parry let through his gloves and legs in a rare mistake. The giant shot stopper was having another excellent game and he is pivotal in why Alloa have the 2nd best defence in the league.
Scott Martin picked up an usual yellow card in the 57th minute when he seemed to clearly win the ball but referee Lowe thought otherwise.
Gavin Swankie who played really well leading the line was replaced by Danny Denholm in the 67th minute.
David Hutton produced another stunning save to deny Alloa a 5th when he tipped over a Jordan Kirkpatrick strike.
Alloa did score their 5th goal and again it was another defensive lapse as a simple ball into the Arbroath box was played back into the middle by Cawly and substitute Iain Flannigan was allowed lots of space to drive a low shot past Hutton from 12 yards.
There was a final goal and it was a header by Danny Denholm at the back post as he latched onto another Linn cross, but with only 3 minutes left the comeback was over.
Full Time – Alloa Athletic 5 – 3 Arbroath
Full Time Stats
Possession – Alloa Athletic 54% – 46% Arbroath
Total Shots – Alloa Athletic 12 – 12 Arbroath
On Target – Alloa Athletic 9 – 6 Arbroath
Off Target – Alloa Athletic 1 – 5 Arbroath
Blocked – Alloa Athletic 2 – 1 Arbroath
Corners – Alloa Athletic 7 – 4 Arbroath
Fouls Committed – Alloa Athletic 7 – 10 Arbroath
A very bad day at the office for the Lichties, in particular a very bad first half performance which was just so out of the blue. The second half was much better but sadly it was just too late.
Bobby Linn Man of the Match for Arbroath with a goal and two assists and dangerous every time he ran at the Alloa defence.
A week into March and it is the first defeat of 2018 and the first in 11 games. It shows the progress that we have made stepping up to League One.
Everyone is bitterly disappointed, but we roll up our sleeves, learn from our mistakes and move onto to Saturday.
C’mon the Lichties
Alloa Athletic
1 – Neil Parry
2 – Scott Taggart
3 – Calum Crane
4 – Andy Graham (c)
5 – Jamie McCart
6 – Gary Fleming (Robertson 75)
7 – Kevin Cawley
8 – Steven Hetherington
9 – Ross Stewart (Renton 83)
10 – Jordan Kirkpatrick
11 – Paul Crossan (Flannigan 64)
Substitutes
12 – Kris Renton – 9; 83rd
14 – Iain Flannigan – 11; 64th
15 – John Robertson – 6; 75th
16 – Frank McKeown
17 – Jim Goodwin
18 – Andrew Wilson
Goals – Fleming 6 pen, Stewart 9, 15, 42, Flannigan 79
Arbroath
1 – David Hutton
2 – Ricky Little
3 – Colin Hamilton
4 – Thomas O’Brien
5 – Blair Yule (Martin 45)
6 – Mark Whatley (c)
7 – Omar Kader
8 – Michael McKenna
9 – Leighton McIntosh (Gold 45)
10 – Gavin Swankie (Denholm 67)
11 – Bobby Linn
12 – Danny Denholm – 10; 67th
14 – David Gold – 9; 45th
15 – Scott Martin – 5; 45th
16 – Ryan McCord
17 – Josh Skelly
21 – Ricky Gomes (GK)
Yellow Card – Martin 57
Goals – McKenna 39, Linn 55, Denholm 87
Attendance – 363
Referee – David Lowe
Assistant Referee 1 – David Doig
Assistant Referee 2 – Derek Crothers
