Alloa Athletic vs Stenhousemuir

Match Report

Meaty challenges, historic victories, and Warriors’ euphoria all in one afternoon!

The Warriors entered into this game having not beaten Alloa Athletic in 12 years, but the tide changed on Saturday as we brushed past the Wasps and grasped three points with both hands.

The game did not come without some struggle as the Wasps proved to be mighty opposition for our high-flying team. However, with a confident air amongst the squad the first half was ours for the taking.

A change in formation gave us more width and allowed crosses to fly in from left and right and this nearly created a goal. Meechan’s early cross found Bilham rampaging in at the back post, though his effort slid just wide.

In the interim period between our early press and goal, there was sustained pressure from both sides that didn’t result in very much. We reaped our rewards though in the 35th minute when Steele’s diving header nestled into the bottom corner after a sizzling corner by top assister Matty Yates. 0-1.

Just minutes later we aimed to bolster our advantage when Alston’s effort from 20 yards out was tipped over by the Wasps keeper, Morrison.

The Warriors went into half time with a more than deserved lead and looked threatening to the Wasps’ nest. Alloa returned and were prepared to fight their way back into the game, but the Warriors’ battling mentality prevailed and we stung them for three points.

Alloa all but gifted us our second goal when slack play in the heart of their defence allowed best placed Anderson to pinch the ball from Virtanen and sail his effort over the keeper and into an empty net from 20 yards out. 0-2.

The Wasps huffed and puffed for a while after our second goal and caused some trouble for the Warriors. Alloa bundled the ball into the back of the net from a corner, but it was ruled offside in the 73rd minute. Just one minute later the Wasps quickly jumped back into action and a lapse in concentration from us allowed substitute Sammon, to cast his shot into the back of the net. 1-2.

Despite this injection of good fortune for the Wasps, we made sure that the game was buried with a third goal in the 80th minute. Yates’s retention of possession afforded O’Donnell the opportunity to come back onside and receive a slick pass to slot the ball past onrushing Morrison. 1-3.

This was the perfect performance to cap off a spectacular season so far, going into the New Year. We currently sit in 2nd place and your support is vital in the second spell of the season. Please make sure to join us at Ochilview in 2025 to spur on Gary and the team!

Match Report by Louise Davidson

Preview

After a late sucker punch last weekend, we are back on the road in search of our first victory against Alloa since 2012.

Our last win in 2012 saw Darren Smith bag his first goal of the season, in what was a great scoring campaign for him. Brown Ferguson was also on the scoresheet that day and scored one of his only two league goals for that season.

The Warriors currently sit third in the league with only four points separating us from first place, but with Alloa hot on our heels, we aim to ensure all three points return to Ochilview at the weekend.

We have faced Alloa twice so far in the league this season and the Wasps have stung us in very slim victories of 1-0 each time. However, the Wasps have recently found themselves in a run of poor form having only come out on top in one of their last five games.

Alloa’s top scorer, Luke Donnelly, will be looking to add to his tally of 6 goals this weekend, with the majority of his conversions coming in front of a home crowd. Whereas our top scorer, Yates will be aiming to bolster his scoring tally and secure his first goal against the Wasps.

Warriors, please make sure you join us at the Indodrill Stadium at the weekend to support Gary and the boys in our final game before the New Year. Please remember to stay up to date via all our social media channels.

Kick off: 3pm 28th December

Location: Indodrill Stadium

Match Preview by Louise Davidson