Alloa Athletic 4
Arbroath 2
Scottish League Cup (Group Stage)

Match Report

The Indodrill stadium stadium has been a tricky place for Arbroath to go over the course of the last year and sadly tonight’s visit continued in the same vein.

There were several changes to the Arbroath line up with Jamieson, Kader, Linn, Swankie and Hamilton all dropping to the bench, with Hill, Whatley, Toshney, Hester and Denholm all coming into the starting line up.

With Hamilton carrying a slight niggle, the Lichties lined up in a 3-5-2 formation.

Arbroath attacked the goal next to Clackmannan Road and the game started out quite evenly.

However Alloa took the lead in the 9th minute after a ball over the top found Greig Spence who looked to be yards offside, but the flag didn’t go and Spence made no mistake from 8 yards.

In a repeat of last season Alloa scored a second goal within 60 seconds to double their lead. Kevin Cawley made a bursting run forward from the half way line but as he lined up a shot from the 18 yard line he was met by Lewis Toshney and Ricky Little and his shot took a wicked deflection seemingly off Little and past Hill who had dived in the direction of his original shot.

Iain Flannigan was shown a yellow card in the 15th minute for a bad foul on Kane Hester as he threatened to break.

However the Arbroath heads didn’t go down and Arbroath pulled once back just 10 minutes later. Ryan Wallace picked up the ball in the Alloa half before finding David Gold who passed to Michael McKenna out on the wing. His cross into the box was met by Wallace in a very nice move.

The teams were level in the 26th minute as a sloppy pass from Neil Parry was read and intercepted by Kane Hester who had ran in to close the angle. Kane controlled the ball before calmly rounding Parry to roll the ball into the empty net from 6 yards.

Alan Trouten who had lit up the goal scoring charts in League One last year got off the mark only 4 minutes later. He was able to run through the middle of the Arbroath defence but his shot came back off Hill’s right post, but Trouten was quickest to the rebound and struck Alloa’s 3rd in the 30th minute.

Kane Hester almost drew Arbroath level as again he ran in on Parry, but this time was just inches away from a second goal.

Alloa’s 4th goal again was full of controversy as Trouten seemed to handle the ball to control it in the Arbroath box. His low drive was brilliantly saved by Hill but experienced striker Spence made no mistake as he a well executed over head kick to convert the loose ball.

Half Time – Alloa Athletic 4 – 2 Arbroath

Arbroath brought on Colin Hamilton for Lewis Toshney for the second half. It was a half that the Lichties were to dominate but they just couldn’t find a way to really trouble Parry in the Alloa goal.

A brilliant pass again by Wallace put through Hester but there just wasn’t enough space for him to run down on Parry.

Bobby Linn and Omar Kader came on for Kane Hester and Danny Denholm with 16 minutes left but despite several balls and shots towards the Alloa goal it was another night for Alloa to take the victory with a disciplined defensive performance.

Full Time – Alloa Athletic 4 – 2 Arbroath

Stats

Possession – Alloa Athletic 51% – 49% Arbroath
Total Shots – Alloa Athletic 9 – 12 Arbroath
On Target – Alloa Athletic 4 – 6 Arbroath
Off Target – Alloa Athletic 4 – 4 Arbroath
Blocked – Alloa Athletic 1 – 2 Arbroath
Corners – Alloa Athletic 5 – 4 Arbroath
Fouls Committed – Alloa Athletic 7 – 11 Arbroath

Match report written by Arbroath FC Official Website