Jim hails pitch perfect Alloa
Stranraer boss Stevie Farrell was left frustrated after his side fell to the Diamonds.
Airdrie captain Ryan Conroy bagged a double to seal three vital points and Farrell said: “It’s the most disappointed I’ve been all season.”
The home side opened the scoring in 62 minutes with Jim Goodwin praised his Alloa side after they mastered testing conditions at Cliftonhill to make it four wins in a row.
Goals from Iain Flannigan and sub Kris Renton secured a hard-fought victory.
But boss Goodwin admitted Wasps needed to adapt to the heavy surface as they cemented third place in the table.
He said: “We knew the pitch wouldn’t be conducive to the way we like to play and it doesn’t suit either team.
“We played the conditions very well. The first goal was great from our point of view.
“When the pitch is as bobbly as it is, for Flanny to get such a good connection on the ball was great. The players deserve a lot of credit for carrying out the
Forfar assistant boss Barry Sellars praised the work-rate and effort of his battlers.
Eddie Malone and Michael Travis strikes secured a big win for the struggling Loons.
And Sellars said: “All credit to the players. They kept their shape over the course of the game, worked really hard and
Dick Campbell drafted in veteran keeper Rab Douglas for his debut – over a year after he signed for Arbroath.
The Lichties gaffer handed the 45-year-old former Celtic and Scotland ace a Hampden return after dropping regular No.1 David Hutton.
And Douglas enjoyed a clean
Conroy scoring from a cut-back. He struck again with a first-time effort from 18 yards then was denied a treble by an impressive save from Cameron Belford.
Airdrie boss Stevie Findlay said: “I’ve been asking them to be more clinical and we probably could have had a couple more goals out of it.”
gameplan.” Alloa took the lead just five minutes in as Flannigan swept home Andy Graham’s low cross with style.
The Wasps almost made it 2-0 three minutes later when PJ Crossan cut inside and blasted a shot off the post.
Gary Fisher blazed over in the last minute for Rovers but it was all over when a clearance from keeper Graham Bowman at the other end rebounded off Renton and into the net.
Rovers boss Brian Kerr said: “We dictated the game for long spells but didn’t take our chances. We’re going through a bad spell just now.”
got their reward with two goals to win the game.”
Kieran Miller had the Fifers best chance in the first half but headed wide.
Gaffer Darren Young said: “I couldn’t ask for any more from the players in terms of effort but if you don’t take your chances you don’t win matches.”
sheet as a first-half strike from Gavin Swankie and a Colin Hamilton goal after the break moved Arbroath into the play-off places.
Campbell said: “Robert’s been a friend for years. He did well.”
Gutted Spiders gaffer Gus Ma cPher son sa id: “We conceded cheap goals.”