A deserved sting in the Wasps tale for Lennon
DANNY LENNON paid tribute to 10-man Alloa after they secured a third consecutive season in the Championship with t he most dramatic of turnarounds yesterday.
Lennon, who took charge of the Wasps only six weeks ago when they were staring at the prospect of relegation, saw his side reverse a 3-1 deficit in the second leg of the Play- Off Final to l eave Dick Campbell’s Forfar facing another season in League One.
The former St Mirren boss said: ‘These players go down in Alloa folklore as the first from this club to be in Scottish football’s second tier for three consecutive seasons.
‘It’s a fantastic achievement and we were always confident that we could turn things around after losing on Wednesday night.
‘I’ve only been here for six weeks but it’s been a pleasure to work with the players we have here.
‘There is no substitute for belief and hard work, and there can be no harder way of staying i n the Championship than the way Alloa have done it this season.’
Lennon’s men had some early scares and might have been left with a mountain to climb when Forfar’s Chris Templeman met Danny Denholm’s cross with a header which was cleared off the line by Mark Docherty.
The Loons continued to look comfortable but they also had a lucky escape when Alloa’s Michael Chopra unleashed a fierce 20-yard shot that shaved a post.
The visitors failed to heed the warning and, on the stroke of halftime, former Cardiff City star Chopra neatly controlled Liam Buchanan’s cross and beat Rab Douglas with a shot i nto the keeper’s right-hand corner.
Former Celtic and Scotland goalkeeper Douglas was at fault when the Wasps levelled the tie on 67 minutes, the veteran goalkeeper miscuing a through ball into the path of Buchanan, who drilled a half-volley into the unguarded net.
Forfar were given a lifeline when Graeme Holmes was red- carded for a lunge on Omar Kader. But the 10 men had the final say when Daryll Meggatt headed Docherty’s corner home.
Lennon praised the work of his predecessor Barry Smith, adding: ‘Barry deserves great credit. I just added one or two ideas.
‘ Fantastic f oundations were already here and we all know, as coaches and managers, we’re nothing without the players.
‘Forfar made it a great contest and I feel for them because I’ve been in their position, too.’
Devastated Forfar boss Campbell, said: ‘I’m totally gutted as I never saw that coming. For 45 minutes we were in complete control of the game and it’s a hard one for me and my players to take.
‘Congratulations to Alloa — they are a good side. However, Forfar are also a good footballing side and we will be back next season.’