ACCIES ROSE TO OCCASION
3
HAMILTON boss John Rankin praised patched-up players Lewis Smith and Akheem Rose for firing Accies past 10-man Alloa to reach the play-off final.
The tie was locked at 2-2 after Tuesday’s first leg at the Indodrill and the Wasps went in front after just seven minutes when Quinn Coulson blasted home from close range.
But Accies came roaring back with a Reghan Tumilty volley midway through the half and a Smith strike just before the break.
Alloa gave themselves a mountain to climb when Morgyn Neill picked up a double booking for dissent in the aftermath of Smith’s goal, sarcastically clapping ref Steven Kirkland after his initial indiscretion.
Conor Sammon gave the visitors a lifeline when he levelled after 57 minutes.
However, super sub Rose, who missed the first leg with a pelvis injury, had the final say when he poked home after superb work by Smith in the 77th minute.
A battling Alloa side almost grabbed a last-gasp leveller when Taylor Steven’s free- kick hit a post and trundled along the line.
Relieved Rankin, who side now face Inverness, said: “That is the first time we have come from behind this season and got something out of the game so I take my hat off to them.
“I’m delighted for Smithy to get on the scoresheet. We had to make sure that he was right coming into the play-offs.
“Akheem has been toiling big time recently and that commitment from the squad is what we need for where we want to get to – and it is going to need to be l ike that again on Wednesday night.”
Gutted Alloa gaffer Andy Graham said: “That is as proud as I’ve been in my short managerial career. I thought the players were different class.
“We were brave and very unlucky not to draw the game with Taylor’s strike.”
On Neill’s sending off, he added: “Nobody will feel worse than him right now.”