Wasps sting Lichties to end unbeaten run

ALLOA ATHLETIC 5 ARBROATH 3

Arbroath’s nine-game unbeaten run came to a halt last night when they were emphatically beaten by League One play-off place rivals Alloa.

Arbroath assistant manager Iain Campbell was disappointed with the Lichties’ performance commenting: “We made a very poor start and are very disappointed with the result and our performance. Although we controlled the second half, we had gifted the game to Alloa.”

Alloa got off to a dream start when they were awarded a spotkick when Leighton McIntosh was adjudged to have handled the ball in the penalty box.

Garry Fleming stepped up and fired home an unstoppable shot past David Hutton.

The home side continued to dominate play and they were rewarded with a second goal when Ross Stewart connected with a cross from Fleming and headed home from close range.

Arbroath were unable to stop the home side’s onslaught and Alloa extended their lead with a third goal from Stewart.

The Lichties, three goals behind within 15 minutes, fought their way back into the match and Bobby Linn came close when he ran in on goal, beat two defenders and fired in a fierce shot from the edge of the box only to see it turned away for a corner by Neil Parry in the home goal.

Arbroath pulled a goal back when Michael McKenna headed home from a close range, glancing a header past Parry, but the joy was shortlived as Alloa quickly restored their advantage.

Stewart beat Hutton when he latched onto a poor defensive clearance, rounded the keeper and slotted home from close range to complete his hat-trick.

Linn made it two for Arbroath when he collected the ball on the edge of the box and slotted home past a helpless Parry.

Alloa thought that they had wrapped up the points when substitute Ian Flannigan scored late in the match, but Arbroath were not finished and in the closing minutes netted a third when sub Danny Denholm beat Parry from close range.

The defeat leaves Arbroath, who host Angus rivals Forfar on Saturday, in third place on goal difference from the Wasps and four points clear of fifth-placed Stranraer.

Attendance: 363

Alloa: Parry, Taggart, Graham, McCart, Cawley, Fleming (Robertson 75), Hetherington, Crossan (Flannigan 64), Crane, Stewart (Renton 83), Kirkpatrick. Subs Not Used: McKeown, Wilson, Goodwin. Arbroath: Hutton, Little, O’Brien, Hamilton, Kader, Whatley, Yule (Martin 46), Swankie (Denholm 67), Linn, McIntosh (Gold 46), McKenna. Subs not used: Skelly, Gomes, McCord. Referee: David Lowe.