Keeper’s red as Alloa go down
ALLOA ATHLETIC 1 (Cawley 23) RAITH ROVERS 2 Ugwu (pen 56), Tait (61)
Alloa boss Peter Grant fired a withering salvo at the “atrocious” standard of refereeing after his team’s second-half collapse, sparked by a red card for keeper Neil Parry, sealed their relegation to League 1 following three seasons in the Championship.
It was their fourth loss in five games, yet they appeared capable of pulling off an unlikely escape from the moment midfielder Kevin Cawley fired them ahead midway through the first half.
Jon Robertson supplied the ammunition for Cawley and the Wasps crucially held their lead until half-time, but they came under intense pressure at the start of the second period.
Parry’s reckless 53rd-minute challenge on Rovers striker Gozie Ugwu not only enabled Ugwu to equalise from the penalty spot, but also condemned Alloa to play out the rest of the game with only 10 men.
Reserve keeper Reece Willison replaced Parry, with midfielder Stefan Scougall sacrificed, and Willison was soon picking the ball out of the net when Dylan Tait sidefooted home.
Alloa kept battling, but they realised they were doomed when Alan Trouten hit the post and Innes Cameron shot straight at keeper Jamie Macdonald.
“It’s a massive disappointment. We’ve tried everything to stay in this league,” said Grant. “We’ve not scored enough goals and we’ve conceded too many, but we’ve also been denied some stonewall penalties this season, right from the first game against Morton.
“Some of the decisions against us have been atrocious and the standard of officiating is really poor. I hate moaning, but these are big decisions. It was a terrible one by the ref today.
“I was proud of the way the boys kept going. I know how much they put in to the club, so I’m gutted for them. My own future will be down to the chairman. It was my job to keep Alloa in the Championship and I haven’t been able to do that.” Raith manager John Mcglynn, by contrast, can look forward to the promotion play-offs after the Kirkcaldy side cemented their position in second place behind champions Hearts.
“It’s a good situation to be in, sitting in second top instead of second bottom,” said Mcglynn.
“I’m delighted for all the players and the directors and also the fans, who can’t watch the games live but are still following them.
“The play-offs are a great opportunity for us and we can’t wait for them because this is why you play the game.
“We always knew it would be a tricky game because it was Alloa’s last throw of the dice. The penalty was the turning point and then Dylan Tait showed good composure.
“We allowed Alloa back in the game and we rode our luck a bit, but we deserved that luck over the course of the season.”
ALLOA:
(3-5-2) Parry 3; Dick 5, Graham 4, Taggart 5; Hetherington 5, Robertson 6, Grant 5 (Buchanan 90, 2), Cawley 7, Scougall 4 (Willison 54, 5); Trouten 6, Cameron 4 (Thomson 90, 2). Unused subs – Jamieson, Connelly, Murray, Williamson. RAITH:
(3-5-1-1) J Macdonald 6; Tumilty 5, Davidson 5, Benedictus 6; Armstrong 7, Hendry 6, Spencer 5, Tait 6, King 6 (Duku 61, 6); Kennedy 6 (Smith 79, 5); Ugwu 7 (Abraham 86, 5). Unused subs – Thomson, Mendy, Cooney, K Macdonald.