Alloa Athletic v East Fife, 13th February 2010
League Division Two, Recreation Park
Alloa Athletic 2 East Fife 0
Match Report: Alan Henderson
Photos: Jim Corstorphine
NOBLE MAKES THE DIFFERENCE
Two strikes by the ex-Fifer, one in each half, was the difference between the teams at Recreation Park - and stretches the Wasps lead at the top of the table. The Fifers were always in this match, but simply couldn't carve out enough clear-cut chances. Skipper McManus had a great opportunity to level with ten minutes to go, when 1-on-1 with the keeper; didn't take it; then Noble delivered the fatal blow three minutes later, to confirm their title credentials.
It was the Fifers who started the brighter, with several good moves in the first ten minutes, without testing the keeper. Back came the Wasps, with Carroll and Walker coming close from set pieces. A great Fife break on 21 minutes should have opened the scoring, but Crawford shot weakly at his namesake after a good set-up by Linn. Five minutes later, the home side did get the opener, when a Carroll cross was met by Noble, who sneaked ahead of Ovenstone to fire a low header into the corner of the net.
Lloyd Young skips past Alloa’s John Grant
Minutes later, Smart hobbled off to be replaced by Fagan; and a more traditional 4-4-2 formation was created. The Fifers pressed for an equaliser; a Crawford volley well saved by the keeper under the bar; then a Young shot was fired wide.
The Fifers continued the good work early in the second; a Young snap shot going high, and a Linn effort drifting past. Having survived that flurry, Alloa began to turn the match, and the screw; forcing several corners - Brown making two good saves from Prunty. The introduction of Cargill on 68 mins led to the Fifers' first decent cross of the match moments later; then a turn and shot by McManus that went two yards past the post.
With ten minutes left, McManus was played 1-on-1 with the keeper: who parried his first effort; then Walker got back to clear the second effort off the line. As so often happens, the opposition go on to punish the failure to score. Alloa pressure followed; Nugent gave away a foul by the corner flag; Bloom fired a ball into the box; and Noble was there to head into the corner of the net - again.
Paul McManus beats the ‘keeper but Wasps’ Walker cleared off the line
Alloa then sat back and let the opposition play in front of them for the final seven minutes; the Fifers had plenty of the ball, but could not penetrate the 18 yard line; other than Fagan and Young efforts that missed the target.
Not a bad performance then; but a cutting edge and an ability to get behind defences required.
Alloa Athletic: Crawford, McClune, Bloom, Brown, Walker, Grant, Caroll, Ferguson [Gormley 58], Prunty [Philp 89], Noble, Gilhaney [Scott 34]. Subs not used: Hall, McCafferty.
East Fife: Brown, Nugent, Ovenstone, Muir, Smart [Fagan 32], McCunnie, Crawford, Young, McManus, Linn [Cargill 68], R Campbell [Conway 76]. Subs not used: Baillie, Kerr.
Referee: T Robertson
Booked: McManus, Brown, Nugent, Ovenstone.
