Alloa sent tumbling in a tale of two woes

Ayr United 4 Alloa Athletic 1

IT was a sad day yesterday for Alloa Athletic and their inimitable manager Terry Christie when they were relegated at Somerset Park after failing to secure victory.

"It was a bad day, today was one of our poorest performances. We are disappointed today but not with the way we have battled all season.

"We were under-strength here but we've put on a credible show over the course of the season, especially as part-timers," he said.

With anything other than three points a futile pursuit for Christie's players, this was the last place Alloa would have opted to play such a crucial league match.

United having experienced only one defeat since the New Year - at Inverness - have been excelling at Somerset Park to such an extent recently that this was somewhat of a David versus Goliath pairing.

Still, throughout the season the Wasps had battled with much vim and vigour in an attempt to remain in the First Division longer than the one season most pundits predicted.

If anyone could engineer a result, Christie was the man. But, alas, not this time. There never looked like being a lengthy siege upon the hosts' goal. Indeed, it was Alloa who were under the cosh throughout the first half.

They did, however, manage to counter relatively effectively at set pieces with Gregg Watson creating danger on two different occasions with his forehead, but Dalziel's defence remained impregnable.

In attack, Ayr were not as commanding. David Craig headed down only for John Bradford to direct his effort wide of the gaping goal, shortly after Gary Teale's sting-shot had been parried over by Guido van de Kamp on 20 minutes.

The hosts were not their usual selves, and this was highlighted when they took the lead in the 41st- minute through Pat McGinlay's header following a goal-mouth scramble.

Returning for the second-half, there were expectations that the Alloa players would throw caution to the wind and push forward at every opportunity.

But the half was not five minutes old when United registered a second strike, Lee Sharp prodding home at the far post after some dismal defending.

Alloa had fought every inch throughout a long, arduous season, so it was out of character to watch them capitulate with such ease. Perhaps it was a test too large a mountain to climb.

Eddie Annand made it three just before the hour after some impressive footwork from Bradford allowed the former Dundee forward a simple tap in. The 50-odd travelling support looked a disconsolate bunch as they trudged towards the covered away terracing for shelter from an unexpected torrential downpour.

There could be no hiding however from Alloa's demise, despite Willie Irvine's strike providing a modicum of hope midway through the second-half.

With two minutes left to play McGinlay added his second and United's fourth.

The goal was to offer little comfort for the home support as news filtered through that Livingston had ensured promotion with victory in Inverness. It was a traumatic day for both sides.

Copyright 2001
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