Late sting keeps Wasps alive

Alloa 2 Clyde 1 Alloa and Clyde both secured promotion at Recreation Park yesterday but the chase for the Second Division title is still on after the home side took all three points from the league leaders.

A share of the points would have confirmed Clyde as the champions but they must now take three points from their last two games to ensure that the title heads to Broadwood Alloa got off to a dream start as their top goalscorer Martin Cameron fired tem into the lead in 48 seconds when he latched on to a poor clearance from the Clyde defence to score Alloa's first and his 24th goal of the season. Clyde were stung into action from this Wasps attack and following pressure on the Alloa defence Pat Keogh; levelled the score in the sixth minute when he controlled the ball in a packed Alloa defence, turned neatly and rifled the ball past a helpless Colin Stewart in the Alloa goal.

Clyde were in control of the match at this time and the visiting fans in the large crowd were on their feet in the 11th minute when they saw a great six yard Alan Grant shot that was goal bound somehow cleared by Alloa defender David Beaton.

Alloa however were slowly getting back into the game and they could have snatched the lead in the 28th minute when Cameron passed to Willy Irvine whose fierce 18 yard shot went narrowly past the left hand post of Wylie in the Clyde goal. Clyde were always dangerous and were unlucky themselves not to take the lead in the 33rd minute when Keogh back headed a neat Carrigan cross into the hands of a well placed Stewart in the Alloa goal.

Clyde started the second half with a flourish as they chased the second gaol and they soon had the Alloa defence pinned back into their own penalty area. In the 51st minute Clyde worked a well practised training ground free kick routine as Grant pushed the ball to Carrigan who watched in dismay as his perfectly struck shot was brilliantly saved by Stewart.

Alloa however refused to let the pressure being exerted on them panic them and man of the match Craig Valentine made some very timely clearances as Clyde piled on pressure on the Alloa defence. Against the run of play it was Alloa who had the best chance of the half to take the lead when a great valentine clearance from defence fell art the feet of Alloa top goalscorer Martin Cameron but his normally lethal right foot failed him as he shot weekly past from 18 yards out.

Clyde continued to pressure the Alloa defence and they had shots from Kiogh, McGloghlin and Alan Grant all cleared or saved by Colin Stewart. Alloa fought themselves back into the game and in the 74th minute an inch perfect pass from Cameron to Willy Irvine was wasted as Irvine shot past from eight yards out. Eight minutes later the Alloa pressure paid off and Willy Irvine redeemed himself from his previous miss when he fired home a low shot from 16 yards that gave Wylie in the Clyde goal no chance of saving.

Despite tremendous pressure from Clyde Alloa doggedly held onto their lead and at the end of the match amid scenes of jubilation the Alloa team and fans celebrated promotion to the first division. Clyde's dream of taking the Championship at today's match had to be put on hold as Alloa's victory today brings them to within four points of winning the title still with two games to play. Alan Maitland the Clyde boss said he was disappointed to lose today but it would be good to win the championship at home next week. He also said that he had felt that Clyde had dominated the game for 70- minutes but failed to take their chances when they came along. Alloa boss Terry Christie was jubilant and said that both teams had chances but Willy Irvine's goal was special. "It has been a great season for this club (Alloa) everyone can take credit for a remarkable season in which we have won a cup, gained promotion and played 50 games." Ends.

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