Match report: Alloa Athletic 3-2 Saints

After a goalless first half the hosts took the lead on 54 minutes when Morgyn Neill headed home a Kurtis Roberts free kick.

Saints were level a minute later as Benji Kimpioka lobbed the ball over PJ Morrison after breaking into the box.

The game then changed on 64 minutes as Saints were reduced to ten men after Aaron Essel was sent off for violent conduct.

However, Alloa restored their lead on 83 minutes as Josh Rae came bursting out his box to clear the ball however, Luke Rankin took the ball around the Saints keeper and slotted it into the net from a tight angle.

Rankin then sealed the points for the Wasps with 2 minutes remaining with a stunning finish after his initial effort had been saved by Rae.

Jack Sanders headed home a stoppage time consolation for Saints however, it wasn’t to be as Alloa saw the game out to move top of Group F.  

Next up for Saints is their final Premier Sports Cup Group F match as they welcome East Fife to McDiarmid Park on Saturday, kick off 3pm.

MATCH REPORT

Saints were back on the road this evening as they headed to Clackmannanshire to take on League One side Alloa Athletic at the Indodrill Stadium for a Premier Sports Group F match. Saints came into the match top of Group F and there were three changes to the Saints starting eleven from the side which started Saturday’s 2-0 win at home to Greenock Morton. Drey Wright, Graham Carey and Matt Smith dropped to the bench and they were replaced by Taylor Steven, Connor Smith and Josh McPake. Alloa Athletic defeated Brechin City 3-1 on Saturday and manager Andy Graham decided to go with the same team which started at the Carnegie Fuels Stadium at Glebe Park at the weekend.

It was a lovely summers evening in Alloa as Connor Smith got the match underway for Saints.

The opening 20 minutes was an even affair as both teams looked to get a footing in the game.

PHOTO: Connor Smith and Stefan Scougall

The first chance of the match came on 21 minutes as good play down the left saw former Saints player Stefan Scougall play the ball to Luke Rankin and the forward cut in from the left and into the box before seeing his curling effort saved by Josh Rae.

4 minutes later Connor Smith got a sight of goal however, his effort from 25 yards didn’t test PJ Morrison in the home goal.

The hosts came close to taking the lead on 28 minutes as a good through ball by Wasps captain Scott Taggart picked out Kevin Cawley who put his header over the bar. Play quickly switched to the other end and on 31 minutes Andre Raymond’s cross from the left was met by Taylor Steven however, his effort went wide of the mark.

PHOTO: Aaron Essel and Kevin Cawley

Craig Levein made a triple change before the second half got underway as Sven Sprangler, Matt Smith and Adama Sidibeh came on to replace Connor Smith, Sam McClelland and Josh McPake.

Less than 60 seconds into the second half Saints came close to the break through as a great through ball was chased down by both Sidibeh and Steven and the latter got to the ball first to get an effort away which hit the side netting.

On 49 minutes Rae was called into action saving a Luke Rankin effort. However, the Saints keeper was beaten on 54 minutes as Alloa took the lead. The Wasps were awarded a free kick out on the left after Scougall had been fouled by David Keltjens. Kurtis Roberts took the free kick and his delivery into the Saints box was perfect for Morgyn Neill who rose to plant a downward header past Rae and into the net.

They say that you are at your most vulnerable just after you have scored and that provided to be the case here as a minute later Saints were level. Kimpioka sent a lovely composed finish into the net as he lobbed the ball over Morrison after breaking into the Alloa box.

PHOTO: Benji Kimpioka celebrates his goal

However, on 64 minutes Saints were reduced to ten men as Aaron Essel was sent off after clashing with Steven Buchanan close to the corner flag.

That promoted Saints to make another change as Liam Parker came on to replace Benji Kimpioka.

Despite being a man down Saints pushed forward and on 66 minutes Sidibeh saw his effort blocked by Scougall as the ball went behind for a corner.  

A minute later Alloa got a sight of goal as Roberts put his long-range effort over the bar.

Saints continued to threaten and on 73 minutes Matt Smith sent over an inviting ball from the right which Taggart was able to head behind for a corner at the back post before Steven could connect with it. The Perth side created another chance 4 minutes later as Parker’s clearance was chased down by Sidibeh and the forward was in one-on-one with Morrison however, the Alloa keeper made a good save as he turned the ball behind for another corner. Steven took the corner from the right and he floated the ball into the box which Sanders was inches away from connecting with.

PHOTO: Adama Sidibeh's shot is blocked

With 10 minutes remaining good persistent play from Sidibeh saw him win a corner as he knocked the ball off of Neill. This time MacPherson took the corner and his delivery was met by Parker however, the young defender saw his header go over the bar.

Then with 7 minutes remaining Alloa took the lead. Morrison played the ball out from the back as Calum Waters played a long ball down the left channel which was chased down by Rankin. Rae came bursting out of his box to clear the danger however, Rankin beat the Saints keeper to the ball and then took it around him before slotting it into the net from a tight angle.

Saints then made a further change as Makenzie Kirk came on to replace Taylor Steven.

However, Alloa would secure the 3 points on 88 minutes. With Saints pushing for an equaliser Alloa cleared the ball forward and Rankin beat David Keltjens to the ball and the forward broke towards the Saints box and was one-on-one with Rae however, the Saints keeper made a good save. Keltjens’ momentum then saw him run into Rae as Rankin gathered the loose ball outside the box before unleashing a stunning finish from a tight angle to wrap up the points for the hosts.

As the match entered stoppage time Kirk saw his shot deflected behind by Steven Hetherington for a corner. MacPherson took the corner from the right and his delivery into the box was met by Sanders who powered home a header however, Saints didn’t have enough time to muster up an equaliser as Alloa saw the game out to secure the 3 points.

PHOTO: Jack Sanders scores to make it 3-2

Alloa Athletic: Morrison, Taggart, McKay, Neill, Waters, Hetherington, Roberts (Donnelly 81’), Scougall (Mullen 87’), Buchanan, Cawley, Rankin

Unused Substitutes: Ogayi (GK), Thomson, O’Donnell, Nevans, Sammon, Cunningham, Graham

Booked: Scougall

Scorers: Neill (54’), Rankin (83’, 88’)

Saints: Rae, Raymond, Sanders, MacPherson, Essel, McClelland (M. Smith 45’), Steven (Kirk 84’), C. Smith (Sprangler 45’), McPake (Sidibeh 45’), Kimpioka (Parker 65’), Keltjens

Unused Substitutes: Sinclair (GK), Carey, Wright, Franczak

Booked: None

Sent Off: Essel

Scorers: Kimpioka (55’), Sanders (90+1’)

Referee: Colin Steven

Attendance: 1,112

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Josh McPake and Scott Taggart