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Ross County 2; Alloa Athletic 4 |
Ross County lost first spot in the division by losing at home to Alloa. Manager Neale Cooper must have been looking into his crystal ball when he predicted in a pre-match interview,"We will have to be careful. Our players will have to concentrate not to concede goals like we did against Montrose because we wont get away with it against Alloa." Lorsports have made comment about County's slack defending in previous match reports.
A gale force wind helped County establish an interval lead, but then the strong wind helped Alloa in their fight to take over the top spot in the division.
Steve Ferguson headed County into the lead from a long throw-in by Haro. Derek Adams made it two when his intended cross flew past Alloa 'keeper Cairns.
Alloa got back into the game with goals from Haddow and McAneny. Late in the game Ross defender Golabek was "red carded" for retaliation. The Wasps stung Ross County with two late goals by Irvine and Cameron.
Cooper said after the game, "Overall, I'm deeply disappointed with the attitude of certain players. They have got to start showing grit and determination to grind things out when the going gets difficult."
HMM 6 October 1997
Alloa Athletic 1; Ross County 0 |
County los an important match at Alloa last night. It was all Alloa in the first half and they carved out several clear cut chances but they failed to take all their chances. A superb 20-yard effort by triallist Sheerin was the difference between the sides at half-time.
In the second half County battled more productively and Adams, with a header being cleared off the line, and Farrell, with a long-range effort which struck the post, came closest to saving a point for Ross County.
After the match, manager Neale Cooper said, "It was a wonder strike that won the game. We were diappointed not to take anything from the match because I felt that we tried hard.
"The second half was one of the best 45 minutes we've put in in my time with County and I can't fault the players for their effort."
HMM 3 January 1998
Ross County 0; Alloa Athletic 2 |
Ross County’s promotion aspirations took a major dent at Victoria Park before an excellent crowd of 1,327 spectators.
Alloa Athletic looked the sharper team throughout and County created very few chances over the 90 minutes and were second best by a long way in every department.
County’s young striker Connor Campbell was the only home player to distinguish himself as he chased and harried throughout the game. Unfortunately he was often isolated because the midfield was so slow to support him.
County were under pressure for much of the match and only some lucky and stout defence kept Alloa at bay. Alloa’s opening goal came in the 10th minute when a clumsy tackle gave Alloa a free-kick just outside the penalty box. A floated free kick into the goal area was met by Ramsay who, unchallenged, guided the ball past the hapless Nicky Walker.
County played their best football in the early stages of the second half. Gary Wood had entered the fray to replace the anonymous Frank Escalon and he brought a refreshing directness to County’s front line.
However, he was replaced, injured, half-way through the half and with his departure County’s slim chance of saving the points evaporated too.
Alloa stretched their lead in the 72nd minute when a slack header by Gerry Farrell was pounced upon by Wilson who slipped the ball to Irvine and the ball was in the back of the net before the County defence could react.
County’s best chance came in the dying minutes when Derek Adams hit the bar and Connor Campbell’s follow up was parried by the Alloa ‘Keeper.
HMM 25 March 1998
Alloa Athletic 1; Ross County 1 |
Ross County threw away a one goal advantage when, with a little under twenty minutes left, ‘keeper Nicky Walker brought down Irvine. The striker picked himself up to score from the spot.
This point means a lot more to Alloa than it does to Ross County who were desperate for the win and three points. The draw leaves Ross County in third place.
Both teams left the field covered in mud because of the poor overhead and under foot conditions. With so much at stake there was little surprise that the game lacked little composure.
County took the lead in the 61st minute when substitute Neil Tarrant jumped well at the back post to head home a Gerry Farrell corner. However, County’s elation lasted less than ten minutes before Alloa were awarded the penalty that earned them the draw.
HMM 6 April 1998
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