Alloa and Peterhead enjoyed their ‘Day in the Sun’ as the only game on in Scottish Football at the weekend with their 2-2 draw sparkling in the snow.
Recreation Park Chairman Mike Mulraney and a team of helpers had literally moved mountains to get the game played, with the 500 tons of snow cleared from the pitch by snow plough, and by hand, evident trackside.
The local Ochil Hills gave another white sheeted reminder of the past week’s weather, however at kick off time it was almost balmy, as the sun shone on the green artificial surface.
No player saw the need for tights, or even a snood, with goalkeepers Jamie Ewings and Jon Bateman being the only glove wearers, however referee Eddie Smith, who had said ‘game on’ at an 8.30am inspection, was more cautious by wearing a pair of tracksuit trousers underneath his shorts.
The goal-nets had been adapted with red and white tape added to distinguish them from the adjacent snow and it was Neale Cooper’s men who were first to hit the new look rigging.
Nicky Clark was barged in the box on 21 minutes and Ryan Strachan made an immaculate job of the penalty. Ten minutes later Alloa’s John Grant crossed and Stuart Noble swept the ball home from four yards.
Clark headed the Balmoor men in-front 2 minutes from half time with Alloa beginning to think that their efforts were not going to be rewarded, as Kevin McDonald missed from the spot 10 minutes into the second half.
The midfielder made amends in the last minute by slamming home the third spot kick of the afternoon.
A draw was the right result with Wasps manager Allan Maitland saying, “After all the efforts in getting the game on it would have been a tragedy if we had not taken anything from it. If we had scored the first penalty we would maybe have had the momentum to go on and win the game.”
Alloa’s efforts saw an increase in their average attendance from 550 to 601 and there with a host of managers and representatives from Scotland’s four Divisions also in attendance, however Maitland was more focussed on the result than extra bodies.
Maitland said, “It was a good exercise in raising the profile of the club but ultimately that is not my concern. It is great that the effort put in has given Alloa a lot of attention but I wanted the three points.”
Cooper commented, “I was not sure what to expect as our training has been disastrous. Alloa had done a fantastic clean up job and it was not a bad game as they had chances and we had chances.”
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