Cinch Scottish League One: What Have we Learned?
It was another action-packed week in League One, with a total of 18 goals scored across all five matches in the division. As points start to become all the more vital in the race for the title, promotion play-offs and battle against the drop, let’s look at what we learned.
Cove fight back to snatch a point in Rice’s first game as Alloa boss
Goals from Andy Graham and Steven Boyd had the Wasps ahead going into the break before Ola Adeyemo and Ryan McAllister struck in the last 10 minutes to rescue a point at the Indodrill Stadium. Jon Robertson was sent off for the hosts in the second half.
The draw for Paul Hartley’s men sees them stretch their unbeaten league run to 17 matches and coupled with Airdrie’s draw at home to Clyde, they remain five points clear at the top of the summit.
Alloa appointed former Hamilton Academical boss Brian Rice on Monday, with the 58-year-old replacing Barry Ferguson as manager. The point for the Wasps sees them remain three points behind Clyde in seventh but are now one point in front of eight-placed Peterhead.
Next week, Alloa welcome Airdrieonians to Clackmannanshire while Cove host Peterhead at the Balmoral Stadium.
Alloa Athletic manager, Brian Rice: “They [Cove] are league leaders for a reason, great team, very good squad. I was absolutely delighted with the first half, the way we played, the way we created chances and the two goals we scored. The red card in the second-half definitely changed the game, no doubt about it, but they’re my boys, they could’ve crumbled, but they hung in there. We deserved to take the point and there was a lot more positives than negatives.”
Cove Rangers manager, Paul Hartley: “I always take responsibility for the team set, so we managed to change the system today, and we got back into the game. In the first half, we had some chances, and I felt we should not sit back, but we should have a go at Alloa. I said at half time we would be delighted with a point and we scored twice late on in the game to get the point. Alloa were set up well and came at us, but we fought back to take the point and extend our unbeaten run in the league.”
Clyde and Airdrie share the spoils in North Lanarkshire derby
On-loan St. Mirren forward Lewis Jamieson had the Bully Wee ahead on the stroke of half-time, before Gabriel McGill equalised for the Diamonds deep into the second-half.
For the Diamonds, despite going 11 games unbeaten, they miss an opportunity to further close the gap on league leaders Cove, who drew away to Alloa Athletic. Ian Murray’s men remain in second-place, however, with Montrose narrowly beating Queen’s Park, they are now only four points clear.
Meanwhile, for Clyde, the draw continues their impressive league run of only two defeats in their last 15 matches. Danny Lennon’s men remain in sixth place, four points behind fourth-top Queen’s Park and fifth-placed Falkirk, who won 3-1 at home against East Fife.
Next week, Clyde welcome Falkirk to Broadwood in what is a huge match in their quest for the promotion play-offs, while Airdrie take the trip to Alloa.
Airdrieonians manager, Ian Murray: “Mixed feelings today, of course. Not winning the game, first and foremost, we would be disappointed at any time, it being a home game. On the positive side, the players have come back from a tough first half against Clyde, who played very well with a lot of energy. We had a lot of chances in the game, looking at the stats, we had 21 shots and nine on target, so, we need to be scoring goals.”
Clyde boss, Danny Lennon: “There was a lot of positives for us today, in my opinion, I think Airdrie are the best side in the league, I know the table doesn’t suggest that, but I mean on current form. So, we knew the challenge faced upon us and we had a game plan. I thought first-half it worked very well, second-half, there was still moments there for us, but I didn’t feel we worked the ball as much in those key moments.”
Peterhead hold off nine-man Dumbarton in seven-goal thriller
Goals from Hamish Ritchie and Rory McAllister had the hosts in cruise control going into the interval. However, second-half strikes from Ross MacLean and Eoghan Stokes for the Sons’ reduced the hosts three-goal advantage, before Grant Savoury scored Peterhead’s fourth in the closing stages. The influx of goals wasn’t over yet, as Carlo Pignatiello replied for the visitors late into injury time, in a frantic and nervy end to the match.
Victory for Jim McInally’s men brings a halt to their eight-game winless run, as they pick up their first win since December of last year. The Blue Toon leapfrog Dumbarton into eighth place, and are now a point behind Alloa in seventh.
However, for Stevie Farrell’s Dumbarton, defeat sees them drop to the relegation play-off spot in ninth.
Next week, Dumbarton welcome Queen’s Park to the moreroom.com Stadium, while Peterhead travel to face Cove, but before that they will play their game in hand against Queen’s Park on Tuesday night.
Peterhead boss, Jim McInally: “That’s the poorest 45 they’ve played in a long time. I won’t dwell on it too much because the first 45 was really good. I know I should be happy because we’ve won and we hadn’t won since we last played Dumbarton, but that’s just the way it is.”
Scottish League One Results:
Airdrieonians 1-1 Clyde
Alloa Athletic 2-2 Cove Rangers
Falkirk 3-1 East Fife
Peterhead 4-3 Dumbarton
Queen’s Park 0-1 Montrose
Scottish League One Table:
