Relichtie

   

Memorable matches No. 15

  May 11 1985                               Arbroath 0-1 Alloa Ath.           Scottish League Division 2

There's no worse feeling in football than watching another club celebrate promotion on your ground, especially after they had beat your team to do it. What made this worse was that this result assured that  Arbroath finished bottom of the league as well, officially the worst team in the Scottish League.

Bottom of table

    P W D L F A Pts
11 Stranraer 39 13 6 20 52 67 32
12 E. Stirling 39 8 15 16 38 53 31
13 Berwick R. 39 8 12 19 36 49 28
14 Arbroath 39 9 7 23 35 66 25

Arbroath had changed managers during the season, dispensing with George Fleming, and replacing him with former maroons favourite Jimmy Bone. The damage had already been done by the time Bone took over, and he used the rest of the season, primarily to assess his squad and prepare for the future. 

On the day of the match, due to injuries and suspensions to experienced players, no fewer than five teenagers were in the Arbroath side. The game only goal was scored in the 4th minute, when a cross from Mackie was cleared off the line by Mitchell as far as Gary Thomson, who evaded three challenges before shooting past Jackson. Arbroath then enjoyed a good spell in the match, creating chances, but lack of finishing skills let them down. Alloa though played with the confidence second place in the league brings to a team, and hit both the post and the bar.

In the second half the young home side pushed for an equaliser, and despite chances falling to Paterson, who had two long range efforts, one wide and the other bringing out an excellent save by Lowrie, in the Wasps goal, and McWalter who turned and shot well from the edge of the box, only for Lowrie to also save his effort, they strived in vain.

McWalter and Fotheringham challenge for the ball

At the final whistle the players left the field to the sound of rejoicing Alloa Supporters !

Arbroath - Jackson, Mitchell, Hill, Lynch, Davie, Paterson, Ross, Fotheringham, Brannigan, M. McWalter, Kennedy. subs R. McWalter and Taylor.

Alloa Ath. - Lowrie, G, Thomson, K. Thomson, Kelly, Dall, Martin, Murray, Barr, Shearer, Mackie, Cole. subs Lloyd and Harris.

Referee M. Delaney, Cleland.

Attendance 872.

Back                                     Alloa Stats.