Third Division: Hartley calls for Alloa response as 15-game unbeaten run grinds to halt

Published on Monday 13 February 2012 02:09

Alloa manager Paul Hartley picked up the second manager of the month award of his fledgling career last week and joked about the supposed curse on winners as the last time he had won the honour his side lost heavily to Elgin City in their next game.

The Wasps responded to their 5-0 Borough Briggs defeat by embarking on a 15-game unbeaten run that culminated in Hartley being selected to receive January’s prize. However, that remarkable run ended on Saturday when the table-topping Recreation Park men suffered an unexpected 1-0 defeat at home to Berwick Rangers.

Alloa had bossed the first-half with Kevin Cawley going close and Ryan McCord hitting the bar, but the league leaders’ unbeaten run as well as their unbeaten home record this season went when Damon Gray scored a penalty after Ben Gordon fouled David Greenhill in the box just before the hour mark. The Borderers saw the game out despite Steve Notman’s dismissal seven minutes from time after he picked up a second booking.

Hartley took the defeat on the chin, saying: “We have lost our unbeaten record and that is disappointing but these things happen in football. We will not dwell on it, the players have been fantastic all season and we will re-group to go again.”

Berwick manager Ian Little said: “My players worked really hard to get a win against a good Alloa side. The defence was solid and the guys in front of them never stopped, so it was a good day.”

Second-placed Stranraer failed to capitalise fully on the leaders’ slip-up as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Peterhead. Rory McAllister’s penalty three minutes before the break cancelled out Craig Malcolm’s first-minute opener for the visitors.

Queen’s Park recorded their 13th consecutive win over Montrose with a 5-0 success at Hampden. Jamie Longworth opened the scoring after five minutes with Martin McBride making it two early in the second half. Michael Daly headed the third before Longworth netted again, and substitute Tony Quinn fired an injury-time fifth.

Early-season pacesetters Annan slipped to fourth place after being held to a 1-1 draw by Elgin at Galabank. Jack Steele nodded the hosts in front in 17 minutes, with David Niven heading in a 28th minute equaliser for Elgin, who had Mark Durnan dismissed for dissent with a minute left.

Clyde beat bottom side East Stirling 3-0 with John Sweeney netting a penalty and then missing another. Jack Sloss and John Neill completed the scoring in the second-half.

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