MATCH PREVIEW – ALLOA ATHLETIC (H)

After not facing the Wasps for five years we now meet them for the second time this season.

Following relegation from the Championship last season manager Peter Grant moved on from the Indrodrill Stadium to take charge at Dunfermline Athletic. His replacement is Barry Ferguson who quickly moved to Clackmananshire after leading Kelty Hearts to League Two with a play off win over Brechin City.

Fourteen new players have arrived at club over the summer as they strive to make a quick return to the second tier. Craig Howie and Mark Lamont were signed from Clyde with Ben Armour and Steven Boyd signing from Peterhead. Another signing duo were Conor Sammon and Mark Duran from Falkirk. Other signings were Daniel Church (Dumbarton), Adam King (Dundee United), Jordan Armstrong (East Kilbride), David Hutton (Brechin City), Fernandy Mendy (Raith Rovers) and Craig McDowell who was unattached. Mouhamed Niang also arrived on loan from Partick Thistle. Yesterday Barry Ferguson further strengthened his squad with the loan signing of Euan Henderson from Hearts. He will however be ineligible for today’s game as he played for his parent club in the first round scoring the winner against Edinburgh City

13 players left the club – Liam Dick (Raith Rovers), Fraser Currid (Dunfermline Athletic), Steven Hetherington (Falkirk), Edin Lynch (Dumbarton), Liam Buchanan (Cowdenbeath), Adam Brown and Robert Thomson (Stenhousemuir), Ray Grant (Stirling Albion), Blair Malcolm (East Kilbride), Reece Wilson, Andy Wilson,Nathan Gilhooly and Neil Parry (Clyde) who played against us in July. Loan players returning to their parent clubs were Innes Murray (Hibernian), Innes Cameron (Kilmarnock), Jordan Wright (Nottingham Forest) and Lee Connelly (Sunderland). Players currently out on loan are Nicky Jamieson (Stenhousemuir), Lucas Williamson and Liam Evans (Broomhill).

Alloa’s first game in the Premier Sports Cup was against us at the Indodrill Stadium where Liam Buchanan kept up his habit of scoring against former clubs as we ran out 1-0 winners. This was followed up with a 2-1 home win over Livingston with Scott Taggart and Alan Trouten from the penalty spot over turning Bruce Anderson’s opener. The visit to Highland League new boys Brechin City then saw another 1-0 defeat with Mark Scott getting the City goal. The group games then closed with a 0-0 draw at Starks Park against Raith Rovers with the Rovers winning the penalty shoot out 5-4.

The League One campaign opened with a 2-0 defeat from Peterhead at Balmoor with Russell McLean and Niah Payne scoring in each half. The following week saw a 3-1 home win over East Fife with Steven Boyd bagging a brace along with Conor Sammon with Jamie Semple replying for the Fifers.


MATCH SPONSOR – Nottingham Supporting The Cowden Miners

MATCH BALL SPONSOR – There Was A Coo On Yonder Hill



MATCH OFFICIALS

REFEREE – Dan McFarlane

This will be Dan’s third game at Central Park this season having taken charge of our wins over Brechin and Elgin.

ASSISTANT REFEREES – Stuart Stevenson & Chris Philips


ADMISSION

Adults - £11 | Concessions - £6 | Season tickets are not valid for this game.

You can buy your ticket in advance here.

LIVE STREAM

Can’t make it to Central Park? Blue Brazil TV is streaming the match live for the cost of £10. Buy your stream here.



Previewer: Andrew Mullen.