Robert

A good job well done. Not our best performance, particularly early in the second half, but overall we deserved to win. My man of the match was Ridgers for three excellent saves, two when 19 goal Nisbet was one on one with him. Everyone else was pretty competent although no real stand out performances from the outfield players. The defence did fine, with McHattie standing in well for Tremarco Trafford was the pick of the midfield, with Doran and Storey both putting in decent shift. Rooney had an easy tap in from Keatings’ cross whilst McCart headed in the second. I thought it was going to be disallowed as the linesman was flagging but I’ve no idea what for. We are putting together a decent home run. Let’s finish the year in style by getting revenge on Arbroath next week! A comment about the pitch. The corner in front of the main and north stands was heavily stranded and the ball was sticking. Hopefully not a sign of problems ahead.

HT 0-0 FT 2-1 ICT White DA Nisbet Crowd 2013

I might get slagged for this, but if players are out of contract in the summer, you can’t blame them for hanging back to see what league we are going to be in. If they have ambitions to play at a higher level, and many could as there is so little difference between the bottom half of the top league and most of the Championship, we can’t blame them. That said, we could be in for a bumpy summer and a big player turnover if we don’t go up. Alan will appreciate a turnover of players!!

They have been a jinx team for a while. They had the better of us when we were both in the top league, which seems a lifetime ago. I had a bad feeling about today. I should have gone with my gut on Gringo as I predicted 3-1 for us, more in hope than expectation, and as it always feels wrong to predict we will lose. I should have gone with 3-1 for them!

Thanks for that. Just looked at Patrick’s form: the 5-1 defeat by Dunfermline is their only loss in their last 6 games in all competitions, with 4 wins in that time. Hope the travelling fans have a great afternoon and the guys come north with 3 points. We have 4 wins (if we could penalties against Clyde) and 2 defeats in the same period.

HT 0-1 FT 1-3 ICT White PT Cardle Crowd 2721

Very true!!

And as I’m also now a Minion apparently, which one am I?!

Partick will be tough. We won twice there last season but they beat us well here earlier in the season. Time for another big performance!

Ayr being held at home by Arbroath tonight probably a good outcome for us.

What a fun thread. I’m Not a happy clapper though, just a fan who wants us to do well!

Agreed!

Very enjoyable first half, probably the best 45 for a while. Other than a rush of blood by Ridgers coming way out of his box and thankfully not tackling, leaving an open goal that the Ayr player chose to cross rather than shoot, Ayr did not trouble us. White took his goal very well after a great pass by Carson, who is becoming the mainstay of our midfield. Ayr came out flying second half and our second was against the run of play. Trafford intercepted an Ayr corner, got the ball to Storey about the half way line and he did the rest, albeit the goalie should have saved it. I didn’t think the first half tackle on Doran was a penalty from where I was sitting. We made several good chances, with the Ayr keeper making a few good saves whilst Todorov had his first touch cleared off the line. Ridgers had little to do. Rooney was getting forward and did ok. Tremarco got a knock and was subbed when having a steady game. Donaldson and McCart were not really troubled. Carson and Trafford were solid, with Carson my man of the match. Storey had his best game since returning, much more like the player from his first spell and thrived on the space Ayr gave him. He needs to be a bit less selfish and pass more: he would have got a rocket had his goal not gone in as Keatings was perfectly placed for a simple pass and tap in. Doran is much more like his old self too. I thought Keatings was quite quiet, but White had a very good game, not just his goal but he was tending to win and hold the ball. McHattie was solid after he replaced Tremarco. Good to see MacGregor back, although his first involvement was being brutally tackled. Todorov was unlucky not to score. What was the scuffle in the Ayr half late in the second half? I was watching the ball so missed it. Despite the poor weather, a very encouraging, satisfying afternoon and a job well done. Four clean sheets in a row is a good sign, and 9 points out of 9 since the Arbroath debacle. Maybe the virus had a bigger impact than any of us thought. Either way, hopefully we can keep this run going.

A damp afternoon but hopefully we are in for a great performance and result. An unchanged team. Any update on Welsh, Vincent or Walsh?

HT 1-0 FT 2-1 ICT White Ayr Moore Crowd 1958

Credit White for that assist for the second goal. More please!

We also need to watch Dunfermline. A win on Saturday is essential as it could well be between us, Ayr, Dunfermline and Dundee for the play off places.

I’ve just seen the score. What’s the story with Draper and Vigurs: neither in the County squad, with Mckay and Chalmers unused subs. Hopefully lack of game time for our former players who have gone otb will deter any of the current squad.

Sounds like a job well done today. Alloa are no push overs at home so a good result.

Rooney and Keatings in for Mckay and McHattie.

HT 1-1 FT 1-2 Alloa Trouten ICT White Crowd 896

I thought McHattie did well playing out of position but a fan behind me was shouting “get him off” every time the ball went near him. I am amazed at some of the comments. I’d have taken a draw going into the game after recent results but we won. We closed the game out well and should have had a second. All the players were working for each other and we seem to have the team spirit back. Saturday will be tough on a narrow plastic pitch but we can win, which will set us up nicely for Ayr the following week.

That will be six games against them this season, seven if there’s a replay. Disappointing, and it will be tough on their tight pitch, but one we should be able to get through. Saturday will give us a feel possibly.

I got the impression Tremarco felt he could play on, so hopefully it was precautionary. Mckay was limping a couple of minutes before he was subbed and was going to be replaced anyway but then had to do a chase back and tackle which left him needing attention. He looked the bigger risk.

A home draw against any team not in the Championship that we have a realistic chance of beating will do me!