Alloa Athletic v Aberdeen
Tuesday 24th August (7.45pm Kick-off)
CIS Insurance Cup: 2nd Round
The day has finally arrived: we're off to see the mighty Aberdeen for the first time this season! It's going to be interesting to see how all the new signings Mark McGhee has made have helped us to the heady heights of SPL leaders.
So far on this adventure it's just been my dad and me, and each time we've sat in with home fans. Well not tonight; not only we will be in with the away supporters, we've also been joined by a friend of mine, Anthony, who like me is a fellow Don. I'll try and be true to the cause though and include all the usual ramblings of mine, my father's and the crowd.
As it's a school day, my dad comes to meet us at work at 4.45pm. Apparently we're leaving this early because of the 'rush-hour traffic' in Edinburgh and the fact 'it can sometimes take 45 mins to get across town'. Not today however as we're on our way past Edinburgh airport at 5.15pm. We arrive in Alloa at 6pm. A full 1 hour and 45 minutes before the game kicks off!! No sandwiches this evening, I couldn't be bothered carrying a cool bag to work so it's the safety of a Morrison's sandwich rather than risk a visit to the local McDonalds.
The Alloa website informed us that the turnstiles would be opening at 6.45pm to deal with the expected large away support. Anthony is eager to ensure we get a prime viewing position so we wander over to the ground at 6.30.
We've got a bit of time so I go to take the obligatory photo of the ground; you know the one just to prove we were there. I'm denied a photo of the main entrance by a jobsworth steward, who takes one look at my Aberdeen scarf and tells "this end is just for home fans". It's left to a young Alloa fan to point out the huge sign that runs along the outside of the stadium as the best photo on offer. Cheers wee man!
By the time the gates open it's after 7pm. It's heartening to see the honesty of the Aberdeen support as a few of them sneak their way into the ground via the Concession gate. Grown men pretending to be older and 18 year olds pretending to be even younger. The ticket price of £15 did seem a bit steep and the concession ticket was only £8 you see. A boy in the queue inside to buy a programme was chatting to his mate saying "She [turnstile operator] tried to tell me I didnae look 16, mare like 18, so i told her 'no, I'm 16 honest'". He then reminds his pal it's his 19th birthday in next month.
As soon as we got through the turnstiles we were greeted by the site of a dozen or so portable toilets. You pay £15 to get in and in return they offer you the chance to watch your team play on a plastic pitch whilst you stand on an uncovered terracing and have the use of exclusive toilet facilities.
We wander towards the tiny makeshift stand after take a quick detour to the pie van where are delighted to find that at £1, the Alloa pie is cheapest yet. It's a pretty decent effort too and your favorite food critic claims 'it is by far the best value for money pie yet, but it's not quite a Motherwell pie'. It does however mean that there are still funds left in the kitty for further nourishment later.
We end up standing behind the goal as I'd have been charged a further £2 to find a seat in the stand. That would have meant paying £17 in total - seems a bit step for a 2nd Division side.
The Alloa fans are first time stretch their vocal chords and we're treated a verse of 'You're only sheep shagging b*stards'. How original! Aberdeen fans have taken this insult to their hearts and clap in appreciation of this fine rendition from the home fans.
The home team started brightly and showed no sign of fear towards their SPL opponents. Despite the fact that their manager Allan Maitland is a die-hard Aberdeen fan, it looks like they are going to try to use Aberdeen's recent shocking performances against lower division sides in cup competitions to their advantage and have a real go tonight.
After 16 minutes the game is effectively over as a horribly short back pass from one of Alloa's defenders is latched onto by Aberdeen's Fraser Fyvie. He's straight through on goal, and takes it round the Alloa keeper Stephen Robertson, who retaliates by bringing him down. It's a surefire penalty and the referee has no real choice but to send him packing. The manager takes off one of his midfielders to bring on his reserve keeper. Aberdeen's Paul Hartley has the chance to score his fourth goal in three games for Aberdeen. He dispatches the ball with ease and we're one up.
Aberdeen spread the ball about with ease, making the most of the extra man. Fyvie and Maguire are seeing a lot of the ball and it's the former who, after beating two defenders, squares the ball for Maguire. With an open goal he should've doubled Aberdeen's lead, instead he boots it well over the bar much to the home fans delight and our horror.
Hartley then tried a cheeky lob off the keeper but it sailed just over the bar. Aberdeen did however score a second shortly afterwards when a Magennis header was saved by the keeper and with no defender able to clear the rebound, McArdle nodded the ball into the empty net.
A perfect first 45 minutes from Aberdeen was denied just on the stroke of half time when the excellent Fyfie seemed to twist his knee on the surface and was carried off. Let's hope it's nothing to serious as this 18 year old is destined to be a future star for Scotland. McGhee was unhappy with the playing surface prior to the game and left out one of his star players Aluko in case of this situation.
At half time we indulged in a second pie, and although the price hadn't changed, the quality had. Mine was a bit cold and my father complained that his was now pretty dry. Still, for a pound I couldn't really grumble. The stadium announcer punished the home fans even further by playing an Abba mega-mix for the full 15 minutes.
Aberdeen's midfield were in complete control in the second half, Yoann Folly and Hartley have finally brought back a bit of bite to our soft midfield. Aberdeen scored their third on the hour mark with a wonderful Maguire half-volley which from 25 yards lobbed the keeper and dipped under the bar. The keeper should have done better to be honest; it was another deceiving performance from Maguire who was full of running but made too many wrong decisions, selfish instead of playing the simple ball.
Zander Diamond was next to fall foul to the pitch and as Aberdeen had used all three subs the two teams entered the last 15 minutes with ten men each. Fair play to Alloa as they had two or three chances to get a consolation goal. The Aberdeen goalie who had been pretty quiet all night was alert to nip the ball of the toe of Stuart Noble with ten minutes left.
Darren Mackie missed a golden chance to add to the total, but had too much time to think about it and hit it straight at the keeper.
I must point out that the normally very vocal Aberdeen support have been very quiet tonight but just at the end we were treated to a solo performance of the dong of the night 'I'd rather shag a sheep than a Wasp'. Bloody brilliant.
The Statistics
Ticket: £15 (£8) An extra £2 each to sit in the stand
Programme: £1.50
Attendance: 1,649
Pie: £1.00
Pie Marks: 7/10
Man of the Match: Dad - Paul Hartley, Anthony - Yoann Folly, Me - Fraser Fyvie (All Aberdeen)
Final Score: Alloa Athletic 0 - Aberdeen 3
Mileage: 82 miles
Fact of the Day: Alloa Athletic were admitted to the Scottish Football League in 1921 and by the end of their first season were Division 2 Champions.
Next game: Aberdeen - Pittodrie Stadium (August 28th)
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