Ground 31: Recreation Park

The elevated Main Stand at Recreation Park

Game: Alloa Athletic 0 v 1 Brechin City

Date: Saturday 16^th March

Competition: Scottish Football League Division 2

Attendance: 382

Admission: £13

Programme: £2

Apologies it’s taken so long for this post to get up. I’ve just returned from a wee break in Iceland (which I thoroughly recommend by the way). There was also a hesitance in writing this post as there wasn’t a great deal to say.

I was grateful to learn that my Dad and brother fancied this game which allowed us to travel by car, which mercifully, is half the time that the same journey would take by train. It was also a horrible way weather wise throughout Scotland with lots of rain. Thankfully, it held off for the duration of the game at Recreation Park.

The ground itself is quite central to the town of Alloa (once again I’d recommend that you buy a copy of Stramash by Daniel Gray. His chapter on Alloa, much like the rest of the book, is excellent) and Recreation Park affords some excellent views of the Ochil hills (in fact it offers more Ochil views that Ochilview in Stenhousemuir).

This was a clash between 2^nd and 3^rd place in the Second Division, but sadly the game didn’t live up to their top of the table billing. Perhaps the tone for the game was set by Alloa’s choice of music to take to the field – Yellow by Coldplay. What an awful and morose selection.

There wasn’t much to report on in a tense and terse first half. My personal highlight was an assessment of his own clearance by Alloa’s left back which could be heard throughout the ground, “that’s fucking shite” as his ball launched forward went straight to a Brechin player.

 

Strange warm-up technique used by Alloa players at half-time

Alloa were probably on top in the first half but there was little goal threats as both teams went into half time at 0-0.

The second half was an improvement on the first as we moved behind the goal facing the Ochil hills, excepting an Alloa onslaught. However, it was Brechin who took the lead after Alan Trouten cut in from the left wing and curled a superb shot in from 20 yards out.

Alloa attempted a comeback and came close several times with Callum Elliot, but at the same time, looked devoid of ideas when they held the majority of possession.

Perhaps it was the weather, or the fact that both sides are looking assured of a play-off place but this game lacked the intensity of most of the games I’ve seen this season. Recreation Park is a charming ground and definitely worth a visit, and judging by Alloa’s results already this season, I was unfortunate to catch them on an off-day. The Wasps certainly didn’t sting on this day.*

* Sorry, couldn’t resist.