ALLOA goalkeeper Neil Parry warned that Saturday’s thrilling spot-kick win over Airdrieonians will count for nothing if his team cannot overhaul Brechin over two legs this week.
The 6ft 5in stopper made vital saves from Iain Russell and Kieran MacDonald as Alloa squeezed into the Championship play-off final 4-3 on penalties.
Jon Robertson had given Alloa victory in regular time to level the tie on aggregate and send it to extra time and Calum Waters netted the decisive kick in the penalty shoot-out. Parry (inset) also played
a huge part against his former club.
“It was end-to-end stuff,” the goalkeeper pointed out.
“I felt we were the better team, but we just didn’t take our chances to finish it in 90 minutes.
“Fortunately, we got through and we can now look forward to another big game on Wednesday.
“Airdrie is my former club, so it was great to do well against them and make a couple of crucial saves. “It was great to save that penalty from Iain Russell. That could have made it 3-1 to them, so it was a pivotal one.
“Their keeper [Rohan Ferguson] played really well. We’re close friends, but I’m still delighted that it went our way in the end.
“I used to go and watch Airdrie every week with my dad. I left them last year because I couldn’t play full-time due to my family situation.
“My dad will still be more than happy today because his allegiance is with me, not Airdrie.
“This all means absolutely nothing if we can’t win the final against Brechin, so we’ll all be back in at training on Monday again to get ready for Wednesday night.”
Andy Ryan, whose goal had separated the teams in the first leg, had the ball in the net for Airdrie in the first half but was ruled to be in an offside position.But Alloa always looked the more likely to score.
Ferguson did well to keep out a Dylan Mackin header and, shortly afterwards, denied Mackin again.
Robertson finally broke the deadlock five minutes into the second half and Greig Spence should have settled the tie moments later when he scooped the ball over the top from close range.
But it was hardly a surprise it went to penalties. The six games between the clubs this season have been settled by single-goal margins and it was always a lottery as to who was going through.
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