Arbroath started positively and were full of attacking intent despite the blustery conditions. Forwards and backs were interlinking seamlessley and Alloa were at full stretch keeping the home side at bay. The outside centre spotted a gap in the defence and set off on a mazy run which saw him beat 4 men to score an excellent individual try which went unconverted.

Arbroath 5 - Alloa 0

Arbroath confidence was now buoyant with the ball being kept alive at every opportunity. Williams made a nice run and offloaded nicely to D Cargill but the ball was spilled after pressure from the defence. Keillor was having a steady game at full back and was counter attacking with the ball in hand rather than kicking into the wind. He beat the first defender and slipped the ball to Gray before looping around and taking the return pass. The ball was taking into contact and Alloa were penalised for handling in the ruck. Holliday slotted the extras to extend the lead to Arbroath 8 - Alloa 0.

Alloa fought back from the restart but the Arbroath defence was determind and well organised. They managed to keep the visitors at bay for 5 minutes before the pressure finally told, Alloa made use of an overlap and simple hands down the line saw them claw there was back into the game with a converted try. Arbroath 8 - Alloa 7.

The game was now wide open, both sides were defending solidly and the rucks were being contested with ferocity. Skivington took the ball into contact at pace but was crunched by an Alloa defender. Alloa advanced into the Arbroath half and were awarded a penalty which they failed to convert.

Holliday then put his team mates under pressure when the red mist descended and he was sent off when the referee spotted him retaliating to contact from an Alloa player. This was further compounded when Alloa slotted a penalty to take the halftime lead Arbroath 8 - Alloa 10.

Alloa started the second half as they finished the first, looking far the more dangerous but they were being held out by rushing defence from the home side. Arbroath backs were to the wall but excellent tackles from D Cargill, Haynes and Broome kept them in the game.

Growing in confidence from holding the visitors out, Arbroath launched an attack of their own, the forwards gained the hard yards and inched their way towards to the Alloa try line. Skivington sensed an opportunity and in typically determined fashion he barged over the line with defenders hanging off him. The try was unconverted. Arbroath 13 - Alloa 10.

Arbroath were now defending this lead as if their lives depended on it. They were using the wind well to make good ground on clearance kicks when the ball was turned over. Alloa kept pressing though and things looked grim when they barged over for a converted try. Arbroath 13 - Alloa 17.

Summoning up every last bit of energy they had, Arbroath surged time and again towards the Alloa line. A series of fumbles saw things become more desperate and another score began to look like it was not meant to be.Allow were under intense pressure on their own line. Their 10 fumbled a loose pass to hand Arbroath and excellent attacking position. The scrum was secured and Arbroath patiently went through several phases to open up the defence and to the delight of the home support they plunged over for a well deserved try. Arbroath 20 - Alloa 17.

With only 5 minutes to go Arbroath were not to be denied after clawing their way back into the lead. Time and again Alloa were repelled and the ball hoofed down the pitch. D Cargill was using the wind to good effect, sending kicks down the ptich to keep the visitors at arms length until the welcome final whistle.

This was a memorable win for Arbroath, playing the majority of the game with 14 men and still overcoming a team above them in the league. The return fixture down in Alloa this Saturday gives them a chance to leapfrog Alloa in the league with a win.

Team : Smith,Skivington, Hall, Mcintosh, Farthing, Haynes, Broome, D Cargill, Holliday, Gray, Williams, Keillor, Macrimmon,Henderson,Olliver