Match Programme - Alloa Athletic vs Elgin City

Tonight at Recreation Park, Alloa Athletic take on Elgin City in the first round of the Scottish League Cup. In today's Match Programme, we take a look at tonight's fixture and two teams looking to kick-start their seasons.

The River Forth meanders across the country from it's source at Loch Ard, flowing eastwards past Aberfoyle, Garunnock and the ancient town of Stirling and eventually widens to form the Firth of Forth. Just before it widens, the river flows past the small Clackmannanshire town of Alloa. Given it's position on the north bank of the river, Alloa developed a significant harbour that at one point had over 2,000 vessels using it's docks, exporting coal to the rest of the empire. The town was once known for its weaving and glassmaking industries as well a thriving brewing industry. There were once nine breweries in the town,including Bass, Caponcroft, Forth, Forthbank, Hutton Park, Meadow, Mills, Shore, Thistle and Townhead, as well as the better known George Younger's Candleriggs Brewery and Arrol's Alloa Brewery. By 2005 only one brewery remains, Williams Brothers, which brings together a number of traditional Alloa ales, plus their speciality, Fraoch Heather Ale.

The town has had a football team since 1878. Alloa Athletic where not admitted to the Scottish League until 1921 when Stenhousemuir provided the opposition at Recreation Park; the final score was 1-0 to the visitors (incidentally, Stenhousemuir where also the first team Aberdeen played in the league back in 1903, the game ending in a 1-1 draw). Despite the loss, Alloa did well in that first season, wining the old Second Division with a 13 point lead. That season featured Willie Crilley, regarded by most at the club as Alloa's greatest ever player as well as being the clubs record goal scorer with 49 goals. The team was relegated back to the Second Division the following season when they finished bottom of the league. Since then, Alloa have become part of the Second Division furniture, having stayed in that division with only a few exceptions.

Elgin City, The Black and Whites, will celebrate 115 years of football this year, forming in 1893 following the merger of two clubs in the town, Elgin Rovers and Vale of Lossie. Between 1895 and 2000 Elgin played in the Highland League and did rather well, winning the league 14 times including a record 5-in-a-row between 1960 and and 1966. Elected to the league 2000 together with fellow Highland League side Peterhead, both sides joining the 3rd Division. Since joining the senior football ranks, the team have struggled in the senior league, finishing bottom of the table in their first season; their highest finish has been fifth in season 2005/06.

So given that Alloa are a Second Division side and Elgin are relatively new to the league, it's no surprise that this is only the second time these two teams have met. The only meeting between the sides was, ironically enough, at the same stage of the League Cup back in July 2004. Alloa won 2-0 in front of 301 spectators with goals by Brown Ferguson (in his second spell at the club after seasons at Hamilton and Partick Thistle) and Ross Hamilton, now playing for Stenhousemuir. Of the Elgin side that played that day, only Paul Kaczan and Martin Charlseworth are still with the Moray club, former captain Hugh Dickson having joined Northern Ireland's Glenavon last January.

Both sides got off to disappointing starts to the season. Alloa lost to Arbroath while Elgin lost 3-0 away to Stenhousemuir. Alloa boss Allan Maitland insists that the Alloa players can improve against Elgin - the Wasps made the play-offs last year so clearly his side have the ability to have a good season.  The Alloa boss, who waits on Andy Ferguson but Brown Ferguson (who scored the first goal in the only previous meeting with Elgin City), Fraser Forrest, Iain Campbell and Dougie Wilson have all been ruled out.

Elgin manager Robbie Williamson might give striker and deadball specialist Darren Shallicker a start as the the RAF technician has worked his way back to full fitness and will be hoping to add to his goal tally - he scored three last season.  The two trialists on the bench in Saturday's defeat at Stenhousemuir might also get a start. Assistant player-manger Kenny Gilbert will also be available despite being sent off in the opening game last week.

Teams

Alloa Athletic from: Jellema, Scullion, Townsley, Buist, McClune, McKeown, Hill, Stevenson, Brown, Grant, Kelly, O'Boyle, Macaulay, Hay, Scott, Ferguson

Elgin City from: Ridgers, Nicolson, MacDonald, Kaczan, Gilbert, Campbell, Hind, O'Donoghue, Shallicker, Crooks, Mackay, Cameron, Anderson, Allan, Low, McPhee

Getting to the Game

The game kicks off at 2045 at Alloa's Recreation Park. The ground is easy to find, located on the A907 that runs between Alloa and Stirling. If approaching from Stirling, continue on the A907 through the centre of Alloa and you will eventually reach the ground on your left. Away fans are housed in Railway End of the ground and/or the Hilton Road Terrace running down one side of the pitch.

For Elgin fans travelling down, click here for directions to the ground. Admission prices are adults £11,concessions £6. Terrace prices are £10 for adults and concessions £5. Weather report for the game can be found via the BBC website.