Substitute makes a difference as Glenrothes rescue a draw

Their hosts have enjoyed a similar start to the season as the Glens so it was likely to be a closely fought affair, and so it proved.

The home team started on the front foot with the Glenrothes scrum creaking and the line out a lottery.

Alloa opened the scoring with a well taken try. The conversion attempt flew over the crossbar to give the home team a lead of 7-0 which they held on to until half time.

Much of the first half had resembled a war of attrition and the early part of the second period followed a similar pattern as Alloa tried to extend their lead and the Reds tried to claw back the deficit.

It was the home team who broke this pattern with another try after good hands created an overlap for Alloa’s right winger to score.

Glenrothes were up against it now but the forwards threw themselves against their opponents in an effort to supply the back line with useful ball.

Having scored three tries in each of his last two games, it was possibly predictable that Cammy Goodall would open the scoring for Glens. He took advantage of a long pass from Michael Delorey to Rhys Bryce which created acres of space. When Bryce passed to him, Goodall was able to run in, untouched, under the posts. Stewart Hainey converted.

As the half wore on it looked increasingly likely to the spectators that the visitors would leave empty handed but the team had other ideas.

The forwards performance continued to improve as Alloa tired and Goodall was again on hand to benefit by picking up and driving over the line for the equalising score. Hainey’s conversion was short.

Glenrothes ended the game on top and as the final whistle approached were awarded a kickable penalty to notch up a barely deserved victory. Unfortunately Hainey was unable to convert leaving the scores tied when referee Steve Mellon signalled the end of the game.

Replacement Scott McAlpine was recognised as the man of the match for the improvement he made to the forwards performance on his arrival on the pitch.

Glenrothes: L Fowlis, S Morrison, R Strachan, A Campbell, R Hutchison, B Crookston, C Docherty, D Warrender, M Delorey, S Hainey, S Varney, R Bryce, C Goodall, R Anderson, D Gray. Replacements: S McAlpine, J Finlay, D Mitchell, K McIntosh.

Glens have Caithness in their sight this Saturday when they intend to pillage points at Thurso. The Devs, who were down to the bare bones in a heavy defeat against Fife Southern, are at home against Bannockburn.