It’s a Whacko from Jacko

“I saw the keeper diving for it so I was just praying that he missed it. It went in and it was good to celebrate it.”

Jackson Longridge is not dismissing Saturday’s match winner at Alloa as possibly the best goal of the thirteen that he has scored in his professional career.

The 23 year old who has netted senior goals while at Stranraer, Livingston and Dunfermline explained:-

“It happened that quick, it was one of those things. The ball has just come to me, I just ran on it and as soon as I struck it I was able to watch it all the way. Thankfully it went in and I think that it is one of the best I have scored so far.”

His 69th minute strike turned out to be the match winner and it was one that Alloa keeper Neil Parry had little chance of stopping as it flew into the top right corner. Jackson continued:-

“I saw the keeper diving for it so I was just praying that he missed it. It went in and it was good to celebrate it.”

Dunfermline eventually mastered the narrow pitch that Alloa have opted for and went on the win the Athletics’ Derby. Jackson commented:-

“It was a tough game on a tight pitch. In the first half I found it difficult to try and get into the game but once the goal went in the second half I felt that we pushed forward and opened up gaps. It is different for me because I like wider pitches where I can run.

“This is the third time that we have played Alloa and they have been tough games. I think we need to take the positives from this game and going in confident. We had a good result at Falkirk so it is just a case of going out, doing the same things and being positive.”

Due to his goal scoring talents, Manager Allan Johnston had jested in his post comments that he maybe should play Jackson up front. The Pars defender replied:-

“To be fair I like playing upfront.” He joked back saying “hopefully he sees something in training and moves me up there!

“I like going forward and getting assists on goals. The more I can help the team out the better. It was nice.

“That’s my fourth goal for Dunfermline, I went a few games without being involved in assists but it is always good to bounce back and hopefully I can add to it.

“In the midweek game I felt as if we could have come away with three points. It was tough going up to Inverness and playing in the conditions that we played in. It was good to bounce back, get the three points and hopefully we can kick on and get momentum going forward.”

If that momentum is going to be maintained then the Pars home form needs to improve. With only four points from their six home league games this season only Saturday’s opponents, bottom of the league Falkirk, have a worse home record. Jackson is not too sure why that record is so poor but having scored at Dens Park, Tannadice, Ayr and Alloa he is out to net in front of the home support at East End Park:-

“We need to go on the positive from this game. It would be good to score on our home ground in front of our home fans. Home or away it doesn’t really matter as long as I keep scoring.”

Jackson’s older brother Louis has scored five times this season for Dunfermline and while sidelined through injury he has to be concerned that his brother will overtake him in the goalscoring chart. Jackson revealed:-

“He was watching from the stand today and I think he was a bit nervous that I am catching him. Hopefully he can get back to fitness and we can get some competition going.”

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