Dunfermline 1 Alloa Athletic 1

Group C Premier Sports Cup: same again starting eleven. Chris Hamilton (20) 1-0: Conor Sammon (59) 1-1: Alloa won 5-4 on penalties

After being held to a draw in the final group match, Dunfermline lost out on penalties and as a result went out of this season’s League Cup.

The final match in the group stages of the Premier Sports Cup arrived with Dunfermline seeking a win to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the knock stages of this competition. Alloa Athletic provided the opposition as the clubs met in the League Cup for the first time since season 2008-2009.

Given the good performance at the Global Energy Stadium the previous Saturday, James McPake named the same starting eleven and the only change was new signing goalkeeper Max Little on the subs bench.

Alloa Athletic manager Brian Rice made two changes from the side that lost to Ross County in midweek, Adam King and Paul McLaren dropped to the bench making way for Kevin Cawley and former Pars youth Stefan Scougall.

Dunfermline kicked off attacking the goal in front of the McCathie Stand and immediately pressed with Josh Edwards and Craig Wighton combining well down the left. It was Edwards who supplied Matty Todd with a fine pass that played him on the left side of the Alloa box in fourth minute but he was blocked before he could release a shot.

Two minutes later a great cross from the right by Kevin O’Hara was headed back across goal to tee up Lewis McCann but from close range keeper Jay Hogarth managed to beat away the danger.

The home side looked in control but it took until 20th minutes before they got the breakthrough. Edwards was on the right and his cross picked out Chris HAMILTON 12 yards out for a header that looped in at the right goalpost. Chris’ first goal for the club, 1-0.

Deniz Mehmet made his first save in 26 minutes when Ross MacIver drilled the ball at him from 20 yards out. Back at the other end Hamilton was fouled 22 yards out. The 30th minute free kick was quickly taken but Hogarth held McCann’s shot.

Ten minutes from the interval Alloa skipper Andy Graham looked like he had held on to possession after robbing McCann but perseverance from Wighton saw him break away with the ball up Hogarth came out to deny him the goal.

Cawley gave the visitors some hope firstly with a ball through the box that was deflected wide for a corner on the left and then with a low 39th minute shot that Mehmet had to hold.

In 42nd minute McCann created an opportunity but his low shot from an angle on the left was tipped around his left hand post by Hogarth. Edwards corner failed to find anyone but on returning to the left Edwards next put in the perfect cross for McCann in front of goal but he directed his header over the crossbar.

Despite almost twice as much first half possession the Fifers had only the one goal advantage at the break.

Half time: Dunfermline 1 Alloa Athletic 0

Alloa introduced Jon Robertson in place of Bradley Rodden for the second half but it was the Pars who tested the Wasps defences first. From an Edwards cross in quick succession there were attempts by O’Hara, Breen, McCann and Hamilton and each time the ball was blocked. Again within three minutes of the restart O’Hara thrashed a shot on target but Hogarth held.

With just the one goal lead Dunfermline were vulnerable and in 59 minutes Alloa would make them pay for all the missed chances. Cawley’s crossfield pass was swung into the Pars box by Daniel Church and from the corner on the right, George Stanger returned the ball into the six yard box for Conor SAMMON who duly punished Dunfermline 1-1.

Nikolay Todorov replaced Craig Wighton before the game resumed. Then later Joe Chalmers for Chris Hamilton. Edwards won a 74th minute corner on the left, it turned out to be two and from the second Alloa cleared the ball off the goal line.

Time was beginning to run away with the game and it was Mehmet who had to pull off a good save on 80 minutes after Chalmers pass had been intercepted by Robertson to allow a crack at goal from 25 yards out.

The Pars pushed with O’Hara forcing an 86th minute corner on the left but when that was defended and an Edwards long throw it was eventually an Edwards cross that let Breen attack the ball in the six yard box but his 87th minute header cleared the crossbar.

All the missed chances cost Dunfermline the game and ultimately their exit from the Premier Sports Cup.

Full time: Dunfermline 1 Alloa Athletic 1

Penalties would decide who took the extra point. Given results elsewhere Dunfermline needed to win this shoot out to have any hope of qualifying as the third best runner up in the group stages.

Penalty shoot out, taken at the away end:-
1. Lewis McCann smashes ball home high left 1-0
2. Scott Taggart scores right footed to right of goal 1-1
3. Kevin O’Hara no mistake 2-1
4. Stefan Scougall scores bottom right 2-2
5. Nikolay Todorov nets after keeper almost stops the shot 3-2
6. Conor Sammon right footed to the left 3-3
7. Joe Chalmers whacks the crossbar 3-3
8. Adam King nets to keepers right 3-4
9. Paul Allan nets to keepers right 4-4
10. Ross MacIver right footed finish to the right 4-5

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