Reaction

The Wasps were not long in getting going themselves, however, and their first venture forward almost resulted in a spectacular opener. Jordan Kirkpatrick took control of a long ball before beating his man and laying the ball out wide for Scott Taggart to run onto, the cross picked out Greig Spence, but the audacious overhead kick was just over the cross bar with the keeper beaten. East Fife were enjoying the lion’s share of possession, but it was the hosts who looked the most threatening on the break. Taggart did well to burst out of defence and go flying down the right to pick out Kevin Cawley with the cutback, who in turned teed up Kirkpatrick for the shot, but the in-form midfielder could only drag the shot wide. Gary Naismith’s side had another decent spell, but struggled to make an impact in the final third against a sturdy Wasps defence.

Alloa started the second half in the same manner and Cawley did well to evade two defenders and almost played in Kirkpatrick, but the pass was just too strong. East Fife were almost in on goal as Ross Brown tried to feed the ball into Robinson, but Goodwin got across to make a vital interception. Good play by Taggart on the right then earned his side a free kick in a decent area. Waters flighted the ball into box, Andy Graham got the knock, but the keeper made a brilliant double save to deny Cawley from close range. The Fifers ventured forward again soon after as gaffer Gary Naysmith did well to escape the attentions of Flannigan to whip in a dangerous cross, but there were no takers and the ball drifted harmlessly out for a goal kick.

Alloa then enjoyed their best period of the second half where they dominated possession and knocked the ball about well. Flannigan, Goodwin and Holmes combined well to set up a shooting chance for Kirkpatrick, but this time the shot was over the bar. Some dreadful defending from the visitors then gifted Goodwin possession on 63 minutes, but his audacious attempted chip from 40 yards was just off target with the keeper scrambling. Moments later, the Wasps were in again. This time, great play by Flannigan saw Graeme Holmes in on the goalkeeper, but a brilliant save denied the Wasps a third goal.

East Fife should have reduced the deficit when Kevin Smith latched onto a slip by Goodwin to shoot from the edge of the area, but this time the post came to Alloa’s rescue and Parry gratefully gathered the rebound. The game was now swinging from end to end and a brilliant quick counter attack from Alloa almost caught the visitors out.

Flannigan started the break out and picked out Taggart on the right. The cross was flicked back into the path of Flannigan by Cawley, but the shot was straight at the keeper. Wilkie then did well on the left for East Fife to whip in a cross that substitute Kevin O’Hara met brilliantly, but Parry was there to save the day and deny him with a stunning save.

The visitors, to their credit, kept on pushing forward and almost caught Alloa on the break on 80 minutes with the lively O’Hara threatening to burst in on goal, but Jason Marr was alert to get across and make a vital tackle.