Reaction

Alloa faced their COVID-19 partners at the Indodrill looking for their first Championship points of the season after last week’s 1-0 defeat at Morton. They made one change to the side as Hetherington’s mandatory absence from a second yellow at Cappielow saw him replaced by Innes Murray. Dunfermline made two changes to the side who continued their winning run against Inverness. O’Hara and Turner being replaced by Dow and Whittaker respectively.

As the game was just warming up Dunfermline raced into the lead. Fon Williams’ goal kick flicked on by Fraser Murray and Ryan Dow was clear to round Willison and slide it into the back of the net after just 6 minutes. Again Alloa looked to be hard done by the officials as replays showed Dow was offside. Alloa certainly never faltered after the early loss of goal and began probing at the Dunfermline defence the Pars however would remain solid until almost at the stroke of half time, Kevin Cawley popped in front of the centre back Paul Watson, nodding on Innes Murray’s cross  to send a looping header past the helpless Fifers goalkeeper.

Alloa continued to look the brighter side with territory and possession into deep into the Pars half in the first 20 minutes of the second half. Alan Trouten, who’s so regularly been the bane of Dunfermline, saw a glorious opportunity spurned when Thomson’s flick-on was palmed only as far the back post. Trouten could only force the shot back into fon Williams’ hands. A familiar face, however, would upset the balance of play. Kevin O’Hara’s introduction after 65 minutes saw the former Wasp latch on to Jon Robertson’s short header to his goallie. With Willison caught in no mans land, O’Hara deftly lifted the ball over the Alloa keeper with his first touch to restore Dunfermline’s advantage.

Dunfermline continued to soak up the Alloa pressure. Again Thomson causing all kinds of aerial chaos in the Dunfermline box, again landing to Trouten but from 8 yards out he couldn’t keep the volley down. Dunfermline then punished the Wasps through their pace and power. McManus and O’Hara combining to leave a stranded Robertson for dead and then side footing into the bottom corner past the full-stretched Willison. It was now a commanding lead for the visitors. Alloa continued to struggle to break down the Dunfermline defence and the result would be made sure of when O’Hara, chasing an almost lost cause, crossed into the box. Edin Lynch opted to take a touch and Kyle Turner alive to it placed body between Lynch and ball. With a slight push in the back, and a tumbling Turner, Dunfermline were awarded a penalty and O’Hara gifted the chance to complete the hat-trick. He sent Willison the wrong way and condemned Alloa to the 4-1 defeat.

Bruising scoreline for Alloa despite the fairly even balance of play but they lacked the incisiveness that O’Hara provided in spades last year.