Alloa Athletic 0 Dunfermline 3

cinch League One: Sam Fisher and Chris Hamilton start in place of Kyle Macdonald and Lewis McCann. Aaron Comrie (30) 0-1: Matty Todd (45+2) 0-2: Craig Wighton (79) 0-3

This was a good result against a team that often cause Dunfermline some difficulties - three good goals and three valuable away points.

Alloa Athletic welcomed their near neighbours to the Indodrill Stadium with an eye on a win that could lift then above the second placed Fifers. Dunfermline unbeaten in 8 league games were seeking a win to keep them on the tails of league leaders, FC Edinburgh.

James McPake was without Lewis McCann and Kyle Macdonald dropped to the bench meaning a first start for Sam Fisher and the return of Chris Hamilton. Alloa manager Brian Rice also made two changes with Kevin Cawley and Kieran Offord making way for Bradley Rodden and the 39 year old skipper Andy Graham.

The heavy lunchtime rain had cleared before the teams warmed in in dry weather. The sides changed ends before the hosts kicked off attacking the goal at the partially covered south end.

First chance came right on three minutes when Josh Edwards sent Matty Todd down the left and as he cut in along the byeline got the better of George Stanger but was blocked at the near post. Alloa responded two minutes later with a break that saw Conor Sammon give Deniz Mehmet his first save of the day.

Chris Mochrie then made a surging run and released a twelfth minute shot from the edge of the box that just cleared the Alloa crossbar. Six minutes passed before a Stefan Scougall cross was met by the head of Sammon but his attempt went wide right. Mehmet then made it look easy to hold a dangerous Scott Taggart cross from the right.

At the midpoint of the half a long throw from Edwards was defended and Joe Chalmers returned with a low drive that got blocked. Hamilton was next to fire an effort on goal from the right but Jay Hogarth held comfortably. Hamilton was next to fire on target after a lay off from Chalmers but a defender took the sting out of the shot and Hogarth collected.

Dunfermline continued to press and Chalmers powered a shot 30 yards out that was blocked. The goal had been threatened duly arrived on the half hour. Chalmers was the provider, receiving the ball from Edwards to deliver an inviting ball from deep down the left. Todorov rose for it but it cleared him but Aaron COMRIE was behind him at the back post to smash the ball home. 0-1

A goal up the Fifers were in total command and Alloa were pegged back in their own half. Todd forced a throw in for Edwards to launch the ball into the Alloa six yard box but the defence came out on top.

It has been a very good first half for the Pars with the greater possession and many more shots than their opponents. In the second minute of time added on it just got better. A Rhys Breen lob cleared Graham and TODD, who had been hugely impressive all game latched on to the ball and lobbed the advancing Hogarth from 20 yards out. 0-2

Half time: Alloa Athletic 0 Dunfermline 2

Before the second half got going Alloa made two substations with Luke Donnelly and Kevin Cawley taking the places of Conor Sammon and Andy Graham. The desired effect nearly came off on 49 minutes when a Cameron O’Donnell cross sat up for Rodden 15 yards out but it was a let off for the visitors as the number ten failed to connect.

Four minutes later Mehmet made a good left handed stop to deny Cawley with a low shot from an angle on the left. Rodden got through the defence to aim a 58th minute shot on target but it was easily taken by the yellow kitted Pars keeper. A Cawley shot from 25 yards out caused Mehmet to touch the ball around his right hand post and there was a bit of head tennis from the corner terminated with a wayward shot.

Alloa had shown a different side in the second half and there was a 70th minute shot when Kieran Offord found Donnelly and his effort scraped narrowly outside the right upright. Dunfermline’s attempts had been limited and Edwards tried to convert a Todorov knock down but skied his shot.

Mehmet made a great double save in 76 minutes and from the subsequent O’Donnell corner before a McPake substitution had a dramatic effect. Craig Wighton replaced Nikolay Todorov and within a minute WIGHTON was on the scoresheet. Breen challenged for a typical Edwards long throw in and the break fell to the substitute to net the Fifers’ third just 30 seconds after coming on. 0-3

This week Dunfermline saw the match out handsomely to take the three points back to Fife but really the match was won on a very good first half performance.

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