Dunfermline 2 Alloa Athletic 1

SFA Youth Cup: Briggs in goal, McDowell and the Sutherland brothers start. Harris Reid (34) 1-0: Rayan Mohammed (62) 1-1: Taylor Sutherland (82) 2-1:

There were four changes in the Dunfermline side from that which saw off Morton 5-1 in the previous round. Lewis Briggs replaced the suspended Aidan Meikle between the sticks while Stuart McDowell, Taylor Sutherland and Jake Sutherland started in place of John Tod, Joe Cunningham and Sam Featherstone.

First chance came as early as the fourth minute when Taylor Sutherland intercepted an Alloa pass to break away through on goal. Keeper Owain Clark came out to meet the Pars striker and did enough to put him off and allow two defenders to cover back.

Alloa pushed Dunfermline back forcing two corners but again it was the home side that threatened next. On the quarter hour a Jake Rennie pass sent Jake Sutherland away up the right, his pace taking his markers by surprise but his cut back was unlucky not to find his brother in front of goal.

Both Taylor and Jake Sutherland tested the Alloa keeper before a 20th minute offside flag denied Taylor. Michael Beagley beat two men out on the left to tee up Andrew Tod for an effort that was deflected wide left for the Pars first corner. Jake Sutherland was picked out on the far side and he thrashed the ball on target but was blocked by a defender.

With a classy pass Tod played T Sutherland in on the right side of the Alloa box but Clark narrowed the angle to keep the shot out. Five minutes later in 29th minute Rian Dempsey delivered a free kick from 40 yards out that was directed firstly on to and then over the crossbar by Lewis Wright-Kerr. Quite a let off for the young Pars.

There was another great chance created when Taylor sent Jake through in 33 minutes but Clark deflected his shot into the sidenetting. Dunfermline would take the lead however from the corner on the right when Harris REID accepted the opportunity to plant the ball in the Alloa net from 10 yards out. 1-0

It had been a good workmanlike first half performance from the home side and with a shade more luck they might have been further ahead at the interval.

Half time: Dunfermline 1 Alloa Athletic 0

Nathan Cannon came on before the second half kicked off replacing Lewis Bruin. The sub was engaged early on and it was him who picked out Kian Morris on the right for a good cross that found Nick Muir at the far post but Lewis Briggs turned the ball over his crossbar. Next minute the keeper pulled off another superb shot in pushing a fierce Rayan Mohammed shot around his right hand post.

Beagley had a shot turned over the bar and then from the corner on the right Young headed over the bar. There was an interruption as John Tod came on for Liam Hoggan and Alloa struck back with a 62nd minute equaliser MOHAMMED taking advantage of a couple of defensive mistakes to crash the ball past Briggs. 1-1

In 67 minutes Taylor Sutherland had two good chances. The first running on to a fine Beagley pass into the left side of the Alloa box he met to power towards goal at the near post but the keeper saved it and his next chance was also denied by the keeper who sped out to stop the shot at the edge of the box.

Sub John Tod was unlucky to see his shot from Beagley’s 72nd minute corner stopped by keeper Clark while at the other end Featherstone did really well to cover back and end the counterattack from the corner at the other end.

Eight minutes from the end Andrew Tod created the opportunity for Taylor SUTHERLAND to run on and beat the keeper to restore the Fifers lead. 2-1

Sub Joe Cunningham netted in 87 minutes after the Alloa keeper made another save from Sutherland but the offside flag was raised. Alloa pressed with three corners and although they got a header into the Pars net three Wasps were in an offside position.

Cunningham had a shot saved by the outstretched boot of the Alloa keeper and in added time Cannon shot wide right at the other end.

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