Alloa topple Premiership giants St Johnstone to top Cup group

The Wasps carried on an unbeaten streak in the Premier Sports Cup with a dominant performance against the top-flight giants.

Andy Graham made no changes from the side that beat Brechin City at the weekend, retaining Luke Rankin up top and Kevin Cawley on the wing.

The Wasps got off to a lively start, with Steven Buchanan and Stefan Scougall having early chances.

This set the tempo for the first half, Buchanan being a constant danger down the right channel all evening while Alloa’s midfield controlled the proceedings.

Cawley had a great chance go wide of the mark after a great ball in from Scott Taggart for Alloa’s best chance of the first half.

Ex Wasp Taylor Steven got through on goal but clattered into his own player before firing into the side netting as the second half got underway.

Alloa broke the lines first, a fully deserved goal coming from Morgyn Neill, who heads home from a free kick to put the Wasps in front.

OPENER: Morgyn Neill celebrates after scoring the first goal against St Johnstone. (Image: Scott Barron Photography)

The hosts’ lead wasn’t to last long, as Benjamin Kimpioka capitalises on a mistake at the back to draw things level from the restart.

The game was put on its head after a tussle between groups of players from both ends, resulting in Aaron Essel being given a straight red, reducing St Johnstone to 10.

Alloa kept their momentum up going forward and were rewarded as Luke Rankin scored from a tight angle down the left to restore Alloa’s lead.

The youngster followed it up with a similar goal from the other side just minutes later to truly put the Wasps ahead.

A late consolation goal from Jack Sanders couldn’t bring St Johnstone back into the fold, seeing Alloa out as Group F leaders heading into the final day.

“Really good performance,” Graham said. “The boys, to a man, were really good. Over the piece, we deserved the win which is really pleasing against a really strong St Johnstone side who will do well in the Premiership.

“It’s great for me to see how well the boys applied themselves and how well they showed up in terms of their technical ability.

“We spoke before the game about how I felt if they played to their potential and I felt they did that.

“I didn’t feel the sending off changed the game as such, we were well in the game and I’m really pleased with the performance and the levels the boys showed.”

WINNER: Luke Rankin celebrates after scoring the winner against St Johnstone. (Image: Scott Barron Photography)

While the forward areas will please Andy Graham and the goals from Rankin send them home with three points, the defence did well to marshal St Johnston when they got forward.

Calum Waters on the left side did exceptionally well, cutting out attack after attack while the midfield kept the ball out of the visitors’ feet.

Graham continued: “You look at the amount of work the defenders put in and PJ in goals had a couple big saves for us.

“You never win a game of football with one or two individuals, you win a game of football by 11 players and the bench doing their bit.

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“Everyone was at it tonight and we said that before the game – ‘you want to beat a Premiership team, everyone’s got to be at it’ and they were.”

Alloa go into Saturday with one game left to play in their Premier Sports Cup campaign against Greenock Morton.

The two sides met just earlier this month in a pre-season friendly, Morton the winners from an Owen Moffat finish.

Morton have struggled in their group stage games so far, demolished 3-0 by East Fife before beating Brechin by a goal.

The Ton then were defeated by St Johnstone, ruling them out of proceeding any further in the cup.

This makes Saturday’s game a dead rubber for the hosts, but presents plenty of opportunity for Alloa.

A win in Inverclyde would see the Wasps finish Group F as winners, while they stand a pretty good chance of qualifying from a draw as well.

“It’s in our hands,” Graham added. “It’s one game at a time and coming into this game, the focus was trying to get three points tonight and seeing where it takes us.

“We focus on the game we’re in, we’ve not even thought about Morton yet but we will once the dust has settled on this.

“It’s important for the boys to enjoy that performance and that result because it’s not something that happens all the time, League One teams beating a Premiership team.

“They’ve got to enjoy that and prepare and now it’s down to me and the coaching staff for Saturday’s game at Morton.

“We’ve got an opportunity now to go through and that’s what we want to do.”