Alloa exit the SPFL Trust Trophy after 1-0 defeat to Dunfermline

Lewis McCann’s first-half goal was the decider in the tie, earning the Pars a semi-final spot against Livingston.

Andy Graham made two changes from Saturday’s draw with Queen of the South, the first being Tochukwu Ogayi lining up in goal as he continued his run as the cup keeper.

The Wasps manager was forced into a second change, as Calum Waters incurred two yellow cards in earlier rounds to rule him out of contention against the Pars.

Alloa started the game well, knocking the ball about comfortably and looked well-drilled when on the ball.

The hosts settled in quickly and had the lion’s share of the chances in the first half, with Ogayi called into action to deny Matthew Todd and Aaron Comrie from close range.

Despite being assured on the ball, the Wasps struggled to get shots away, their only chance of the half coming from a Scott Taggart header.

The Pars struck just before the break as McCann picks up the ball and, despite calls for offside, breaks forward and beats Ogayi to score the only goal of the game.

Fans aired their complaints to the referee but the goal stood, putting Dunfermline ahead at half-time.

The Wasps came out the break and looked to challenge for an equaliser, putting in a much-improved performance as they tried to pierce Dunfermline’s back line.

Taggart, Luke Rankin and Scott Honeyman would have chances, as would Ogayi as he raced up for a last-ditch corner, but would come to no avail.

Speaking to Advertiser Sport, Andy Graham had no complaints on the scoreline but showed deep pride in the cup run his team had been on.

“I can’t argue and say we deserved to go through,” Graham said. “We didn’t and Dunfermline were better than us.

“They missed some big chances to go and bury the game but credit to the players – they kept going and going.

“When they miss those chances, you start to think ‘could we nick something at the end’ and we were unlucky.

“We had a couple of corner kicks at the end, one of them is really unfortunate and their goalkeeper does well to get it off the line.

“Overall, I’ve no complaints with Dunfermline winning – they’re a good, strong, physical side.

“Credit to the players, they came here and gave it everything they had and I can’t ever fault them for that.”

The second half was a marked improvement for Alloa, who at times looked the better side against their full-time opponents.

Dunfermline would squander several opportunities to double their lead, while Alloa’s own decision making also hindered their chances.

Graham’s subs helped push Alloa on as they searched for a goal, with their work rate and determination a source of pride for the Wasps boss.

He continued: “What we can work on is our quality at times and our decision making, that’s what let us down today.

“When we passed it and got the ball down, we got into good areas, Kevin Cawley came on and picked up some really good positions on the pitch.

“We actually looked quite a threat at that point when we got it into his feet, we didn’t do it enough, we didn’t do enough overall in the game.

“When we were brave on the ball, that’s something I can never fault this group for, they give that all the time.

“To have an off night away to a Championship team, I’m not going to stand here and slaughter people because they’ve given everything they’ve got.

“We’re gutted to go out, it’s a cup competition and we wanted to get through to the semis, we haven’t managed but it’s certainly not through a lack of effort.

“Just our quality and decision making would be my biggest bugbear of the game.”

Alloa’s quarter-final exit brings their SPFL Trust Trophy cup run to an end, and while the defeat will be disappointing, the run itself has been an entertaining one.

The Wasps began their campaign with a 3-1 comeback win against Partick Thistle before a tight win at home to Arbroath.

Before the season, fans had shown a desire in the team to embark on a run in this competition, which the club certainly delivered on.

Graham added: “Every competition that I enter as a manager or we enter as a team, we want to do as well as we possibly can.

“We were unfortunate in the League Cup campaign not to go through from the group stage and again, we fell short tonight.

“Having beaten Partick Thistle and Arbroath, we certainly gave it a good go and tonight that was something you couldn’t fault the players for.

“I’m disappointed to go out but it’s important that that disappointment doesn’t carry into Saturday.

“It’s done, we’re out the competition so now we focus on the league. We get three points and try and stay top of the league, that’s our aim for the rest of this week.”