ALLOA Women suffered their first league defeat of the season as they lost 3-2 to Linlithgow Rose.

The Wasps had got the better of their opponents in the League Cup group stages, but it was the Rose who earned the bragging rights on Sunday.

Linlithgow benefitted from a slow start from Alloa, capitalising on a slack performance to put themselves two goals ahead at half-time.

The Wasps lost goals to a corner and another to a deflection, with Allan Milne dismayed at the first-half performance from his side.

“It’s obviously disappointing to lose the game,” Milne said. “What I’m more disappointed is the manner in which we went about the game.

“We were very poor in the first half. We didn’t start the game well, we weren’t aggressive and we let them bully us.

“We lost two poor goals, one from a corner and the other one was from a deflection, poor goals from our point of view.

“We were not like ourselves.”

Milne got the team in at half-time and outlined his frustrations, seeing a marked improvement in the second half.

Alloa got themselves back in the tie with Shannon Mulligan getting herself on the scoresheet again.

The Rose would score a crucial third goal to restore their lead after Alloa gave away a “silly penalty”.

Alloa’s last goal came from Bailey Black, but the Wasps could not push on to find an equaliser.

Milne continued: “We got ourselves back to 2-1 and looked to keep going but gave away a really silly penalty.

“We then score again to make it 3-2 and I thought we might be able to push on but our final ball and decision making was needing worked on.

“The slow start cost us, we were very slow, sluggish, we were too deep in our own half.

“We were making mistakes and that helped Linlithgow grow in confidence and our own confidence dipped.

“The last time we had a defeat, we then went on a run so it’s about do we let this hinder us or do we rebuild from there?

“This one was tougher for them to take, they were angry at themselves, so we’ll now just get ready for the big one against Dunfermline.”

Alloa now prepare for a crunch tie against Dunfermline Athletic, who sit top of the table after Sunday.

The Wasps had been neck and neck with the Pars at the summit, edging it just on goal difference before the Linlithgow defeat.

Dunfermline are managed by former Wasps gaffer Charles Dignan, whose side thrashed Carron Huskies 24-1 to give themselves a superior goal difference.

“I go into every game with confidence,” Milne added. “I know that no matter who they play, they have nothing to fear.

“If they play to their standards, they can win. Last week, we had a blip but I know we can fight for the points.”