A MAGNIFICENT second half performance from Alloa could not overturn a three-goal deficit as they exited the Scottish Cup 3-2 to Dumbarton.

The Sons scored three first-half goals to give Alloa a mountain to climb, but the Wasps’ second half showing almost saw them carry it out.

Andy Graham rang the changes from the defeat to Inverness, changing up the formation to a midfield diamond with two up front.

In doing so, Steven Hetherington came back into the fold, with Stefan Scougall and Kevin Cawley on either side.

Luke Donnelly retained his spot behind the strikers and Conor Sammon joined Luke Rankin up top.

The Sons started the game on the front foot and deservedly took the lead after an awkward clearance from Alloa.

Kalvin Orsi got himself on the ball and played the ball towards Mouhamed Niang, the midfielder making no mistake in tucking away his shot.

It wouldn’t take long for Dumbarton to double their lead, James Hilton adding the second in just two minutes.

The hosts had opportunities to put themselves out of sight in the first-half, but failed to capitalise on chances created.

Alloa began to settle into the half from there on, with Conor Sammon having a chance to claw one back for the Wasps but sending his effort wide.

Michael Ruth would add a third for his side after turning and dinking PJ Morrison to give Dumbarton a three-goal lead before the break.

Luke Donnelly pulled a goal back for Alloa just before half-time to begin what would be a rousing comeback attempt from the Wasps.

“I’m really disappointed to go out the Scottish Cup,” Graham said. “We don’t give ourselves a chance in the game.

“We go 3-0 down but after that I thought we were excellent. The boys played really well and they got into some really great areas.

“If you don’t defend properly and go 3-0 down, you’re giving yourself a real mountain to climb.

“Credit to Dumbarton, they put us under pressure and used the conditions and the wind to their benefit and they go 3-0 up.

The response to [going 3-0 down] was excellent. We’re 3-0 down, against the wind – it’s easy to feel sorry for yourselves.

“They didn’t, they rolled their sleeves up and we got the goal back through LD.”

Alloa came out the break a completely different team and restricted Dumbarton to their own half for the majority of the second half.

PJ Morrison was a bystander for most of the latter 45, while Scougall rifled home a superb strike to reduce the deficit.

From there, Alloa looked to find an equaliser, with Rankin having a few efforts himself, while Donnelly displayed superb footwork throughout to fend off Dumbarton’s midfield.

Despite a vastly improved showing from Alloa, they couldn’t find a third goal, confirming their exit from the Scottish Cup.

Graham continued: “Stefan Scougall was the best player on the pitch by some distance.

“Other players played their part as well and we were unlucky not to get it to 3-3 and take it to extra time.

“We had a lot of big chances to take the game to extra time, we didn’t but we’ve got a game on Tuesday and we go again.”

The diamond midfield formation is one that Alloa have utilised towards the later stages of games, often pairing Sammon and Rankin together.

This was the first time Graham had went for the formation from the start, outlining the tactical reasons for doing so.

He added: “We went with the two up with Dumbarton’s narrowing of their pitch, we felt there wasn’t a lot of width to use today.

“Sometimes, you’ll overanalyse things and look at formations – it wasn’t the formation that made us concede three goals.

“I’m the first one to hold my hands up if I think I made mistakes in terms of tactical decisions but I don’t think that was the case tonight.

“With the way the game panned out, we showed that because we got into good areas at times, the midfield four in the diamond were excellent.

“It wasn’t to be our night, we missed some big chances to take it to extra time and if we had got it to extra time, I’d have fancied us.

“Credit to Dumbarton, they’ve gone through a lot of turmoil in the last 10 days so good luck to them in the next round.”

Alloa will be seeing Dumbarton soon with the rescheduled game from Saturday now going ahead on Tuesday evening at the Recs.