Alloa 2-3 Pars

DUNFERMLINE progressed into the fifth round of the Scottish Cup after victory at Alloa Athletic this afternoon.

First half goals from Nicky Clark and Paul McMullan and Joe Cardle’s second half stunner sealed their progression, despite Stefan McCluskey and Greig Spence replying for the home side.

It was a largely trouble-free afternoon for the visitors, despite the two goals pulled back by Alloa, as Dunfermline completely dominated the first 45 minutes and, by the end, were more than good value for their win.

Allan Johnston gave Callum Morris his second Athletic debut since returning to the club while Lewis Martin was given a start ahead of Jason Talbot.

There was also a start for Gavin Reilly in attack in place of Michael Moffat but it was Alloa who had the game’s first chance in the eighth minute.

Iain Flannigan did well on the left to centre the ball and, with Morris failing to convincingly clear, Jordan Kirkpatrick snatched at the ball on the edge of the box and sent it wide.

There were yellow cards dished out to former Par Graeme Holmes and Kallum Higginbotham after a midfield coming together but, from the resulting free-kick, Dunfermline took the lead.

Higginbotham floated it towards the far post and after Reilly saw an effort blocked by Neil Parry, the ball broke for Clark to sweep home from around eight yards.

The goalscorer had a half chance five minutes later from another Higginbotham ball but he couldn’t generate enough power on the ball to trouble Parry as the visitors settled in to a nice rhythm.

The same duo were at it again soon afterwards when the winger’s cross from the left found Clark at the near post, and he will have been disappointed not to make more of the chance than head wide.

Reilly was then almost in for a shot after a lovely pass by Higginbotham only for some last ditch defending and the outrushing Parry to deny him the opportunity, but the Pars continued to look menacing in attack.

Martin even soon got in on the act, getting on the end of a McMullan cross after fine play by the on-loan Celtic man, but the defender fired high and wide.

Alloa had barely threatened but, on the half hour, they had a decent opportunity after Greig Spence seized upon loose play by McMullan.

He laid it off for team-mate Kevin Cawley to strike from the edge of the area, but Sean Murdoch made a smart stop.

One bright spot for the Wasps was Iain Flannigan’s set-pieces, which were wicked in delivery, and Jim Goodwin’s team nearly profited five minutes before half-time.

His corner wasn’t properly cleared and it dropped for Frank McKeown fired high and wide.

Alloa were made to rue that miss as, two minutes from the break, the Pars doubled their lead thanks to a lovely strike from McMullan from the left edge of the penalty area after some quick-thinking to take a short corner.

He then almost created a third by picking Clark out with a lovely cross, but the in-form striker’s header was well held by Parry.

With a view to next week’s league meeting with Dundee United, Johnston gave Higginbotham a rest at the break and brought on Joe Cardle, and he almost had an immediate impact.

McMullan again was at the heart of it, racing clear on the right and moving inside the box to pull back for Cardle, but his shot was blocked.

McMullan himself then stabbed the ball towards goal as Athletic began the second half much like the ended the opening 45 minutes; on top.

Flannigan saw a free-kick blocked but Lee Ashcroft came closer to adding to Pars’ tally with a firm header that was saved well by Parry, particularly as Reilly was in front of him sniffing for scraps.

A third goal did arrive however and, when it did, it was something quite special from Cardle.

The winger hasn’t seen as much action as he’d like recently but he served notice of his quality with a stunning strike, which flew viciously beyond Parry before he could even move.

A similar effort moments later followed from McMullan as the Pars went in search of more having taken the sting completely out of the Wasps.

However, in the 69th minute, Alloa responded in style and it was an immediate impact from substitute Stefan McCluskey.

Just moments after coming on, he was on hand to turn home a cross at the far post from close range to reduce the arrears to two once more.

The same player then turned another chance wide as the League One side suddenly began to look a bit more threatening but lovely play by Reilly to release Cardle set up another opportunity as the clocked ticked into the final 10 minutes.

Cardle took his time, spotted McMullan and he showed neat feet before letting fly but it ended up with the Pars fans behind the goal.

To their credit, Alloa didn’t give up but for all their endeavour, they couldn’t penetrate the Pars defence any further, and indeed substitute Michael Moffat almost made it four but Parry produced a good save.

Athletic however had more than done enough as, although Spence pulled one back in the dying moments, they moved into round five.

Pars: Murdoch, Martin, Morris, Ashcroft, Geggan, Herron, Wedderburn, McMullan, Higginbotham, Clark, Reilly.

Subs: Talbot, McCabe, Paton, Cardle, Moffat, El Alagui, Hutton.

Alloa: Parry, Taggart, Waters, McKeown, Graham, Holmes, Cawley, Hetherington, Spence, Kirkpatrick, Flannigan.

Subs: Marr, Longworth, Hoggan, Martin, McCluskey, Goodwin, McDowall.

Referee: Alan Newlands.

Attendance: 1,871.