Alloa finally settle their score

alloa 38min Donaghy 40min Cameron whitehill welfare The backdrop provided by the snowcapped Ochil Hills added to the rural setting as these two cup hopefuls at long last managed to settle the issue of which of them would test their mettle against Kilmarnock next weekend.

But after five failed attempts to replay their second round tie, Alloa, riding high in the Second Division, and Whitehill, of the East of Scotland League, did not quite succeed in providing the few hundred hardy souls who braved the biting cold with a spectacle worthy of detailed recall.

By the time Mark Donaghy had given Alloa the lead in the 39th minute, the two enterprising youngsters, who had watched at least part of the match free of charge perched on the branches of trees surrounding Recreation Park, had been removed by members of the local constabulary.

Had Whitehill managed to hold on for the remainder of the half they might have had at least an outside chance of re-imposing themselves on the tie.

But their resistance was low and when Martin Cameron scored the homeside's second goal just two minutes later, converting a cross from Willie Irvine, the prospect of anything other than a home win seemed remote.

Whitehill, who had shown little in the way of attacking enterprise, apart from a promising break in the early period of the game when Mark Cairns was forced to dive at Craig Morrison's feet to prevent the loss of a goal, resumed in a much more promising fashion.

But Cairns made an acrobatic save to deny Dougie Samuel a minute into the second half and that more or less put paid to any lingering hope the Whitehill lads had of playing a financially rewarding visit to Rugby Park.

Whitehill, who have twice made it as far as the third round - most recently four years ago when they lost 3-0 to Celtic - were satisfied in the end simply to avoid a heavier defeat.

Alloa have earned themselves something of a reputation as Cup fighters and their success in winning the Challenge Cup this season should perhaps offer a warning to Kilmarnock that they may not have it all their own way.

But Bobby Williamson, the Kilmarnock manager, watched this encounter and is unlikely to suffer from any sleepless nights in the run up to the game, judging by the performance provided by Alloa on this occasion.

The Alloa manager, Terry Chirstie, however, insists that his players are capable of putting on a much more polished performance and, given that they also have former Celtic striker Andy Walker in their line up, the underdogs must be respected.

For it should be remembered that Walker assisted Ayr United in beating Kilmarnock in last season's competition when the Premier League side entered the tie as favourites to progress.

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