IT was a case of so near, yet so far for Alloa Athletic as they were beaten 1-0 by title-chasing Hibernian at the Indodrill Stadium.
Manager Danny Lennon still had selection headaches a plenty as he was without the influential Jason Marr and his speed merchant Eddie Ferns was still suspended. Iain Flannigan did make the squad for the first time after a number of weeks out with injury, but only on the bench. Michael Duffy made his return from international duty with Northern Ireland, while the gaffer also gave a first league start to young striker Scott Hynd.
It was no shock that the in-form visitors came out the traps quicker and immediately went on the offensive. The red-hot Jason Cummings ran at the defence from kick off and found himself in enough space to shoot, but his effort cannoned off his own player and away to safety. 
Alloa then had a really decent spell of possession where they really did well to retain the ball and nullify Hibs threat. The addition of Michael Chopra into a deeper midfield role seemed to help in this area. 
Hibs next sight on goal didn't come until the 15th minute when a marauding run by John McGinn created shooting room, but Robbie Crawford did well to deflect the effort wide for a corner and the chance was gone. 
Alloa's first real sight on goal came moments later when Duffy did well to earn his side a corner. The set piece was cleared only as far as Michael Doyle who set up Crawford for the shot, but his effort was blocked then Chopra's follow up was well off target. 
The prolific James Keatings was next to try his luck up against the Wasps defence and he had the perfect opportunity when he was fouled on the edge of the area by Mikk Reintam, but his effort from the set play was wide. 
The Hibees should have broken the deadlock after 25 minutes. A great move involving Lewis Stevenson and McGinn worked the ball into the feet of dangerman Cummings. He beat two players on the Alloa byline before stabbing the ball beyond the keeper and into the path of Dominique Malonga. But somehow the big striker dwelt too long over the finish with the goal gaping and allowed Colin Hamilton to get back to make a saving last ditch tackle and deflect the ball onto the bar and out to safety. 
Andy McNeil's goal was definitely the busier at this stage and the Wasps keeper had to make smart stops from McGinn and Gray in quick succession as Hibs began to turn the screw. 
Even a dangerous Alloa free kick was soon turned into a quick counter by the Leith side, but Hamilton was alert to cut out the intended through pass for Cummings as the half ended level. 
After a spirited effort in the first half, the home side were dealt a huge blow at the break as keeper McNeil had to be withdrawn due to a back injury and was replaced by David Crawford. 
Alloa did not let this effect them and they soon created their best chance of the match on 49 minutes. Stevenson dwelt on the ball inside his own area allowing Holmes to slide in and rob him, he poked the ball into the path of Duffy, but Mark Oxley was alert to tip the first time effort wide of the post. 
A second injury after 50 minutes shook up the Wasps plans once again when Holmes then limped out of the action to be replaced by Connor McManus. 
The substitute was soon involved in the action as he combined well with Duffy to create a shooting chance for Crawford, but the effort was wide of the target. 
Alan Stubbs' side then stepped the tempo up a gear and really began to pin Alloa back. Cummings had a speculative 25-yarder tipped over the top by Crawford and from the resultant corner the Wasps keeper had to be alert again to tip over an acrobatic flick by Liam Fontaine. 
The resistance of the hosts was finally undone on 59 minutes and it was no surprise that it was Cummings who broke the deadlock. Alloa skipper Dougie Hill dwelt in possession, only to be robbed by McGinn, who in turn picked out the run of Cummings with a first time pass and the hitman finished clinically past the helpless Crawford.  
Alloa were to suffer yet further misery when Hamilton had to be helped off the pitch and so he was replaced by Steven Hetherington. 
Cummings and Hibs were desperate for a killer second goal and the striker's curling effort was unlucky as it flashed just past the post on 65 minutes.
Cummings then turned provider when his cross picked out the run of Gray to the Alloa backpost, but Crawford gathered the header well. 
The visitors then passed up two golden opportunities in quick succession as they looked to wrap up the points. Fraser Fyfie's run and cross picked out Cummings free in the box, but the header was straight at Crawford. A real stramash in the Alloa area moments later caused havoc and allowed Darren MacGregor to flick the ball beyond the keeper, but Reintam was there to hack the ball off the line. 
At the other end, a brilliant move between Doyle, Chopra and Duffy produced a penalty shout from the home support. Duffy's driven cross looked to strike the arm of Stevenson, but the referee waved play on. 
Things soon went from bad to worse for Alloa when they were reduced to ten men on 79 minutes. Skipper Dougie Hill was the offender as he received two quick fire yellow cards and an early bath. The second yellow was earned for a blatant on Hibs Substitute Farid El-Alagui as he looked to advance in on goal. 
Hibs were almost made the extra man count on 82 minutes as McGinn was again looked to feed Cummings, but Reintam did well to intercept. 
Alloa had the final chance from a long range free kick. Keeper Crawford took and launched into the Hibs box, but the Marvin Bartley climbed above Reintam to clear the danger as the Wasps were once again consigned to defeat. 

Advertiser sport man of the match: Mikk Reintam