A LATE Iain Flannigan penalty secured a crucial victory over Raith Rovers at Stark's Park to give Jack Ross his first win as manager. 

The gaffer gave the nod to young striker Isaac Layne for his first start since returning from a loan spell with Brechin City, but Michael Chopra and Jason Marr were still absent. 

The Wasps started well and looked comfortable with young Layne partnering Michael Duffy in attack, but it was the hosts who threatened first. 

On-loan Hamilton ace Louis Longridge created both of Raith's early chances with some skill down the right, Michael Doyle cut out the first cross, but Mitch Megginson missed a golden opportunity from the second as he guided a header wide from five yards out. 

The powerful Layne then caused problems for the Raith back line as he spun his marker and threatened to burst into the box, but his run was halted by a vicious foul from Scott Robertson that produced the first yellow card of the match. 

The dangerous Longridge threatened again soon after for Ray McKinnons side as he slid Megginson in on goal, but Hill got across to make a crucial block. 

Burton O'Brien almost got the Raith defence cold with a terrific through ball for Layne, but a heavy touch denied the hitman a clear run in on goal. 

Alloa were playing with a lot more purpose and when Doyle's burst forward saw him feed the ball into the feet of Flannigan, he was unlucky not to score after spinning his marker and shooting into side netting. 

Another flowing move five minutes later saw Flannigan and Robbie Crawford combine to devastating effect as they sent Doyle racing into the box, but Rory McKeown got across to make a last ditch saving tackle. 

Raith ended the half on top, but the Alloa defensive pairing of McKenna and Hill stood up well to the danger. 

Alloa came out firing after the restart and could have been in front inside the first sixty seconds when Layne raced into the box and spun his marker before getting his shot away, but Cuthbert was equal to the effort. 

James Craigen then tried his luck from range for Raith, but Colin Hamilton was brave with the block to deflect clear. Once again some sustained pressure from the home side in and around the Alloa box came to nothing. 

Wasps forward Duffy then sprang to life on 56 minutes and found space for two good chances in quick succession. 

Crawford picked him out at the back post with a clever pass, but the volley was blocked on the line by Cuthbert. Then moments later, Doyle's cross fell for him again at the back post, but this time the young Celt steered his effort inches past the post. 

The visitors then suffered a blow when skipper Dougie a Hill hobble off injured to be replaced by Mark Williams. 

The game was now in the balance and with every Raith attack, the Wasps looked dangerous on the counter. Flannigan sprung the Raith defence on 67 minutes when he sent Layne racing through on the keeper, but Benedictus did well to recover and clear. 

The hosts passed up a golden triple chance on 72 minutes that ultimately proved costly for them. 

A slip by Doyle allowed substitute Mark Stewart to get free into the box, but the Wasps defender got back to block the first shot. The ball then deflected to Longridge who saw his effort on goal blocked by McKenna, but as the ball fell for Craigen with the goal gaping, Hamilton somehow through his body across to make a heroic saving block. 

Jack Ross sent the speedy Eddie Ferns on in place of Layne in the closing stages and he was immediately in the thick of the action. A quick break by Ferns saw him feed Crawford who in turn found Williams breaking into the box, but Davidson was there to block the shot. 

The Clackmannanshire side got the breakthrough on 85 minutes when they were awarded a penalty after some superb build up play. Crawford and Duffy broke out on the counter from a Raith set play, found Ferns who played a superb return pass for Crawford and as he fed the ball into Flannigan in the box, Davidson came crashing through the back of him forcing the referee to signal for a spot kick. 

Flannigan made no mistake from 12 yards to sent the keeper the wrong way and slot home his fourth goal of the season. 

The closing stages were nervy for the visitors as they clung on for a crucial win. The home side had one final push for an equaliser when Stewart burst in on goal, but Hamilton was there with another superb challenge to save the day and secure all three points. 

 

Advertiser sport man of the match: Iain Flannigan