A BRAVE performance was not enough to guarantee Alloa Athletic an Irn Bru Cup semi-final slot as a Stephen-Dobbie inspired Queen of the South emerged 2-0 victors.

In an end-to-end encounter, the Doonhamers produced two of the best opportunities in the early stages.

Grant Anderson flicked a Jamie Hamill cross onto the bar before Neil Parry expertly palmed a curling Stephen Dobbie effort wide of the post.

The Wasps pressed with intensity and it nearly paid off in the 19th minute when Jordan Kirkpatrick cut in from the left before threading through Jon Robertson who returned the ball into space. Kirkpatrick rode an oncoming challenge but fired just over.

Dobbie was a persistent threat throughout and stung the hands of the Parry in the 19th minute. Minutes later, Hamill whipped a ball in for Derek Lyle and his glancing header looked net bound but for a last-ditch clearance.

Alloa responded with pressure ten minutes from the half as the game opened up.

Strong play from Kevin Cawley in the middle, allowed the attacker to turn and play in Greig Spence but Lee Robinson was equal to the striker’s low effort.

As half time approached there was a flurry of chances from both teams. Lyndon Dykes released Dobbie in on goal with a delicate pass, but Parry was alert and smothered the danger.

Alloa were unable to keep the home side at bay, however, and it was a touch of brilliance from Dobbie that broke the deadlock in the 41st minute.

Dykes received a long switch before driving inside and teeing up the striker, who bent an effort in off the post from the edge of the area.

The Wasps almost equalised immediately as Scott Taggart found space on the right to cut a ball back which was expertly dummied by Spence; however, Jamie Longworth’s curled effort clipped the outside of the post.

Alloa then had the best of the opening period of the second half and again it was Longworth at the heart of it with a header from point blank range which was kept out by Robinson’s face.

The 55th minute saw player-manager Jim Goodwin’s deflected effort loop into the air kindly for Spence but he could only guide his acrobatic effort wide of the post.

Parry produced heroics again as the half wore on, with Dobbie finding Lyle with a switch ball in the 69th minute before the striker raced clear.

But Alloa’s man in the sticks narrowed the angle superbly to block Lyle’s attempt on goal.

Shortly after, Cawley came within inches of an equaliser as his howitzer from distance was deflected narrowly over the bar. The resulting corner was nodded over by substitute Luke Donnelly.

Howevr, Queen of the South grabbed their second in the 76th minute when Dobbie got on the end of Grant Anderson’s cross to direct his header into the back of the net.

The former Swansea and Blackpool man almost had his hat-trick when he stretched to get onto the end of an Anderson cross from the right but he could only poke the ball into the side netting.

Alloa asserted late pressure and good feet from substitute Adam Martin went unrewarded when he drifted in from the left and shot at goal. But keeper Robinson was equal to the youngster’s strike.

Manager Goodwin said he was encouraged by his side’s spirited display despite exiting the competition.

He told Advertiser Sport: “Obviously we’re disappointed to be out of the competition but I’m really proud of the players.

“I thought they gave a good account of themselves against championship opposition. I didn’t think there was an awful lot in the game apart from Stephen Dobbie.

“I can’t fault the boys’ efforts. They gave everything and I thought there were occasions when we passed the ball really well.”

The Wasps return to league action on Tuesday night against East Fife.

ALLOA: Parry, Taggart, Waters, Graham, Marr, Goodwin (Holmes), Cawley, Robertson (Martin), Spence, Kirkpatrick, Longworth (Donnelly). UNUSED SUBS: McDowall, Hoggan, Scullion, Wilson.