Alloa shot-stopper Craig McDowall hopes his performances in recent weeks have given manager Barry Smith a selection headache after another solid display in the 1-0 win over Morton last weekend.

The keeper has grabbed his opportunity with two strong displays against Hibs and Morton after Wasps number one John Gibson sustained a leg injury in training and now he hopes to have done enough to get the nod against his former side Livingston this weekend.

McDowall told Advertiser sport, “It was a wee bit of a busy day but I only had to do what was asked of me, there was nothing spectacular in there and despite the odd lapse in concentration, I thought we defended ok and I am obviously thrilled to get the clean sheet under my belt. I was happy with the save late on because I seen it a wee bit late and so had to just tip it over the bar.

“I am looking forward to going back to my old club this weekend and it would be great to be playing there for the first time but that is up to the manager. We go there full of confidence throughout the team and we will look to take something from the game.

“I have been waiting on my opportunity for a long time now at the club, so I have come in these past few games and hopefully shown what I can do and now we will just have to wait and see what happens. I think I have done enough to give the gaffer a decision to make and that is all I am looking to do but it is up to him at the end of the day.” McDowall admits the Wasps were a little fortunate to come through the difficult trip to Cappielow but getting the win was all that mattered on a day where Falkirk went out to their won League One opponents.

He said, “We never played great in the game but we had lots of chances to win it and make life easier for ourselves. The main thing is that we are through and we know we can play a lot better. It is an excellent result for the club and it is brilliant to reward the fans for following us everywhere with a brilliant day out in the semis. We are happy just to get through because Cappielow is a difficult place to come to and with the likes of Falkirk going out it is nice just to be in the hat for the next round. We will take anyone who is left in it doesn’t matter and if it is to be Rangers then the fans have yet another great day to look forward to again.

The 25-year-old believes the dressing room atsmosphere has a huge part to play in the continued success story of the past few seasons for the Clackmannanshire outfit.

McDowall added, “This group of players have been brilliant since the very first day I walked in the door here at Alloa, then everyone who has joined since then have fitted straight in and it has carried us right through and so we keep on achieving new things as a group.”