Alloa shot-stopper Craig McDowall expects another tight encounter with Livingston when the two sides meet in this Sunday’s Petrofac Cup final at McDiarmid Park.

The Wasps goalkeeper has been an almost ever-present for his side this year after winning the battle to be first choice keeper from John Gibson, and he believes the Petrofac Cup wins have been crucial to their whole season.

McDowall told Advertiser sport: “The cup run has really helped us this season especially when we were struggling in the league and it often gave us a lift at the right time. We know how big a lift it would give us if we can win the cup on Sunday and we are confident of doing that, but regardless of the outcome we know we are good enough to stay in this league. There is real excitement in the dressing room now for the final. Myself and all the boys are absolutely buzzing for the game and hopefully we can put on a good performance for the fans. I don’t see us as the favourites because I reckon it is a 50-50 game. You saw from last Saturday’s game how closely matched the two sides are and I would expect more of the same this weekend. We obviously hope we come out on top in that battle, but it is certainly better than going into the final as a huge underdog against one of the big guns.I think it will come to who makes the better start in the game, but we have proven with the Rangers result that we can come back and win if we need to because we never give in.” McDowall was left stunned along with the rest of players at the shock departure of manager Barry Smith last month, but has been delighted to see caretaker boss Paddy Connolly doing well in the hotseat.

The former Lions keeper says it has been a team effort and now hopes they can win the trophy on behalf of both their managers this season.

He said: “I think it is a great reflection on our squad to think that almost everyone has had a part to play in the competition at some point. Everything has gone to plan for us in the competition so far and hopefully that can continue on Sunday. It is definitely strange to think that Barry Smith has guided us here and won’t now lead us out in the final, but we are all right behind Paddy who has been brilliant since taking the reigns. We are desperate to do well for him after how well he has done, but we will be trying to win it for the both of them on Sunday.” The 24-year-old is desperate for them to finish the job after taking the difficult route to the final.

McDowall added: “We certainly have done it the hard way to reach the final. We had three tough away games on paper with Arbroath, Stirling and then Morton. Our first home game in the competition couldn’t have been any harder, but obviously, we have done amazingly to come from 2-0 down against Rangers and also leaving it late against an in-form Morton side in the previous round as well. Hefully now, having gone through all that, we can cap that off with a win on Sunday.”