Just two days after Halloween, Alloa Athletic were made to fight to avoid their own fright night after eventually seeing off Inverurie Loco Works to advance to the fourth round of the William Hill Scottish Cup last weekend.

Manager Paul Hartley made a number of changes to his starting line-up for the visit of their Highland League opponents.

There was a debut at left back for 17-year-old academy player Lewis Wilson in place of Michael Doyle who dropped to the bench.

While on-loan Aberdeen striker Declan McManus is unavailable for Cup games so his place on the bench was taken by Willie Robertson.

Alloa started the better as the Highlanders took time to adjust to their surroundings and the slick artificial surface at a rain-lashed Recreation Park.

Debutant Wilson was the creator of the home side’s first real opportunity as he glided down the left with youthful enthusiasm and slipped in Kevin Cawley, who cut in from the left wing to fire an effort just over the bar from 20 yards after only three minutes.

The duo of Wilson and Cawley combined well once again to earn Alloa a corner moments later. From the kick, Ryan McCord’s precise cross was met by Daryll Meggatt on the volley but the full back couldn’t keep his effort down.

The visitors then sprang to life as David Ross burst down the right wing and put in a wicked cross that troubled the Wasps’ backline but it was just beyond Dean Donaldson as he slid in at the back post.

Some great hold up play from experienced former Peterhead striker Martin Bavidge then set up an opportunity on the edge of the box for centre half Scott Begg but he couldn’t keep his shot down and it went harmelessly over the bar.

Martin Buchan’s side adopted a dogged 5-4-1 system that really frustrated their hosts and did not allow Hartley’s men to play with their usual attacking flair.

Inverurie were counter attacking at will and a few crosses from the right troubled Scott Bain who produced a few nervy moments for the home side.

Alloa hit back after some excellent football involving Iain Flannigan, Cawley and Meggatt but the move broke down with the final pass to Andy Kirk being intercepted as the visitors stood firm.

Inverurie had the final chance of the first half when midfielder Neil McLean’s shot stung the palms of Scott Bain from 20 yards but the half ended in a stalemate.

Paul Hartley sent on pacy winger Eddie Ferns at half time in place of Flannigan as the Wasps looked for a different method to breakdown the Highlanders’ resistance.

But it was Inverurie who started the better and had all the early pressure.

First, winger Mark Soutar burst down the right and shot into the side netting before Bavidge followed that with yet another speculative effort from range but Bain saved comfortably.

Alloa hit back and a brilliant ball from Ferns released young Wilson down the left and after a brilliant solo run, his cross was just out of reach of the outstretched Kirk who could maybe have gambled earlier but the chance was gone.

The Wasps finally broke the deadlock just before the hour when that man Cawley slotted home with a nice finish from close range after a defence-splitting through ball from Ryan McCord.

Inverurie almost hit back immediately when a brilliant 25-yard free kick from Adams had to be expertly saved by Bain.

The Wasps then hit the visitors on the break as Ferns sped away from three players to set up McCord but his shot was well saved.

Ferns was not to be denied his assist though and another mazy run down the right followed by a wicked cross into the box was cooly finished off by Ben Gordon on the half volley to kill the tie as a contest.

Kirk almost got in on the act when he headed a Ferns free kick goalwards from 18 yards but his effort was spectacularly cleared off the line by Begg.

Inverurie were now struggling to contain Ferns who was causing all sorts of problems down the right and his excellent cross was almost turned into his own net by the outstretched Begg.

Locos then almost bagged themselves a consolation goal with five minutes remaining when Bavidge saw his neat turn and shot tipped wide by Bain.

Substitute Alex Salmon had the final say on proceedings when he slotted home Alloa’s third goal from six yards after Ferns again weaved his way through the visitors defence to set up the chance.

It was a first goal for the club from the on-loan Carlisle United striker that booked the Wasps’ place in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup.

Alloa Athletic: Bain, Tiffoney, Wilson, Simmons (Young 78), Gordon, Meggatt, Holmes (Salmon 64), McCord, Kirk, Cawley, Flannigan (Ferns 46).

Subs not used: McDowall, Doyle, Robertson.

Inverurie Loco Works: Reid, Mitchell (Forsyth 73), Maitland, Souter (Young 80), Adams, Anderson, Ross (Gauld 66), Begg, Bavidge, Donaldson, McLean.

Subs not used: Hunter, Michie, Mathieson.

Referee: Mat Norcroft Advertiser man-of-the-match: Eddie Ferns