A SCORELINE doesn’t always tell the full story.

Alloa Athletic Women were beaten 8-0 by Dunfermline on Saturday as their wait for a first competitive victory continues.

Despite the severe scoreline, there are plenty of positives for Allan Salvona and his side to take from the defeat.

Unfortunately for the team, which is a little over eight weeks old, consistent numbers are still an issue and at the weekend there was only one substitution.

Within seconds of the game beginning, Alloa’s gameplan was clear. The team were looking to utilize the pace and directness of Maisie McNamara – who only started playing football during the Covid-19 lockdown – and Summer Garrity, but it was Abbie Trotter who was painfully shy of getting on the end of the first through ball.

At the back, club captain Jade Ferguson showed off one of her strengths with a towering header as Dunfermline looked to push forward.

Molly Williams took no chances in clearing the ball as Dunfermline increased the pressure; however, it wouldn’t be long before the visitors took the lead and, in truth, it was gifted to them by the Wasps.

Kerrigan’s short goal kick found Strummer Bernard but her slack touch allowed Dunfermline’s forward to pounce and she made no mistake in slotting the ball past the outrushing keeper.

Garrity showed off her excellent dribbling ability with some nice skill on the wing and won Alloa a throw in as they looked for an immediate reply.

Dunfermline had a host of corners and were consistently aiming for the front post, looking to cause confusion with some runners, but someone – normally Ferguson – was on hand to clear the ball.

Unfortunately for the Wasps, Dunfermline’s second goal wasn’t far away and this time it was a gift from the referee. A cross into the box wasn’t dealt with by the defenders; however, the attacker appeared to handle the ball before scoring into an understandably enraged Kerrigan.

Salvona, speaking after the match to Advertiser Sport, said that a Dunfermline player actually apologised for the goal; however, the referee missed it and his side were now two goals behind.

Bernard, with the mistake firmly in the back of her mind, recovered brilliantly to race back and win the ball after her opponent tried to knock it past her.

At 2-0 down, Alloa were still well and truly in the game and Trotter had a great opportunity to cut the deficit in half.

Finally getting on the end of a through ball, she found herself one on one with the keeper but could only smash her effort off the woodwork. A good hit but with the time she had and the quality she possesses, she really should have hit the target.

A great driving run by Molly Williams allowed her to find Trotter on the edge of the box and she controlled the ball brilliantly but was cynically brought down. She stepped up to take the resulting free kick but could only blast it over the bar.

When the through balls came off, Alloa usually found themselves in a good position but it was usually the execution or the final decision that let them down. Louisa Felicie-Keller found McNamara who was in the box but instead of shooting first time she took a touch and Dunfermline were able to clear their lines.

Alloa would make their first change on 31 minutes as Mhairi Hewett came on for a tiring Lily Bevan. However, it was a sign of things to come as, with just the one substitution, Alloa were bringing players on and off on a rotation and players were already beginning to tire.

As the first half neared its conclusion, Dunfermline’s Alex Davie, clearly their strongest player, began to grab the game by the scruff of its neck and started firing shots from distance as she looked to add her name to the scoresheet.

Alloa would make it to the second half with their opponents still within touching distance; however, the second half started with Davie opening her account and from that moment Dunfermline showed no mercy.

Salvona’s team continued to push for a goal and the through balls were still their best option. Making a run from deep, Ferguson almost got on the end of a ball but clattered into the keeper.

Chances would fall to Trotter and McNamara at the end but on both occasions Dunfermline’s defence were on hand to block their efforts.

Dunfermline would score six in the second half to see out the game as 8-0 winners. Alloa, now on a three match losing streak, still await a first competitive victory but more importantly a bigger, more consistent squad is the necessary requirement.

No matter how strong the starting line-up is, the squad will always suffer with little to no options off the bench. Salvona seems confident of adding some numbers to squad in the coming weeks and this will be paramount to the team having a successful season.

ALLOA: Kerrigan, Bernard, Bevan, Ferguson, Williams, Burrows, Trotter, Yorke-Edgell, Felicie-Keller, Garrity, McNamara. SUB: Hewett