ALLOA’S League One campaign began with defeat on Saturday as Dunfermline ran out 1-0 winners.

Matthew Todd’s goal was enough to seal the three points for the Pars and condemned Alloa to their first defeat of the league season.

Seven days after the Wasps took the extra point at East End Park in the last game of the Premier Sports Cup group stage, Alloa started with a slightly altered line-up.

The suspended Andy Graham made way for the returning Mark Durnan and Adam King started in midfield. Bradley Rodden, who started the previous weekend, dropped to the bench.

Less than 10 minutes into the match and Alloa were trying to claim a goal. Stefan Scougall’s deep cross found the head of Durnan and he sent it back across goal towards the far post. Paul Allan was the man on the post and was able to clear the ball; however, both Brian Rice and several Alloa players believed the ball crossed the line.

The next best chance fell Dunfermline’s way. Aaron Comrie was able to cut inside and played a wonderful through ball into the path of Todd who fired across goal and the shot went just wide of the post.

Throughout the first half it was Alloa who were playing the better football, patiently awaiting their moments to strike. A switch of play by King found Kevin Cawley who laid the ball off into the path of Murray Miller. His first time ball over the top found Conor Sammon’s run and he managed to get a shot at goal but the effort was tame and easily collected by Deniz Mehmet.

Jay Hogarth, returning to East End Park after a Team of the Round performance the week prior, made two great saves in quick succession. Firstly, how much he knew about Rhys Breen’s header remains to be seen but the young goalkeeper was in the right place at the right time to stop the ball crossing the line. He then made himself big to block Kevin O’Hara’s powerful half-volley as the Pars ramped up the pressure.

Five minutes before half-time there was a strong penalty shout by Alloa. A wonderful piece of skill by Scougall allowed him to look up and see Ross MacIver’s run. Although the pass was intercepted, MacIver still recovered the ball and was able to find Sammon’s run in behind. The striker was tussling with Aaron Comrie and both players went to ground. The penalty appeal fell on deaf ears – and Rice did admit post-match he didn’t think it was a penalty – but Sammon certainly felt aggrieved at the time.

With the score level at the break, Dunfermline came out the traps in the second half looking to get ahead. Kyle MacDonald was first to test Hogarth with a stinging shot and the keeper saved well.

Adam King, who certainly has a wonder goal in his locker, smashed the crossbar with a 30-yard strike that really did deserve a goal as the shot left Mehmet with no chance.

With less than 20 minutes to go, the hosts made the breakthrough. Running down the left wing, Todd’s cross was misjudged by Hogarth and the ball floated into the far post. It was a harsh goal for Hogarth to concede as the 19-year-old was producing another fine display in goal for the Wasps.

Despite being a goal behind and the clock ticking, Alloa remained patient and were happy to wait for the right opportunity to make their move. Cawley’s clipped ball was headed clear and fell kindly to Scougall on the edge of the box. The better option may have been to strike the ball first time but he opted to take it past a man before shooting but the effort was blocked.

Rice said after the match he’s looking for more goals from Scougall and he certainly looked in the mood to score. Picking the ball up from King, he drove towards goal, beating a man in the process, and then fired a right footed shot towards the top corner which required a great save by Mehmet.

A tidy piece of play between Scougall and Cawley would see the Wasps win a free kick right on the edge of the box with less than 10 minutes to go. King was told by Rice to take the set piece but his effort could only hit the wall.

In the end it would be the hosts who took the three points and ensured Alloa’s season began with defeat. Both the manager and the players felt there were positives to be taken from the result and there is plenty of football left to play.

Kelty Hearts are the next opponents for the Wasps and Rice’s side will be looking to lay down a marker against the League Two champions and get their first win of the season at the Indodrill on Saturday.

ALLOA: Hogarth, Taggart, Stanger, Church, Durnan (McLaren), Cawley, King, Miller, Scougall, Sammon (Rodden), MacIver. UNUSED: Burt, Buchanan, Comrie, Suleyman, Mohammed