KEVIN CAWLEY’S first goal of the season wasn’t enough for Alloa to progress in the SPFL Trust Trophy on Friday night.

Cawley’s first half strike, a superb long range effort on his weaker foot, fired the Wasps in front but a second half comeback by Queen of the South saw them book their place in the next round with a 4-2 victory.

Speaking exclusively to Advertiser Sport, Cawley said: “First half, it was like déjà vu, like the last time they went 1-0 up straight away and then we’ve come back into the game. I thought we’d done okay, probably could have done a bit better but obviously you’re going in at half time 2-1 up.

“Second half we just didn’t get going, they get a goal, it gives them a lift and it felt like we couldn’t get the ball down and pass because when we did we created chances.

"We probably created six or seven good chances, four of them were maybe really, really good ones. A couple of half chances. You need to take your chances, goals change games.

"They get their equaliser, it gets them on the front foot, puts us back a wee bit and we just can’t get going.”

Alloa did have plenty of chances with Conor Sammon, Ross MacIver, Adam King, Steven Buchanan and Mark Durnan all having decent opportunities.

Cawley continued: “The gaffer was saying that’s probably the most chances we’ve created in one game for a while, we’d be disappointed if we weren’t creating chances but obviously we just didn’t take them in the game.

"They took their chances, we didn’t.”

For Cawley, after opening his account for the season he’s looking to add more to his game.

He said: “It was nice to get a goal, good to get off the mark. You know me, I’m a team player and I’ll play anywhere and give my all for the club. It was nice to get on the scoresheet because it’s not like me, usually I’ve got a few goals up at Christmas time so hopefully I can contribute a wee bit more with goals and assists.”

With the new year just around the corner, Cawley reflected on the first half of the season.

He continued: “We could have got more points from certain games but there’s also games where we’ve not played well and got points.

“We’re in with a close bunch of other teams and there’s not much between second and seventh. Dunfermline maybe have a wee bit of a cushion but anybody can beat anybody in this league, everybody’s competitive and got good squads. Going into the new year we just need to take it a game at a time like the gaffer always says.

“Hopefully we can kick on again and see where it takes us.”

One thing that’s all but guaranteed with Alloa these days is plenty of goals and while that may be entertaining for the neutrals, Cawley is hoping that the Wasps can tighten up at the back.

“It's never dull but it would be nice if it was 4-0 to us,” he said. “We need to try and keep the ball out the back of the net because we know we’ve got goals in the team. We’ve scored a lot in the league so far but a bit disappointed with the goals we’ve conceded.”