Smith praises Fifers despite first defeat

East Fife suffered their first league defeat since November last night but Barry Smith says there will be no need to pick his players up.

First-half goals from Greig Spence and Kevin Cawley did the damage for the Wasps before Jamie Longworth sealed the win.

The Fifers’ run has hoisted them into the promotion play-off mix, with the Bayview manager confident his side can bounce straight back when they host Albion Rovers this weekend.

He said: “We got punished for making mistakes but I don’t think we should forget how well these boys have done since I’ve come in.

“They’ve been excellent so I’m not going to be overly critical.

“We know we can do better and that starts on Saturday.”

The Fifers were down to the bare bones, listing just three outfield subs.

Jesse Curran, signed on loan from Dundee earlier in the day, was handed a debut, while Ben Reilly made his first start.

It was the visitors who started better and pinned Alloa back.

A decent delivery from Reilly had the Wasps’ defence scrambling with keeper Craig McDowall having to punch the ball clear.

Alloa took the lead with their first attempt at goal, Spence heading in Dylan Mackin’s cross.

Mackin went close to making it 2-0 when he fired past but the Wasps didn’t have to wait much longer to extend their lead.

An East Fife attack broke down a couple of minutes before the break and Cawley raced through to rifle a shot beyond Ryan Goodfellow.

Within minutes of the restart Goodfellow had to be at his best to turn a Steven Hetherington drive around the post and then he denied the lively Spence.

The introduction of Mark Lamont and Chris Duggan added some life to the visitors and the latter curled a shot past the post.

Goodfellow saved well from Jordan Kirkpatrick and Scott Taggart but sub Longworth headed in.

Attendance: 436. Alloa: McDowall, Taggart, Waters, McKeown, Hetherington, Graham, Cawley (Robertson 69), Flannigan, Spence (Holmes 77), Kirkpatrick, Mackin (Longworth 61). Subs: Marr, Hoggan, Hynd, Wilson. East Fife: Goodfellow, Kane, Page, Kerr, Brown, Curran, Robinson, Insall, Penrice, Austin (Duggan 67), Reilly (Lamont 67). Subs: Mutch, Hurst.

Referee: Barry Cook.