Tangerines fire in four to

United recover from early penalty setback to close in on league leaders Ayr

Just two minutes later, though, the Tangerines equalised when Aird teed up Clark from the right for a smart closerange finish past Parry.

United then stormed into the lead in the 21st minute when Aird fired in a corner from the left with Safranko rising highest to send a glancing header into the back of the net.

Neilson’s men looked to turn the screw with Alloa struggling to break out of their own half and it was no surprise when the home side extended their lead in the 35th minute.

Paul McMullan went down under a challenge from the Wasps’ Steven Hetherington with Mr Kirkland again pointing to the spot.

After providing assists at the first two goals, it was Aird’s turn to get his name on the scoresheet and he fired the penalty high into the back of the net.

However, Alloa refused to lie down and pulled one back in the 38th minute when Flannigan hit a stunning free-kick from 25 yards high past the despairing dive of Siegrist.

Zanatta then had a chance at the edge of the United box but he could not get enough on his shot and the home keeper made a comfortable save.

The ref blew the whistle at the end of a frantic first half with the fans and players no doubt glad of the chance to catch their breath.

United looked to extend their lead once more in a spell of early pressure in the second period with the next clear-cut opportunity coming in the 56th minute when that man Aird delivered another telling ball into the Alloa box with Parry having to make a great save low to his left to keep out a Clark header.

However, as the hour mark passed, Alloa were hanging in there with the home side’s advantage still a slender one.

And United hearts were in their mouths in the 69th minute when Zanatta was played straight through on goal, with William Edjenguele having to make a vital last-ditch tackle to snuff out the danger.

The Tangerines had a chance to put the game to bed in the 77th minute when Clark played in Aird but his shot from just inside the Alloa box flew well over the bar.

As the clock ticked down, the home fans were becoming increasingly nervous but that tension was finally relieved in the 85th minute.

Sam Stanton delivered a great pass into the feet of sub Curran and he made no mistake gleefully smashing the ball past the helpless Parry from 14 yards.

Attendance – 4,201.

Dundee United – Siegrist, Booth, McMullan (King, 72), Clark, Stanton, Safranko, Bouhenna, Rabitsch (Murdoch, 62), Edjenguele, Aird (Curran, 82), Watson. Subs not used – Rakovan, Frans, Smith, Robson.

Alloa – Parry, Taggart, Dick, Roscoe, Graham, Hetherington, Robertson (Crawley, 67), Trouten, Flannigan, Hastie, Zanatta. Subs not used – Henry, Spence, Burt, Brown, Aloulou, Shields.

Referee – Steven Kirkland.