alloa athletic 0

dunfermline 1 Longridge (68)

It took a moment of magic from Jackson Longridge to propel Dunfermline to a much-needed win. Opponents Alloa had two gilt-edged chances to snatch something from the match and Pars gaffer Allan Johnston was just delighted to escape with a win as he bids to kickstart a disappointing league campaign.

“Every game in this league is massive,” said former Rangers winger Johnston.

“There are no easy games. Alloa have shown this year they’re a good team, well organised, hard to beat.

“And it is a hard place to come, especially with the size of the pitch as well.

“It’s a massive three points for us.”

The Wasps were the better team in the first half and it took the heroic efforts of skipper Lee Ashroft on the quarter-hour mark to keep the scores level. A raking run from Dario Zanatta allowed the winger to find Greig Spence unmarked in the box. The striker was able to force the ball past the despairing Lee Robinson but Ashcroft slid in from nowhere to clear off the line.

Spence could not find his shooting boots and missed from close range again after being set up by a Scott Taggart cross.

Robinson knew little about it as the ball cannoned off the keeper from inside the six-yard box.

Longridge finally took centre-stage after a quiet display, breaking the deadlock with a left-foot strike.

The full-back rifled a stunning half-volley into the top corner from 20 yards for the only goal of the game.

Alloa boss Jim Goodwin said: “It shows you how important it is to take your chacnes at key moments.

“We had two fantastic opportunities to get ourselves in front. Goals at this level are massive and the first goal is huge . . . Dunfermline get it, hang on and get the three points.