ALLOA ATHLETIC 2

Trouten (17 pen), Cawley (72)

DUNFERMLINE 1

Nisbet (33 pen)

Alloa boss Peter Grant received his first yellow card in 23 years but enjoyed watching his team “win ugly” as Kevin Cawley’s late winner kept them just above the relegation zone.

The pressure was on with the Championship’s bottom club Partick also winning, but the Wasps added Dunfermline’s scalp to that of Dundee United last month and moved up to eighth, overtaking Morton on goal difference.

“Losing last week was a massive blow for us, so I was delighted with the boys today,” smiled Grant. “We made errors again but also showed a lot of character. It’s a result that we really deserved.

“You like to play well and win, but you have to win ugly at times and we did that today.

“That was my first yellow card in Scotland in 23 years, although I used to get booked every week when I was playing!”

The Pars’ recent form – three wins in four and only one defeat in seven – had been better than Alloa’s, but yesterday’s setback kept them in sixth place, four points shy of a promotion play-off spot. “It’s a sore one today,” admitted manager Stevie Crawford. “I can’t fault our commitment and we created plenty of opportunities, but credit to Alloa for winning the game.

“I’m disappointed to lose the second goal the way we did because we work on these things in training.”

Dunfermline made the better start but fell behind in the 17th minute when Lee Ascroft fouled Kevin O’Hara and Alan Trouten sent Ryan Scully the wrong way from the spot.

A similar scenario gifted the visitors an equaliser after Cawley tripped Kevin Nisbet, who guided a penalty past keeper Jamie McDonald.

Cawley secured the three points for Alloa when he nodded home at the back post with 18 minutes to go.