Aberdeen squandered two penalties but still had enough class to knock First Division strugglers Alloa out of the Scottish Cup.

Alloa manager Terry Christie had hoped to stun Aberdeen again after sending the Premier League outfit crashing when at Stenhousemuir in 1995.

However, Ebbe Skovdahl's side proved just too good for their opponents and goals from David Rowson, Robbie Winters and substitute Darren Mackie booked their place in the fourth round.

After the expected early pressure from the home side, the famous Pittodrie outfit were always in control.

But it could have been so different had the home side converted a great opportunity in the first minute.

Ross Hamilton could have handed his side a dream start after Hamish French had played him through on goal, but he dragged his right-foot effort wide of the post.

That was all that was required to wake the sleeping giants and goalkeeper Mark Cairns had to be alert to save Winters' header from Rachid Belabed's free-kick.

Aberdeen got into their stride and it was only a matter of time before they took the lead, but there was little Cairns could do with the opener.

Rowson picked up the ball before unleashing a powerful 22-yard shot which took a wicked deflection off Steven Thomson which left the keeper flat-footed.

The impressive Winters then came agonisingly close to doubling their advantage on two occasions in the space of eight minutes.

In the 19th minute Arild Stavrum put the ball into his partner's path and his first right-foot effort flew just past the upright. Winters then rose in the box to power Dow's corner just over the bar.

However, just a minute before the break Aberdeen were presented with their first penalty of the afternoon when Stavrum was sent sprawling in the box under the challenge of Cairns.

Thomas Solberg pushed Belabed aside before the keeper made amends to save his effort low to his right.

The Dons star could have put the misery behind him almost immediately after the break but he headed Dow's corner just over.

But with the tie on a knife-edge Alloa still had hopes of a giantkilling and Willie Irvine went close on two occasions to getting his side on level terms.

Aberdeen could have killed the game off in the 51st minute when Darren Young's cross flew across the face of goal and Stavrum's touch went straight into the hands of Cairns.

The Norwegian was again the villain six minutes later when he squandered their second spot-kick after French had pulled Winters down in the area.

The veteran midfielder was fortunate to stay on the pitch but Stavrum blazed the ball over the bar with a bemused Belabed shaking his head.

Stavrum could have made amends in the 63rd minute and he spun on the edge of the box before producing a right-foot curler which went past the upright.

The home side's hopes of a giantkilling, however, faded in the 85th minute when keeper Cairns was carried off after colliding with substitute Mackie and he was replaced by Jim McQueen in goal for the last five minutes.

But it wasn't to be a memorable few minutes for the Alloa keeper and with two minutes remaining Aberdeen finally put the tie out of their opponents' reach.

Belabed's cross was not cut out by Thomson and Winters fired home from close range.

Mackie then had the last say in the final minute to give Aberdeen the victory and send the red army home with a fourth round tie to look forward to.

Teams

Alloa Cairns (McQueen 82), Huxford (Watson 58), Clark, French, Thomson, Valentine, Hamilton, Christie, Little (Evans 60), Irvine, Wood.

Subs Not Used: Johnston, Armstrong.

Aberdeen Preece, McNaughton, Whyte, McGuire, Solberg, Belabed, Rowson, Darren Young, Winters (Derek Young 88), Stavrum (Mackie 72), Dow.

Subs Not Used: Esson, McAllister, Rutkiewicz.

Goals: Rowson 12, Winters 85, Mackie 88.

Att: 2,877

Ref: T Brown (Scotland).