Unsung hero Jim Hamilton headed two second half goals to rescue a replay for Dundee United when their Scottish Cup dream looked over at Second Division Alloa.

The Premier League outfit looked shell-shocked as goals from David Beaton and Martin Cameron had put Alloa, who had disposed of Kilmarnock in the last round, had put them two goals ahead at the break.

United looked short of confidence after their CIS Insurance Cup semi-final defeat to Aberdeen last week as they wilted under the pressure from the home side but harsh words from boss Paul Sturrock worked wonders and Hamilton headed two identical goals to heroically earn a replay at Tannadice.

Sturrock dropped his threat to quit the club after criticism from fans group United for Change but his side looked short of confidence as Alloa bombarded the visitors' goal in the first 45 minutes.

The home side took a shock lead after just six minutes when veteran defender Beaton hit a terrific 25-yard free-kick which curled the despairing dive of Alan Combe with the home side looking the better side.

Alloa continued to look the most threatening of the two sides and striker Cameron, who is set to go on trial at Middlesbrough this week, caused the visitors' defence problems with his aerial threat and neat touches.

And Cameron enhanced his growing reputation in the 34th minute as he doubled Alloa's advantage to stun the visitors.

Ian Little's backheel fell in to the path of Craig Valentine who threaded the ball through for the striker to fire emphatically past Combe.

In the 39th minute home keeper Mark Cairns then pushed a long-range effort from Hamilton spectacularly over the bar from point-blank range and from the resulting corner the defence cleared the danger after a goalmouth scramble had threatened to cut their deficit.

Then in the final minute of the half Combe had to save at full stretch from Willie Irvine to keep his side's hopes alive.

United started the second-half in more determined mood but Alloa keeper Cairns was proving himself a hero as again he pushed a stinging effort away but this time from David Partridge, after he had cleverly got by Beaton.

But Alloa were still threatening to increase the humiliation and Cameron could have sewn up the result in the 54th minute after he lobbed keeper Combe but his effort went agonisingly past the post.

United, however, reduced the deficit in the 56th minute when Iain Jenkins' ball was headed on by Steven Thompson into the path of Hamilton, who blasted emphatically past Cairns.

Moments later an Irvine tried to restore the home side's two-goal advantage by attempting to catch Combe off guard with a fierce drive but the United keeper got across to his left to dispel the danger.

Alloa were saved by the post in the 73rd minute when David Hannah headed Craig Easton's corner against the crossbar and onto the goal-line before being miraculously cleared by the home defence.

In the melee Cairns appeared to fall awkwardly and Gregor McKechnie came on and Gary Clark went in goal, but it was backs to the wall for Terry Christie's men.

However, the writing was on the wall for the home side and so it proved when Hamilton rose unmarked in Alloa's box to head home his and United's second with stand-in keeper Clark having no chance.

United were reduced to 10 men in 84th minute when Darren Patterson was red-carded for a foul on Irvine but they were still hungry for the winner as the home side tired.

However, despite all United's efforts a crushed Alloa side lived to fight another day, while Hamilton was cheered off the Park by the United fans - and rightly so.

Teams

Alloa: Cairns (McKechnie 73), Wilson, D. Clark, Conway, Beaton, Valentine, Christie, Little, Cameron, Irvine,Donaghy (G. Clark 63).

Subs Not Used: Boyle.

Booked: Christie.

Goals: Beaton 6, Cameron 33.

Dundee Utd: Combe, Malpas, Hannah, Easton, Skoldmark (Ferraz 73), Telesnikov (Smith 60), Jenkins, Patterson, Thompson (Mathie 71), Partridge, Hamilton.

Sent Off: Patterson (83).

Booked: Telesnikov, Patterson.

Goals: Hamilton 55, 79.

Att: 2,570

Ref: Hugh Dallas (Scotland).