Second Division Alloa pulled off another cup shock on Tuesday night when they knocked
Kilmarnock out of the Tennents Scottish Cup.
Martin Cameron fired the Wasps ahead in the fifth minute and try as they might
Premier Division strugglers Killie could not find an equaliser.
After Inverness Caledonian Thistle's stunning victory over Celtic the night
before, Alloa had staged their own giantkilling act to book a fourth round
meeting with Dundee United.
Killie got off to a bright start but deep crosses from Ally Mitchell and Andy
Smith were cleared and Alloa then stunned the visitors by taking the lead after
five minutes.
Former Celtic star Andy Walker picked out Cameron with a lovely short pass,
and the Alloa top scorer ran in to draw goalkeeper Colin Meldrum before claiming
his 18th goal of the season.
Home goalkeeper Mark Cairns pulled off great saves from Mitchell and Smith to
deny Killie a quick equaliser.
Walker was booked after 17 minutes for a challenge on Chris Cocard.
Despite reasonable control in midfield, Kilmarnock's old failings in front of
goal were evident when Gary Holt set up a clear-cut chance only for Gus
MacPherson's low shot to prove easy meat for Cairns.
Mark Wilson became the second home booking just before the half-hour for
hauling down Alex Burke marginally outside the area.
Alloa survived considerable pressure to break dangerously on 34 minutes, with
Walker and Cameron linking up to find Willie Irving in the box - but Meldrum
saved at the second attempt.
The visitors' frustration showed as half-time approached, and MacPherson was
also shown a yellow card a minute before Cairns brilliantly turned away a shot
from Smith.
As expected Killie threw everything at the Wasps at the start of the second
half.
But the home defence, led by captain Craig Valentine, were proving a tough nut
to crack.
Mark Reilly dipped a free-kick just over the top before MacPherson had the
Killie fans off their feet with a strong drive which flashed just over.
The visitors ought to have pulled level when Smith was put clear by Jim
Lauchlan, but his finish was weak.
Cairns continued his heroics in the home goal, pushing Mitchell's shot away
for a corner.
And, when he seemed to have been beaten by a Fred Dindeleux header, the ball
rebounded clear off the post.
Centre back Dave Beaton almost gifted Killie an equaliser nine minutes from
time with a misguided header but Cairns clawed the ball away.
Alloa almost put the tie beyond doubt when Cameron crossed from the right and
Wilson dived full length to head just wide of the right hand post.
But Killie couldn't make the most of that escape and Alloa held on to claim a
famous cup victory.
Teams
Alloa: Cairns, Wilson, D. Clark, Conway, Beaton, Valentine,
Christie, Walker (McKechnie 81), Cameron, Irvine,Donaghy (G. Clark 81).
Subs Not Used: Boyle.
Booked: Walker, Wilson, Christie.
Goals: Cameron 5.
Kilmarnock: Meldrum, MacPherson, Baker, Lauchlan, Dindeleux,
Holt, Reilly (Durrant 81), Mitchell (Bagan 85), Burke, Cocard, Smith.
Subs Not Used: Jeffrey.
Booked: MacPherson.
Att: 1,894
Ref: Garry Mitchell (Scotland)