A brace from Craig Malcolm helped Alloa to the second round of the Irn Bru Cup. The striker opened and closed the scoring at Dens Park as the Wasps ran out 4-2 winners. Strikes from Callum Crane and Ian Flannigan put the League One side in control, but Matty Henvey’s brace brought Dundee back in to the match, but ultimately it wasn’t to be for the young Dees.
Alloa were seeing most of the ball in the opening exchanges, and Dundee had Callum Ferrie to thank for keeping the score level after 10 minutes. Scott Taggart’s fierce drive from 20 yards forced the Dundee keeper into a flying save.
The keeper’s heroics proved to be in vein as Alloa opened the scoring two minutes later. Alan Cook’s cut back was met by Craig Malcolm, who controlled the ball, and drilled a low shot into the net.
Nine minutes later, the visitors added a second. Taggart’s cross was brought down by Callum Crane, who brought the ball down, and fired a shot across Ferrie and into the net after 21 minutes.
The Dee got a let off as Crane’s cut back was skied by Alan Cook. With just over half an hour gone, Alloa added a third through Ian Flannigan. The midfielder smashed Kevin Cawley’s cut back into the roof of the net.
With six minutes of the first half remaining, Matty Henvey handed the young Dees a lifeline. The striker curled the ball into the top corner from 20 yards.
It was Dundee that started the second half on the front foot. Cammy Mooney skewed an effort wide from 20 yards.
Ian Smith should have done better with his effort after 69 minutes. Max Anderson teed up the wide man, but he blasted his shot into the stand from 15 yards.
Substitute John Smith was the next Dundee player to be denied. He raced on to a volleyed pass from Jack Lambert but saw his effort from a tight angle pushed behind by Parry.
With 12 minutes remaining, Henvey got his second. The striker got on the end of Jesse Curran’s cross, and blasted the ball high into the net.
Substitute Cai Matthew volleyed over from the edge of the box, before Alloa captain Andy Graham received treatment for a knock to the head. This stoppage halted Dundee’s momentum, and in the dying minutes, Alloa sealed their place in the next round.
Adam Martin’s cross was bundled into the net by Malcolm, ending any chance of a Dee comeback.
While the young Dees were knocked out of the Irn Bru Cup, there were plenty of positives to take from the match. Matty Henvey’s two goals are the perfect start to his season, while Jesse Curran and Sam Dryden both looked comfortable against League One opponents.
Young Cai Matthew and John Smith both impressed, with the latter causing problems for the Alloa defence. New boy Jack Lambert showed real glimpses of quality, with his volleyed pass to John Smith the highlight of his match.
Dundee U20s: Ferrie, Dryden, Rice, Curran, Piggott, Moore (Berry 68), Mooney (J. Smith 60), Lambert, Henvey, Anderson, I. Smith (Matthew 74)
Subs Unused: Gourlay
Goals: Henvey 39’ ,78’
Alloa Athletic: Parry, Taggart, Crane, Graham, Meggatt, Robertson (Hetherington 56), Cawley, Flannigan (Grant 56), Malcolm, Renton, Cook (Martin 66)
Subs Unused: McDowall (GK), McKeown, McDonald, Cunningham
Goals: Malcolm 12’, 90’, Crane 21’, Flannigan 32’
Referee: Stephen Brown
Report: Andrew Creegan
