Alloa Athletic 2
Dundee 1
Challenge Cup (1st Round)

Match Report

Manager Alex Rae was an angry man after Dundee had tumbled out of the League Challenge Cup, deservedly beaten 2-1 by a hungry Alloa Athletic side. The Dens boss said "I'd like to apologise to the fans who travelled to support us, that performance was unacceptable."

"We had a couple of guys out with injuries but it looks like they'll be missing next week as well and this is what I'm left with so I'm concerned."

In an uncharacteristic outburst from the boss he illustrated his fury at his charges by replying to our enquiry as to whether new faces would come in ahead of the league opener at Ross County by telling us "I think it would be difficult to bring in twelve new players in a week if 1 could I'd bring them in and get rid of this lot"

Dundee were without seven first team squad members and there were places on the bench for youth team lads Kevin Milne, Kyle Benedictus and Laurie Spence, the latter pair are just sixteen and sub keeper Laurie is still a pupil at Monifieth High School.

This meant the line-up was made up of Ludo Roy behind a defence of Eddie Malone, Gary Mackenzie, David Cowan and Eric Paton. In the absence of Cameron the central midfield started with Eddie Mearns and Paul McHale, with Freddie Daquin and Mark Gilhaney in the wide positions. First choice strike force of Colin McMenamin and Mickael Antoine-Curier were upfront, Curier returning after missing out of the Bradford friendly midweek.

In the all white away kit Dundee set about having a go at Alloa early on. An early string of corners brought no real danger for goalkeeper Raymond Jellema but he was soon called into action. Mark Gilhaney found Curier in the box and when big striker laid it off for McHale to hit a shot from the edge of the box jellama had to get down well to hold after the shot was deflected.

Alloa then had a spell on top. Roy had to tip over a Jamie Stevenson free kick from twenty five yards, and from the resulting corner Brown flicked towards goal but this time it was easy for Roy. Kyle Macaulay was next to have a chance and if it wasn't for a fine late touch from Eric Paton Alloa would of taken the lead. Stevenson was again involved with a free kick into the box, Hill knocked it down to the back post and just as Macaulay looked likely to put Dundee behind Paton cleared for a corner.

Three minutes later it was Dundee who should of had the lead. Curier strolled past two players into the box but a loose touch saw the ball fall at the feet of strike partner McMenamin. It seemed he'd done the hard part when he beat the keeper only to take a touch too many and be tackled by Campbell without even getting shot away.

His defence saved him on that occasion but soon after Jellema had tobe alert again. Gilhaney floated the ball to the back post and the incoming Daquin headed across goal to find the head of Curier, however Jellema got a great hand to keep out the Frenchman's effort.

The pace of the game died down for the best part of the rest of the half, Alex Rae was forced to reshuffle his defence when Gary Mackenzie complained of a slight problem was not to be risked. He was replaced by Craig Forsyth.

After the break Dundee again started the brighter and looked the more likely to score. Curier battled past three before his low effort was blocked. It was too little too late and a disappointing performance which saw Dundee drop out of the Challenge Cup at the hands of 2nd division Alloa in the first round. Then he failed to turn a Gilhaney cross goal bound when arriving at the back post.

The pressure didn't last and on the hour mark Alloa were ahead. The impressive Stevenson got the ball wide left and picked out Chris Townsley at the back post who rose above the defence and nodded home.

In search of an equaliser McHale got wide right and found McMenamin with his cut back but after two blocked attempts the ball fell to Daquin who's shot was also blocked by the determined Alloa back line. Curier was next to be kept out by the defence after Daquin found him with a cross from the right he too was guilty of taking one touch too many and allowing Alloa to get a block in.

Rae tried to change it throwing on another striker in Bryan Deasley for Daquin and the young striker almost made a big impact right away. Malone whipped a corner in but when ball found it's way to the head of the substitute via the heads of Curier and Cowan he could only head straight at the Alloa keeper Jellema.

Referee Chris Boyle awarded Dundee with a great chance when Gilhaney was fouled on the left but McMenamin headed wide from Paton's free kick. Deasley had another chance when McHale intelligently found him in behind the defence but his shot was deflected wide. A minute later the game was all but over.

Roy failed to deal with a cross and former Dee Andy Ferguson lobbeb back into the box to find Stevenson and the on loan Morton man headed home to make it 2-0.

Dundee did pull one back when a long ball found it's way to Curier who held off a defender to poke past the keeper, but it was too little, too late and the second division side comfortably held on to secure a place in the next round.

Match report written by Tommy Young - Dundee Matchday Programme