Pars 1 Alloa Athletic 0, SPFL Trust Trophy, quarter-final

One goal was enough for the Pars to reach the SPFL Trust Trophy semi-finals but James McPake felt his side should've had more against Alloa Athletic.

Lewis McCann's first half strike was enough to separate the sides at KDM Group East End Park on Tuesday evening as Dunfermline set up a last four meeting with Championship rivals Livingston in the New Year.

It was the ideal response to Saturday's league reverse at Queen's Park, and ahead of a huge clash with the only side below them, Airdrieonians, this weekend but the final scoreline didn't reflect their dominance.

A number of good opportunities came and went, whilst Josh Cooper was unlucky to strike the post with a well executed free-kick, and Dapo Mebude saw a deflected shot hit the bar.

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McPake's side had 21 attempts at goal throughout, whilst they were largely untroubled at the other end, and the boss felt that the game "should have been put to bed a lot earlier".

"The aim of tonight was to win the game. That's cup competitions, but what we had stressed is we wanted to play with a real high intensity, and create chances and score goals," he said.

"We did two of those three. I know we scored a goal, and it was a very good goal at that to be fair, but it would've been nicer to score more goals.

READ MORE: McCann's the man as Pars reach cup semi-finals

"But these can be tricky games. Although they're doing really well in their league, and they're scoring lots of goals, it was a shot to nothing for them coming here. They would've fancied that. Let's be honest, they would've fancied coming here, but we stood strong.

Pars boss James McPake felt his side should have won by a more comfortable scoreline.Pars boss James McPake felt his side should have won by a more comfortable scoreline. (Image: Craig Brown.) "As I say, it should've been more comfortable, but when it's a cup competition, I'll take the 1-0 all day long."

Matty Todd, one of three changes made to the home starting line-up, brought out a fine early stop from Wasps goalkeeper, Tochukwu Ogayi, before Kieran Ngwenya side-footed wide of target.

Dunfermline continued to apply pressure on the League One leaders, whose defence held firm, as opportunities continued to be spurned.

Aaron Comrie headed wide, and Ogayi denied McCann, before the latter finally broke the deadlock in the 37th minute.

Ngwenya played a pass in behind the Alloa defence - despite their claims for offside - for McCann, who ran clear, took a touch, and coolly finished into the bottom corner.

Lewis McCann celebrates his winning goal with Kane Ritchie-Hosler.Lewis McCann celebrates his winning goal with Kane Ritchie-Hosler. (Image: Craig Brown.) It was a deserved opener and McPake's side continued to probe after the break.

Mebude fired just over before his deflected effort onto the woodwork, in between which Todd forced Ogayi into another stop, whilst Comrie should've hit the target with a free header from six yards.

A mistake in the visiting defence allowed McCann to run into the box and shoot, only for his attempt to finish wide of the far post, whilst substitute Cooper headed wide, with the goal at his mercy, after being picked out by Kane Ritchie-Hosler.

Cooper then curled against the upright, whilst another man off the bench, Taylor Sutherland, fired straight at Ogayi when he was played in by Comrie.

One goal, though, was enough, and McPake continued: "I don't think Tobi (Oluwayemi, Pars goalkeeper) had an awful lot to do at all, other than what he brings to the team, with his distribution and the way he plays the game.

"He didn't have much to do, but again, I think that's down to the intensity we pressed them.

"They're a decent team with some decent players as well, that knock the ball about, ut at no point did they hurt us, in my opinion. I'd need to see that back.

"I never felt threatened, but always in the back of your mind, when you're only 1-0, you do know you're a mistake, or any sort of error, away from them drawing level.

"It would have been more comfortable. At the end of the day, it's a win, we're into the semi-final of the cup, and we move on to Saturday."