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Stuart Carswell thumps Dumbarton in front

Dumbarton will take a one-goal lead into the second leg of the Championship play-off final after a hard-fought victory over Alloa at Recreation Park.

Stuart Carswell scored the only goal of the game in the first half with a magnificent 20-yard strike, only his second goal in eight seasons.

The home side though missed a number of gilt-edge opportunities in the second half.

The two sides meet again on Sunday in the second leg.

Alloa lost out at this stage in the play-offs last season to Brechin City in a dramatic penalty shoot-out, but started the first leg against Dumbarton in fine fashion.

Kevin Cawley was bundled down just outside the box, but the free-kick came to nothing. And the Alloa striker then found space 22 yards from goal, only for his mishit shot to be easily gathered by goalkeeper Scott Gallacher.

However, the home crowd were left stunned when Dumbarton took the lead with virtually their first attack.

Danny Handling won possession and played a cross-field pass to Carswell, who took one touch and fired high into the roof of the net, giving Neil Parry no chance in the home goal.

It was a magnificent strike and only Carswell's second goal in eight seasons.

Alloa's Jon Robertson and Dumbarton's Iain Russell battle for the ball

Jim Goodwin's side finished in third place in League One, but they were proving more than a match for Dumbarton, who finished second bottom in the Championship.

Jordan Kirkpatrick came perilously close to an equaliser. He struck what looked to be a perfect left-foot shot from just outside the box only for Gallacher to get his fingertips to the ball and touch it into the inside of the post.

Alloa continued to push forward and Ross Stewart had a long-range effort pushed away by Gallacher, and the on-loan St Mirren striker had a header that clipped the top of the crossbar as they searched for an equaliser.

Dumbarton began the second half brighter and Kyle Hutton was only inches away with a long-range effort.

The game opened up with Callum Smith- for the home side - and Dumbarton's Kevin Nisbet both coming close to finding the net.

Ross Stewart then dashed 30 yards up the left flank, combined with Kevin Cawlet to set up Smith, but his deflected effort was cleared off the line by Dumbarton defender Craig Barr.

Post-match reaction

Alloa manager Jim Goodwin: "Frustrated is a good way to describe it. I thought the boys were excellent to be honest. For the majority of the game we dominated possession. We had plenty of shots on target. Their keeper made a wonder save in the first half when he tips a shot onto the post.

"In terms of how we played, back to middle the boys played the game in the right way. We just lacked that cutting edge in the final third unfortunately."

Dumbarton manager Steven Aitken: "We knew Alloa were going to have a lot of possession but most of it was on the halfway line. They never really troubled us too much at times. I thought our shape was really good and we knew it would have to be.

"We now have something to protect. We know we will not be able to just sit on it. We will try and get another goal and see it over the line.

"It would be huge again (to stay in the Championship). We know how tough it is and we are 90 minutes away from it. If we can do that and on the back of getting to our first final in 120 years, it could be a terrific season for the club."