Will the Wasps sting twice ?

They say that lightening never strikes twice – but what about wasps, can they sting twice within a week?

The SPFL Cinch League One campaign kick-offs on Saturday as Dunfermline Athletic face Alloa Athletic at East End Park for the second time in seven days.

On this occasion, James McPake is hoping it`ll be the Pars doing the leaping, above Brian Rice`s men in the league table, after Conor Sammon`s equaliser last weekend helped ensure Athletic`s progress to the Last 16 of the Premier Sports Cup was over.

A promising start saw Chris Hamilton open the scoring with his first goal for his boyhood heroes, as his looping header flew over Jay Hogarth in the Alloa goal and into the back of the net – in front of the Norrie McCathie Stand, too.

But a barrage of further chances weren`t capitalised on and that is when the Wasps stung in traditional sucker-punch fashion! Following a corner, Conor Sammon managed to twist and scoop home a knock-down within the 6-yard-box to make it 1-1 and this is when the game`s momentum switched to the visitors.

It was they who looked the more likely to score in the closing 30 minutes, but Scott Lambie ended the game with no more goals being scored.

The Premier Sports Cup Group C match went to a penalty shoot-out to see which side would gain the bonus point.

Alas, it was the Wasps as the Clackmannanshire side ended their Premier Sports Cup campaign for season 2022/2023 in positive fashion, successfully converting all 5 of their spot-kicks.

Joe Chalmers missed for the Pars, with his effort crashing off the bar. The loss on penalties eliminated the West Fifers from the competition – a penalty shoot-out victory would`ve saw progress and a trip to Ibrox to face Rangers for the second consecutive campaign at that stage of the competition.

But it wasn`t to be, and now the disappointment must be fuel to the fire, going into Saturday`s opening league fixture of the term. The squad will know the importance of getting off to a good start – with promotion back to the SPFL Cinch Championship the bread and butter for everyone associated with DAFC this season.

The fixture list – on paper – has provided a relatively positive opening for Dunfermline Athletic, where plenty points in essence should be collected: but football isn`t played on paper – it isn`t really played on grass either in Scotland`s third-tier but that isn`t the point....!!!!

An increase in Season Ticket numbers, especially in the Under 18s category, is very encouraging.

Hopefully a loud and proud Pars support can help cheer the lads onto their first 3 points of the campaign this weekend, against what feels like our `bogey team`.

So let`s get down Halbeath Road on Saturday for 3pm and let`s get right behind the team!

COYP!!!!!!!!