ALLOA boss Jim Goodwin demanded his side were more ruthless in front of goal after they spurned a host of chances in Saturday’s loss to Dunfermline Athletic.

The returning Greig Spence saw a shot cleared off the line and then forced a great reaction save from Lee Robinson as the Wasps went toe-to-toe with the Pars.

A wonder strike from Jackson Longridge proved the difference on the day as Goodwin’s men were left to rue what might have been.

While he praised his side for reacting after Tuesday’s loss to Ayr, the gaffer called on his side to start putting their chances away.

The 36-year-old said: “Goals at this level are massive and the first goal is huge and you can see that Dunfermline get it and are then able to hold on for all three points.

“I think had we scored the first goal on Saturday, we’d have won the game. But, it wasn’t to be.

“We had two fantastic opportunities to get ourselves in front. One was cleared off the line and then the goalkeeper has made a great save.

“You don’t get too many clearcut opportunities at this level and that’s been a problem for us this season.

“Obviously the result is not great and not what we are looking for. I think it just shows you how important it is to take your chances at the key moments in the game.

“When you get into good positions and create good chances, you have to be more clinical. It’s as simple as that.”

While easing fears that Iain Flannigan could be set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines, Goodwin was full of praise for Steven Hetherington and Jon Robertson’s performances in the middle of the park.

And the gaffer felt his side more than matched their full time opponents for the whole 90 minutes.

He continued: “I don’t think there’s a great deal between a lot of the teams. You look at sides like Ross County and Dundee United and they are big teams with big budgets and you’d expect them to be up that end of the table.

“But, we’ve went toe-to-toe with every team and we’ve not been hit for a four or five nil at any point.

“I keep saying that to the boys. There’s absolutely nothing to fear. We’ve doubled the points tally Brechin had throughout the whole season and we’re not sitting bottom of the league.

“Everyone expected us to be at the bottom and adrift, but we’re not. We’re only a point behind Partick Thistle and ahead of Falkirk.

“We’re only a third of the way through the season and I think we can get better.”