BARRY SMITH probably had his tongue firmly in his cheek when, in the build-up to Alloa Athletic??s Petrofac Training Cup semi-final tie against Rangers, he wondered aloud whether the Ibrox side would fancy ??coming to Alloa, on Astroturf, on a cold winter night under the lights.?? The Alloa manager has his answer now.

BARRY SMITH probably had his tongue firmly in his cheek when, in the build-up to Alloa Athletic??s Petrofac Training Cup semi-final tie against Rangers, he wondered aloud whether the Ibrox side would fancy ??coming to Alloa, on Astroturf, on a cold winter night under the lights.?? The Alloa manager has his answer now.

This turned out to be a momentous evening for his team and another dark one for Rangers. Alloa now have the first ever victory over either half of the Old Firm in their 136-year history, their reward a place in the final against Livingston on April 5.

They did it the hard way, too. Rangers had toiled in the first half but goals early in the second from first Kenny Miller and then Dean Shiels looked to have secured their passage through. Alloa, though, had other ideas, drawing level with two goals in quick succession, to set up a tense finale. Extra time loomed but Greig Spence rendered that unnecessary with a late intervention. Steven Hetherington was the creator, driving a pass across goal where Spence applied the calmest of finishes for his second goal of the game. Spence, part of the Raith Rovers team that defeated Rangers in the final of this competition last season, is fast becoming something of a lucky mascot whenever this cup rolls around.

While the Alloa players were still cavorting across the plastic pitch having survived a late onslaught on their goal to secure a famous win, the Rangers post-mortem had already begun. It may go on for some time yet. Manager Ally McCoist will bear the brunt of the criticism following another poor cup result but he may be entitled to feel his players shouldn??t be spared either given the poverty of some of the defending that gave Alloa a lifeline back into the tie when none seemed likely. ??A lack of professionalism,?? was how McCoist curtly described it, his anger and frustration evident in his demeanour. To add to his woes, he lost Lewis Macleod early on to what looked like a hamstring injury, something that could keep the talented midfielder sidelined until the new year at the earliest. Rangers certainly missed his creativity.

Should they win promotion this season ?? and that is not guaranteed given they trail Hearts in the SPFL Championship by nine points ?? this match will go into the history books as their last ever in this competition. It is not a tournament they will look back on with any great fondness. Beaten in the quarter-finals by Queen of the South on penalties at home two years ago, then sunk by an extra-time goal by Raith in last season??s final, this season will again not conclude with light blue ribbons adorning the trophy. Rangers have more pressing matters to contend with ?? they have League Cup and William Hill Scottish ties early next year, on top of their league fixtures ?? but the manner of this defeat could resonate for some time. Arguably, it could be considered the worst of McCoist??s managerial career.

Cup competitions, in general, have been his bête noir. Under his watch Rangers have come unstuck in just about every one they have entered; from the early unsuccessful forays into the Champions League and the Europa League that now seem like a lifetime ago, to the repeat bouts of frustration endured in the three domestic baubles. It has been one hard luck tale after another, although they still have two chances at redemption later this season.

Alloa, undefeated in two league matches against Rangers this season, refused to wilt in the face of adversity. Denied the use of nine first-team players due to injury and illness, and with the legs of the part-timers visibly tiring the longer the game wore on, they somehow found a way to dig out a result.

They had been the better side in the first half only for Spence and Liam Buchanan to waste two gilt-edged chances. Rangers had been poor but looked revitalised after the break. They scored twice, created a number of other chances, and looked altogether more comfortable. Their place in the final seemed all but assured, but Alloa had other ideas.

Rangers?? first goal arrived after 49 minutes. Kris Boyd, restored to the starting line-up, thudded in a low free kick that was pushed out by goalkeeper Craig McDowall but only into the path of Miller. The striker kept his cool from around 10 yards.

Darren McGregor had a shot saved and Fraser Aird??s dribble into the box was halted unconventionally by the sprawling Ben Gordon, before a second goal for Rangers after 64 minutes seemed to end the match as a contest. Miller this time was the creator, slipping the ball into Shiels?? path who finished well. Alloa, for all their promising play, looked done for.

Instead came the unlikeliest of comebacks. Spence headed in Mark Docherty??s cross from the left after 73 minutes and Alloa suddenly looked revived. Two minutes later and they were level, some fairly appalling Rangers defending allowing substitute Eddie Fearns?? cross to make it across goal where Ryan McCord gleefully poked it past Steve Simonsen. Rangers needed to win it all over again.

Instead it was Alloa who found a way through, Spence again the hero with a crisp finish in the 89th minute. The Wasps had found a way to sting Rangers once again.