Airdrie 'shot themselves in the foot' in Alloa defeat, says gutted gaffer Rhys McCabe
The Championship side missed out on the last 16 in agonising fashion to their League One counterparts
Frustrated Airdrie boss Rhys McCabe admits they only have themselves to blame for being knocked out of the Premier Sports Cup by League One Alloa.
The Diamonds had fought back from a first-half header from Owen Foster in their winner-takes-all clash at the top of Group C to lead 2-1 after an hour at New Broomfield.
But a stunning striker from skipper Aidan Wilson and a Euan Henderson penalty for the Championship side counted for nothing as two errors from summer signing Sean McGinty gifted the Wasps a last-gasp win that sent them through as group winners.
The former Hamilton Accies defender gave away a penalty just five minutes after Airdrie had taken the lead, fouling Kurtis Roberts in the box before Scott Taggart converted the spot-kick after 65 minutes.
And in the 89th minute, McGinty gave the ball away to Steven Buchanan with a loose pass just inside the visitors' half and the Wasps striker punished Airdrie by charging forward and unleashing a low drive into the bottom corner.
It means Airdrie miss out on a place in the last 16 as one of the three best runners-up due to them having scored fewer goals than the current third-placed team, Dunfermline.
And gutted McCabe said: "We've had a wee chat in the dressing room and we know that we shot ourselves in the foot today.
"But I don't want to take anything away from Alloa. They've had a great campaign, four wins out of four. They had a solid game plan but the way that we gifted them a way back into the game when we go 2-1 up is something that shouldn't be happening.
"Sean is experienced enough to know that five minutes after you score, you don't take unnecessary risks. It was one of those ones where he has mistimed it. He thinks he can get the ball, but the boy nips in front of him and gets the ball.
"But that was easily avoidable and that is the frustrating bit.
"At the final goal, he tries to play in somebody [Dylan Williams] short but he turns his back at the wrong time and it is just a wee bit of miscommunication there.
"Overall, we controlled a lot of the ball, we were decent in spells, but we didn't test their goalkeeper enough for all the possession we had.
"I think we spent a lot of time in their half but we need to be more effective.
"Of course I am disappointed. It's raw and I'm emotional after the game, but it has been a positive start [aside from this result]."
The Diamonds had two goals ruled out in the first-half by referee Sean Murdoch, with Aidan Wilson and Chris Mochrie seeing their efforts chalked off for offside and handball in the build-up to their strikes.
Asked what he made of the decisions, McCabe added: "I don't know, to be honest. I don't ask the referees anymore.
"If he has given offside, sound, he's given offside. I've got no clue what they were ruled out for."
Airdrie now look to their Championship opener next Saturday when they play host to Ross County.